Wasabi Technologies vs Backblaze B2

Wasabi Technologies Wasabi Technologies
VS
Backblaze B2 Backblaze B2
Backblaze B2 WINNER Backblaze B2

This comparison highlights a fundamental divergence in cloud storage pricing models: the "pay for storage and retrieval"...

psychology AI Verdict

This comparison highlights a fundamental divergence in cloud storage pricing models: the "pay for storage and retrieval" approach of Backblaze B2 versus the "predictable flat rate" model of Wasabi Technologies. Backblaze B2 excels as a pure storage repository, particularly for long-term backups and archival data where files are written once and rarely accessed, thanks to its industry-leading low storage costs and robust immutability features. In contrast, Wasabi Technologies distinguishes itself by eliminating the hidden costs of cloud storagespecifically egress and API request feeswhich makes it the superior choice for active workflows like media production and surveillance that require frequent data retrieval.

While Backblaze B2 offers a broader ecosystem through its Bandwidth Alliance and native backup clients, its transaction fees can accumulate unpredictably in high-traffic scenarios. Wasabi counterbalances a slightly higher storage price point with the simplicity of a bill that rarely fluctuates due to data movement, offering peace of mind for operational budgeting. Ultimately, the decision rests on access frequency; for "write once, read never" use cases, Backblaze B2 is the clear winner, but for "hot" data retrieval needs, Wasabi's architecture provides better value.

Given the broader scope of cloud computing needs and the sheer ubiquity of backup requirements, Backblaze B2 holds a slight edge in overall utility.

emoji_events Winner: Backblaze B2
verified Confidence: High

thumbs_up_down Pros & Cons

Wasabi Technologies Wasabi Technologies

check_circle Pros

  • Zero egress fees and no API request charges
  • High-performance object storage with faster speeds than many competitors
  • Predictable, flat-rate pricing simplifies budgeting
  • Object Lock support for compliance and data protection

cancel Cons

  • Minimum storage duration charge of 90 days applies to all data
  • Slightly higher base storage cost compared to Backblaze B2
  • Minimum monthly storage charge requirement (often 1TB) can deter small users
Backblaze B2 Backblaze B2

check_circle Pros

  • Industry-lowest storage cost at $0.005/GB/month
  • S3-compatible API allowing easy migration from AWS
  • Strong ecosystem including the Bandwidth Alliance for free egress partners
  • Excellent B2 Snapshot and Immutable Bucket features for ransomware protection

cancel Cons

  • Charges for both egress ($0.01/GB) and API requests (Class B)
  • Slower upload/download speeds compared to premium hot storage providers
  • Transaction fees can make large-scale operations expensive

compare Feature Comparison

Feature Wasabi Technologies Backblaze B2
Storage Pricing $0.0059 per GB/month $0.005 per GB/month
Egress Fees $0.00 (Zero egress fees) $0.01 per GB (Free with Bandwidth Alliance partners)
API Request Fees No charges for API requests Charges for Class A (upload) and Class B (download) transactions
Minimum Storage Duration 90-day minimum retention enforced by policy None (standard object storage)
Data Immutability Object Lock (WORM/COMPLIANCE mode) B2 Immutable Buckets (WORM state)
Lifecycle Management All data is 'hot' (no cold tiers, simplifying management) Lifecycle rules to move data to 'cold' tiers or delete

payments Pricing

Wasabi Technologies

$0.0059/GB storage (flat rate, no egress or API fees)
Excellent Value

Backblaze B2

$0.005/GB storage + $0.01/GB egress + API fees
Excellent Value

difference Key Differences

Wasabi Technologies Backblaze B2
Wasabi Technologies is optimized for high-performance "hot" storage with predictable billing. Its core strength lies in removing the barriers to data retrieval, positioning itself as a faster alternative to AWS S3 without the convoluted pricing tiers.
Core Strength
Backblaze B2 is fundamentally optimized for the lowest cost per gigabyte for data at rest. It achieves this through a proprietary storage pod architecture and focuses heavily on data durability for backup and archival scenarios.
Wasabi Technologies markets itself specifically on speed, promising to be 80% faster than Amazon S3 with sub-millisecond latency for object listing, making it ideal for high-throughput active archives and media workflows.
Performance
Backblaze B2 offers solid performance suitable for backups and restores, typically ranging around 100MB/s to multi-gigabit speeds depending on the region, but it is not engineered for low-latency transactional applications.
Wasabi Technologies provides superior value for 'chatty' data; while their storage price is slightly higher (approx. $0.0059/GB), the $0 egress fees mean the total cost of ownership is lower for data that is accessed frequently.
Value for Money
Backblaze B2 offers the lowest barrier to entry for storage at roughly $0.005/GB, making it the ROI leader for data that is stored for years and rarely touched, though egress costs can spike on restore.
Wasabi Technologies simplifies the mental model of billing by offering a single price per terabyte with no separate line items for requests or downloads, making cost forecasting significantly easier for finance teams.
Ease of Use
Backblaze B2 provides an extremely user-friendly interface and native clients for personal computer backups. However, understanding the Class A and B transaction API costs requires some learning for developers.
Ideal for media and entertainment companies, healthcare PACS systems, and surveillance arrays where data is constantly being written and read for active use.
Best For
Ideal for individual users needing cloud backups, IT departments storing server images, and long-term cold archival where retrieval costs are infrequent.

help When to Choose

Wasabi Technologies Wasabi Technologies
  • If you require frequent data retrieval without surprise costs
  • If you need high-speed performance for media or active archives
  • If you prefer a flat-rate billing model for easier financial forecasting
Backblaze B2 Backblaze B2
  • If you prioritize the absolute lowest cost for long-term data archival
  • If you need native computer backup clients integrated with the storage
  • If you primarily store data and rarely download it

description Overview

Wasabi Technologies

Wasabi Technologies provides a high-performance object storage solution designed to replace traditional 'cold' storage. Unlike many competitors, Wasabi does not charge for egress fees or API requests, making it highly predictable for applications that require frequent data access. It is built on a modern architecture that ensures high availability and speed, positioning it as a top choice for medi...
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Backblaze B2

Backblaze B2 is a high-performance object storage service that focuses on being the most cost-effective option for large-scale data storage. It offers an S3-compatible API, making it easy to swap into existing workflows. Backblaze has gained significant popularity by offering much lower costs than major providers, particularly for long-term backups and archival of massive datasets where high-speed...
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