S3 (Simple Storage Service) is a highly scalable object storage service offered by Amazon’s web services division – Amazon Web Services (AWS). It provides highly scalable, durable and secure cloud storage for virtually any type of data or application making it a popular choice for individuals, businesses and organisations of all sizes seeking a flexible object storage solution.
Whilst S3 object storage is without any doubt a great solution for storing data safely and reliably in the cloud, there might be times when a better value alternative is required. Such alternatives could include the provision of cloud storage for a lower overall cost, lower data transfer fees, increased data security and redundancy alongside various other vendor specific features (including easy integration with products such as VPS servers or CDN networks).
Whatever the reasons for seeking S3 alternatives beyond the official Amazon AWS object storage service are, this guide will hopefully help in both solidifying these reasons to seek an alternative solution before showcasing a selection of my favourite AWS S3 alternatives.
If you are looking for AWS S3 compatible backup software then be sure to check out my guide to the best AWS S3 backup software.
Why Choose an S3 Alternative?
Amazon’s AWS S3 cloud storage service has become very popular across both individual and business users over the years since its launch. A big part of this success coming down to the high levels of security, resiliency and redundancy provided plus how easily these features can be accessed without the need to invest in additional physical hardware.
Top 5 AWS S3 Alternatives:
Below is a quick look at the top five S3 alternatives mentioned in this guide. Scroll down further for the full and detailed list of AWS S3 alternatives.
| Provider | Solution | Pricing | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | iDrive e2 | From $0.005 / GB | |
| 2 |  | Cloudflare R2 | From $0.015 / GB | |
| 3 |  | Hot Cloud Storage | From $6.99 / TB | |
| 4 |  | Internxt S3 | From €7 / TB | |
| 5 |  | Synology C2 | From $7.19 / TB |
Not only does S3 storage offer a great service to business and enterprise users, but with (virtually) unlimited cloud storage available on-tap alongside many advanced data protection features (including file versioning, data immutability and file locking), S3 has also become a popular service for backing-up data (and is now integrated into several leading backup solutions).
NB – For more information on choosing an S3 compatible backup solution, be sure to check out my specialist guide to S3 compatible backup software.
Another great reason for considering S3 or an S3 compatible cloud storage service is that such services are often readily available (on demand) without the need to pre-plan or pre-purchase storage in anticipation of their use. This availability and flexibility mean that anyone looking for cost effective object storage which is only billed based upon what is actually used (alongside the other great benefits already mentioned above) should definitely consider S3 storage (or an S3 compatible service).
NB – Although both AWS S3 and many other S3 alternative storage providers support a web-based file manager for basic access to this cloud storage, addition software supporting the S3 protocols will usually be highly beneficial in taking full advantage of the service.
Why Consider S3 Compatible Alternatives?
So far, we have established that Amazon’s S3 cloud storage is a leading object storage service which brings many benefits for both individual and business users alike. In no particular order, here are some of the main reasons you might want to consider an alternative to the official AWS S3 service.
1) Lower data storage, egress and ingress costs
Whilst the official S3 service is competitive on price (especially so given it is priced on demand and users are only billed for what they actually use), there are now a number of S3 compatible service providers offering a similar service at a lower overall cost.
Whilst the cost of the service isn’t everything, if you are happy to use an S3 compatible service which might not have the full range of functionality of the official S3 service, then such storage could be obtained at a much lower cost. For example, my current favourite S3 alternative choice, iDrive e2, offers S3 compatible storage at approximately 90% less cost (and with zero data egress costs) versus the official AWS S3 service.
NB – Be careful when purchasing S3 alternatives based only on cost alone. Whilst some provides might quote a lower “per GB” cost, this is sometimes based upon purchasing a minimum allocation of storage per month (in some cases this is 1TB+, meaning it could still be cheaper to use the official AWS S3 service which has no such minimums).
