Comparison of S3-compatible object storage providers: What really matters to hosting customers

S3 storage determines how quickly and affordably I can deliver files for websites, SaaS workloads, and backups. I compare S3-compatible providers based on Price, egress, performance, data location, and API functions—exactly the points that really matter in the everyday lives of hosting customers.

Key points

I will briefly summarize the most important criteria before going into more detail. The list serves as a Compass for later comparison.

• Price & Egress: Gigabyte costs, traffic billing, API operations
• Performance: Latency to target group, throughput, CDN connection
• Data location: EU rules, certifications, encryption
• API functions: Versioning, object lock, lifecycle rules
• IntegrationTools, plugins, automation in everyday hosting

By checking these building blocks, you can avoid costly surprises and technical dead ends. In the following, I will discuss each pillar and present pragmatic Decision paths. This allows providers to be objectively classified and changed later if necessary. The focus is on realistic workloads from hosting, media delivery, and backup. I rely on clear evaluation criteria so that budget and Goals fit together.

Why S3 compatibility matters

S3-compatible interfaces give me the Freedom, Use tools without changing code. Many backup programs, CMS extensions, and CI/CD workflows already speak the S3 API, so compatibility reduces effort and risk. The broader the coverage of features such as pre-signed URLs, versioning, and object lock, the easier migrations and automations run. I always check whether the provider clearly documents core functions and what restrictions apply. If you compare carefully here, you'll avoid problems later on. migration routes and avoids lock-in effects.

Object storage instead of traditional web space

Object storage decouples files from the application and delivers them via a API This solves the bottlenecks of traditional web space. Large media libraries, global target groups, and variable loads benefit from scalability without hardware changes. For me, what matters is that uploads, backups, and delivery scale independently. If you are planning to switch, you will find practical background information in the S3 Webspace Revolution. This creates an architecture that absorbs peak loads, makes costs predictable, and Availability increases.

Price structure, egress, and cost traps

Three cost blocks dominate S3-compatible storage: storage per GB/month, Egress for outgoing traffic and API operations (PUT/GET/LIST). A low GB price can be misleading if requests trigger high egress fees. For traffic-intensive projects, I deliberately check providers with favorable or very low egress conditions. The Cloud storage comparison 2025. As a rule of thumb, I calculate €0.005–0.02 per GB/month for storage, evaluate egress separately, and pay attention to whether API calls such as LIST or lifecycle transitions incur additional costs. Fees produce.

Cost examples and price levers

Concrete calculations prevent wrong decisions. Example: 5 TB data volume, 2 TB egress/month, 20 million GETs, and 2 million PUTs. At $0.01/GB, storage costs are ~$50/month. Egress varies greatly: €0.01–0.06/GB results in €20–120 for 2 TB. API costs range from included to low fractions of a cent per 1,000 requests; 20 million GETs can cost between €0 and double-digit euro amounts, depending on the tariff. I also check:

• free quotas: Included egress or API budgets reduce the effective costs.
• Traffic zonesDifferences between regions or peering have a noticeable impact on prices.
• Retrieval/Early Deletion For cold classes: Retrievals and early deletion may trigger surcharges.
• Life cycle transitionsSome providers charge separately for switching between classes.

I simulate best-case and worst-case scenarios: +30 % egress, double GETs, sporadic rehydration of cold objects. This allows me to see how quickly the budget tips and, if necessary, negotiate price options for predictable loads.

Performance and latency in practice

The best pricing structure is of little use if latency to the target group is high or the Throughput fluctuates. I choose the region closest to the audience, test several locations, and check routes to major Internet nodes. For static assets, I combine object storage with a CDN to bring caches closer to users. Measurements with realistic file sizes show how upload, download, and list operations perform in everyday use. Those who test systematically make decisions that have a noticeable impact. Response times lowers.

Benchmarking methodology: how I test

I measure using representative data sets: many small files (10–100 KB), medium-sized assets (1–10 MB), and large blobs (100 MB–5 GB). Important factors are:

• Cold vs. warmMeasure initial requests from Origin and subsequent CDN caches separately.
• ParallelismMulti-thread uploads/downloads and multipart thresholds vary.
• List/prefix testsPerformance with broad vs. deep prefix structures.
• StabilityJitter and 95th/99th percentile, not just mean values.

I keep the measurement environment constant (clients, network path) and document limits such as request rate per prefix. This ensures that results remain comparable.

Comparison of the functional scope of the S3 API

I check the core features first: Versioning, Object Lock (WORM), lifecycle rules, pre-signed URLs, and replication. Versioning helps with rollbacks, Object Lock protects backups from manipulation, and Lifecycle reduces costs through automatic transitions. Pre-signed URLs regulate time-limited access without additional middleware. Documented limits for multi-part uploads, policy sizes, or tagging have a direct impact on automation. A clear function matrix saves time and increases Planning security.

Storage classes and lifecycle design

I plan storage classes along the data lifecycle: hot (frequent access), warm (occasional), and cold/archive (rare, inexpensive). Important levers:

• Automatic transitions: Move to cheaper classes after X days.
• Object tagsControl business rules per data type (e.g., videos, reports, logs).
• StorageVersioning plus rules for handling old versions reduces costs.
• retrieval timesChecking cold classes – seconds instead of hours make an operational difference.

I factor in lifecycle fees and early deletion policies and test whether metadata, tags, and ACLs are retained when changing classes.

Data location, GDPR, and sovereignty

For European projects, the following applies: Data location often more than a tenth of a cent in storage price. EU regions simplify data protection issues, minimize legal risks, and facilitate contracts. I check certifications such as ISO 27001, encryption at rest and during transmission, and features such as Object Lock. If you need