2) Ease of use
Whilst the official S3 service is undoubtedly very powerful, the sheer number of features and options available could make configuration a daunting task. This is especially the case for individual or small business users who don’t have easy access to professional IT support.
With this in mind, many S3 compatible services (often by virtue of such services offering less functionality than AWS themselves) tend to have easier to understand user interfaces which can make the process of configuration much easier. One relative newcomer to the S3 compatible object storage space, iDrive e2, is particularly impressive in this regard both for its low overall costs and for how easy and accessible it makes S3 compatible storage for all.
3) Integration with other services
Whilst the official S3 offering is a comprehensive object storage service in and of itself, it might be the case that individual or business users are already making use of another cloud provider yet still require an S3 compatible interface. In such cases, it might be worth considering alternative S3 compatible service from other cloud providers given the additional integration options this could provide (as well as the time saving realised when only having to deal with a single provider for any issues relating to billing and support).
A great example of this integration is via the Spaces S3 compatible storage service from virtual server specialists, DigitalOcean. Not only is the Spaces service a great S3 compatible service in and of itself, but by being integrated into the DigitalOcean ecosystem it naturally becomes a great choice for any individuals or business already making use of DigitalOcean.
Amazon S3 Compatible Alternatives - FAQs
S3 compatibility simply refers to the cloud storage in question supporting the official AWS S3 APIs and protocols. Such object storage should naturally be compatible with any applications or services already making use of S3 cloud storage via either Amazon AWS themselves or via another S3 compatible software provider.
S3 compatible services store data within objects, which are files or groups of files stored within logical containers referred to as “buckets”. Users can access these objects using a unique URL or through the various S3 SDKs, APIs and protocols which have been made available for doing so. Access to these objects can also be controlled using specialist and highly granular security policies making S3 compatible storage a very reliable and secure cloud storage solution.
Whilst it is important to note that prices are always subject to change and new providers can come and go, two of the best value S3 compatible alternatives are iDrive e2 at $0.004 per GB, per month with Backblaze B2 close behind at just $0.006 per GB, per month.
Yes, in-fact, if you are willing to forgo some of the niceties found in more traditional cloud backup software then making use of an S3 compatible service can often prove one of the most cost-effective methods for making cloud backups. Be sure to check out my guide to S3 compatible backup software for some more information on backup software currently supporting the official AWS S3 protocols.
Yes, one of the many additional benefits of the official AWS S3 cloud storage service is that it can be configured to store and host static websites. Whilst this offering might be suitable for simple (static) websites, it should be noted that this setup will most likely not be suitable for many larger web applications including ecommerce solutions and CMS systems such as WordPress.
Yes, some very well-known cloud providers are already offering very generous allocations of S3 compatible cloud storage for free. Some notable provides offering free-to-use S3 compatible object storage allocation include Backblaze B2 (10GB free), Cloudflare R2 (10GB free) and iDrive e2 (10GB free) amongst various others.
The Best AWS S3 Alternatives
In this section I will be listing my favourite S3 compatible object storage services. These are services which both make use of the official S3 cloud storage protocols as well as offering similar levels of flexibility, security and adaptability to that of the official AWS S3 object storage service itself.
Remember, any ratings for the services mentioned below reflect my own opinions and are intended only for use as a guide. Also note that that the services with the highest ratings might not necessarily be the best for you own personal or business requirements, so be sure to check out several choices and always try to make use of any free trials, whenever possible, before making any purchases.
1) iDrive e2
IDrive e2 is a cloud storage service from iDrive that primarily focuses on scalability, security, and performance. iDrive e2 also boasts strong S3 compatibility, making it a great alternative for users already familiar with the official Amazon S3 protocols.
iDrive have for a long time offered a solid cloud backup solution which has become well-known for its large allocations of cloud storage combined with a very competitive pricing scheme (as well as being very easy to use as well). When iDrive launched their new e2 could storage service back in 2022 I was, naturally, very eager to have a look at it and see how it fared as an AWS S3 compatible option (click to read my full iDrive e2 review).
With cloud storage costs from just $0.005 per GB, per month (up to 80% lower than the standard Amazon S3 offering), no additional fees for data ingress and egress plus the ability to save even more by taking advantage of pre-paid annual plans, iDrive e2 is already proving itself as one of the cheapest S3 alternatives in the market. Add into the mix some additional features including multi-factor authentication, advanced user permission policies, bucket versioning and locking rules plus the choice of up to 9 datacentres across both the USA and EU and it soon becomes clear that iDrive e2 is a very serious S3 alternative.
iDrive offer all new users a free 10GB allocation of e2 cloud storage, this is a great way to try the service out for yourself before committing to any further purchases. More details on e2 pricing and the full range of functionality on offer can be found at the official iDrive e2 website.
- S3 Compatible
- Web-based file browser
- Encryption available
- Immutable storage
- 10GB Free account
- From $0.005 per GB
2) Cloudflare R2
With a very generous 10GB free tier, zero data ingress and egress fees, strong data durability, scalability and automatic migration from other S3 compatible services, R2 has positioned itself very well as a leading Amazon S3 compatible alternative.
With a very generous 10GB free tier, zero fees for data ingress and egress and pricing of just $0.015 per GB, per month thereafter (plus some small charges per certain API operations), Cloudflare R2 sits as a price competitive alternative to the official Amazon S3 object storage service.
The S3 compatible service itself provides an impressive 99.999999999% durability figure alongside many other great scalability, reliability and performance metrics. The service also provides enhanced integration with other Cloudflare products and services including the Cloudflare CDN, Cloudflare Workers and the Cloudflare automated object storage migration service amongst various other related storage features.
A very generous 10GB free account is offered by Cloudflare to all new customers, more information on this free allocation of S3 compatible object storage plus the ongoing R2 pricing options can be found at the official Cloudflare R2 website.
- S3 Compatible storage
- Zero egress fees
- Historic file versions
- Developer API
- 10GB Free account
- From $0.015 per GB
3) Wasabi
Wasabi provide 100% S3 compatible cloud storage with a specialist focus on storing “hot” data – that is frequently accessed files, applications and media. Unlike many other S3 compatible competitors primarily catering to cold storage or offering a one-size-fits-all approach, Wasabi have tailored their infrastructure and pricing for low latency and active data use whilst also allowing their customers to benefit from enhanced levels of data security in the process.
Whilst Wasabi’s data storage fees are actually slightly higher than those of iDrive e2 at $0.0069 per GB, per month (80% cheaper than AWS S3), Wasabi do not charge any data egress fees, have no API request fees and also provide customers with the ability to save additional money by pre-purchasing allocations of storage in advance. Pricing aside and Wasabi claim to provide S3 compatible storage with “11×9’s” durability, full data centre redundancy and strong cloud security and anti-ransomware protection amongst many other useful cloud storage features which this excellent cloud storage service has on offer.
Wasabi offer all users a 30-day free trial of the service (with 1TB of storage included). More information on this free trial as well as the cloud storage service itself and the various pricing options can be found at the official Wasabi website.
- S3 Compatible storage
- High resiliency (11x9)
- AES 256-bit encryption
- Immutable storage
- 30-Day free trial
- From $6.99 per TB
4) Internxt S3
Internxt have very quickly made a name for themselves over the last few years thanks to their excellent cloud storage service which makes utilising secure zero-knowledge technologies straightforward and easy for everyone. Roll on 2024 and Internxt have built upon this existing cloud storage expertise to launch their new S3 compatible object storage service – Internxt S3.
With pricing starting from just $7 per TB (per month) alongside zero ingress and egress transfer fees at all times, Internxt have launched with a very competitive pricing scheme in place which, by their own admissions, is up to 80% cheaper than the official AWS S3 service. Even though €7 per month is a very low cost of entry for such a service, it should be noted that Internxt do impose a minimum cost of €7 per month, even if the minimum 1TB allocation is not fully utilised (something to be aware of if you are only planning to use a small allocation of available storage).
Pricing aside and Internxt are clearly aiming to offer a serious alternative to AWS S3 with always-on “hot” storage meaning data is instantly accessible, super-fast performance with simultaneous read and write operations, full 11×9’s reliability, AWS S3 and IAM API compatibility plus historic file versioning support. Data is also kept secure and protected via the use of always-on HTTPS transfers to and from the service as well as Internxt themselves ensuring all data is securely encrypted whilst at rest and stored upon the object storage service.
Internxt S3 is currently priced form just €7 per TB (per month) with zero data transfer fees (ingress and egress) helping to reaffirm this very competitive pricing point. Unfortunately, Internxt are not currently offering any free allocations or free trials as of time of writing (meaning, disappointingly, you will need to spend at least €7 to try this service out).
- S3 Compatible storage
- Zero data transfer fees
- Instant "Hot" storage
- Highly durable (11x9's)
- From €7 per TB
5) Synology C2 (C2 Object Storage)
C2 is a simple yet effective S3 compatible object storage service from NAS storage device specialists, Synology. Leveraging Synology’s expertise in storage solutions, C2 offers a user-friendly interface and seamless S3 integration, particularly so for existing Synology users.
Featuring a very generous 15GB of free object storage alongside simple, predictable and cost-effective pricing starting at just $6.99 per TB per month, C2 is an S3 alternative worthy of consideration. Beyond its attractive pricing and free tier, C2 also benefits from 99.999999999% data durability and Synology’s reputation for reliable and secure data management. It provides essential object storage functionalities with a focus on ease of use, making it an accessible option for individuals and businesses seeking a straightforward S3-compatible solution.
Additionally, Synology operates data centres for C2 storage in both Europe (Frankfurt) and North America (Seattle) allowing users to choose based on their data residency needs.
Synology C2 offers a generous 30-day free trial with regular pricing starting from $7.19 per TB making it an accessible S3 alternative. More information on the full range of C2 features plus the generous 15GB free account can be found via the official Synology C2 website.
- S3 Compatible storage
- User friendly interface
- Enhanced data durabilitry
- EU & USA Datacentres
- From $7.19 per TB
- 30-Day free trial
6) Backblaze B2
Backblaze B2 is a highly-rated S3 compatible cloud storage service from cloud storage company, Backblaze. A service which focuses on cost-effectiveness and simplicity, while it differs from the official AWS S3 service in some core features, its S3 compatibility makes it an attractive option for users already familiar with the S3 storage protocols.
By offering a fully S3 compatible cloud storage service alongside a choice of datacentres in both the USA and the EU region, strong security and data reliability, command line tools plus bucket versioning and data immutability amongst many other useful features, B2 becomes a viable competitor to the original Amazon S3 service. Furthermore, with storage pricing starting at just $0.007 per GB per month (and with no data egress fees payable), Backblaze B2 provides a solid S3 compatible alternative at a very competitive cost point.
Backblaze B2 therefore offers a good alternative to the official AWS S3 service for users looking for cost-effective, S3-compatible cloud storage. Its lower costs, lack of egress fees and easy-to-use interface make it a good choice for data archiving, backups and other less frequent data access needs. If you do, however, require advanced features or integration with other AWS services then the official AWS S3 service might still remain a better fit.
Backblaze also offer all users a free 10GB allocation of B2 storage to try the service out for themselves, more information on the service and its full pricing structure can be found at the official Backblaze website.
- S3 Compatible storage
- Web-based file browser
- AES 256-bit encryption
- Immutable storage
- Free data egress
- 10GB Free account
- From $0.007 per GB
7) DigitalOcean Spaces
DigitalOcean Spaces stands out as an S3 compatible object storage service built by the popular cloud server platform, DigitalOcean. The key focus of Spaces lies in its simplicity, affordability, and seamless integration with existing DigitalOcean services plus any other S3 compatible workflows.
With Spaces pricing starting at just $5 per month for each 250GB allocation of storage (equivalent to $0.02 per GB, per month) and just $0.002 per additional GB stored thereafter (plus transfer fees of $0.01 per GB to also consider), DigitalOcean Spaces remains a highly price competitive S3 alternative.
The real value in the Spaces service, however, comes for the many developer-orientated features and tools integrated into the service by DigitalOcean by default. This includes a built-in CDN service which is delivered in partnership with CDN specialists Cloudflare, a specialist developer API, HTTPS enabled by default, an enhanced web-based file explorer plus the choice of up to 5 geographical datacentres for storing data within across the USA, EU plus several other regions further afield.
DigitalOcean are currently offering all new customers $200 in free account credits (valid over 60 days) in order to test their latest cloud services out for themselves. This includes the Spaces S3 compatible object storage service as well as the excellent VPS computing products amongst various other cloud services. More information on Spaces can be found via the official DigitalOcean website.
- S3 Compatible storage
- Built-in CDN
- Developer API
- $200 Free credits
- From $5 per 250GB
8) Vultr (Object Storage)
Vultr Object Storage is a S3 compatible cloud storage service offered by Vultr, a popular cloud services provider known for its excellent virtual private server (VPS) offerings. It focuses on providing high levels of S3 compatibility, affordability, security and enhanced integration with the wider Vultr cloud ecosystem.
With simple and easy to understand pricing starting at just $6 per TB, per month (including 1TB of outbound bandwidth with each additional 1TB of outbound bandwidth priced at $10), Vultr Object Storage remains a very price competitive alternative to the original Amazon S3 service.
In much the same way as their close competitors DigitalOcean and Akamai do, Vultr also offer additional value given that their S3 compatible service is directly integrated into their larger developer-focused cloud ecosystem. This ecosystem includes additional services such as the VPS computing platform, GPU focused computing, managed databases plus load balancing services across a choice of up to 27 datacentre locations available across both the USA and worldwide.
Vultr Object Storage is priced from just $6 per TB, per month. More information on the S3 service and Vultr’s other cloud services can be found at the official Vultr website.
- S3 Compatible
- Highly resilient storage
- Developer API
- NVMe Caching
- From $6 per 1TB
9) Akamai (formally Linode)
Akamai Object Storage stands out as a developer focused cloud storage solution designed for high performance, security and global reach with a focus on S3 compatibility and integration into existing cloud workflows.
With pricing starting at just $5 per month for a 250GB allocation with 1TB of outbound transfer included (equivalent to $0.02 per GB, per month), free inbound transfers and just $0.005 per additional GB outbound thereafter, the object storage service from Akamai is a very price competitive option. In much the same way as with their close competitors DigitalOcean and Vultr, the real value in the Akamai S3 compatible object storage service comes from it being a very developer-focused S3 alternative with good integration into the wider Akamai platform (and their many other cloud services including VPS computing, Kubernetes and managed databases amongst others).
Akamai S3 compatible object storage is priced from just $5 per month for an initial 250GB allocation. More information on the service can be found via the official Linode website.
- S3 Compatible storage
- Free ingress transfers
- High availability
- Historic file versioning
- Developer API
- From $5 per 250GB
10) DreamHost DreamObjects
DreamObjects is an S3 compatible cloud storage service offered by DreamHost, a popular web hosting services provider. It focuses on providing high levels of S3 compatibility, good affordability and ease of use and is ideal for developers aiming to integrate cloud storage seamlessly with DreamHost’s other cloud computing services.
With simple, competitive and easy to understand pricing starting at just $0.025 per GB, per month (and $0.05 per GB for downloading data), DreamObjects is a very competitive offering when compared to the original Amazon S3 service.
Pricing aside and DreamObjects offers their S3 compatible service with “99.99999” (7×9) durability, free 24/7 help and support, free use of the developer API and the service is, of course, integrated into the DreamHost ecosystem making it ideal for anyone already making use of DreamHost’s other cloud computing and hosting services.
DreamHost are currently offering all new users a 60-day free trial of their DreamObjects service, more information on this S3 compatible service and the free trial itself can be found at the official DreamObjects webpage.
- AWS S3 Compatible
- Highly reliable storage
- Developer API
- Pre-paid savings
- From $0.025 per GB
11) IONOS Cloud (S3 Object Storage)
IONOS Cloud Storage isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, it’s a robust ecosystem consisting of distinct services, each addressing specific storage needs while upholding their shared focus on S3 compatibility, security, and flexible configurations.
Widely known as a leading web hosting company for many years, IONOS (by 1&1) has in recent years also become known for offering a first-rate cloud computing service with their S3 compatible object storage service a key feature. Backing this S3 compatible object storage up are a choice of six separate geographical datacentre locations, ISO certified data security plus full compliance with EU GDPR regulations all forming key features of the service.
Pricing-wise and IONOS start their S3 compatible object storage from $0.018 per GB, per 30-day period for accounts with up to 50TB stored in total (with further discounts after 50TB bringing this pricing down to as little as $0.016 as more storage is consumed). Data transfer is free for both incoming and outbound traffic as is API usage which is also free to use.
For more information on pricing and the IONOS S3 compatible object storage service in general, be sure to check out the official IONOS website. IONOS also offer new customers the chance to try their cloud service out, for free, under certain conditions, more details are available at the official IONOS website.
- S3 Compatible
- Fast and easy set-up
- Highly reliable storage
- Immutable storage
- Developer API
- From $0.018 per GB
12) OVHcloud (Object Storage)
OVHcloud Object Storage, from well-known web hosting provider OVH, offers a scalable and cost-effective solution for storing large amounts of data in the cloud. It emphasises high levels of security, reliability and S3 compatibility, making it easy to integrate with existing cloud-based tools and workflows.
This highly scalable Amazon S3 compatible object storage offering from OVHcloud brings with it numerous useful features and functionalities including high levels of resiliency and durability, advanced DNS and temporary URL functionality, convenient ACL and S3 credential management plus the ability to make use of automatic MD5 checksums amongst many others.
When it comes to pricing, the OVH S3 compatible service remains very competitive to that of the Amazon original with the standard tier starting from just $0.008 per GB, per month with outbound (public) bandwidth priced from $0.011 per GB and inbound pubic traffic included at no additional cost.
More information on the OVHcloud service, the free $200 cloud computing credits available for new users and the AWS S3 compatible object storage service mentioned above can all be found via the official OVHcloud website.
- S3 Compatible storage
- Highly resilient storage
- Immutable functionality
- Developer friendly API
- Advanced DNS
- From $5 per 250GB
The Best S3 Alternatives Summary
Whilst the official S3 object storage service is without doubt a fantastic service overall, there have appeared numerous S3 compatible object storage providers in the years since it first appeared, many of which offering the same core storage functionality at a much lower overall cost.
If you are seeking S3 compatible object storage whilst being potentially willing to forgo some of the core AWS built-in features, then it could prove very cost effective to look at an alternative S3 compatible service. Pricing aside and S3 compatible alternatives can still offer a lot of value thanks to various vendor specific features including integration with other services such as CDN networks, virtual private servers (VPSs) plus many other developer tools and hosting related services as well.
As always, when searching for S3 alternatives, try and take advantage of some of the many free allocations of S3 storage which are currently available. In addition to this, there are several providers offering free credits and free trial periods which can also help to ensure any S3 compatible service works for your own individual needs before committing any further.
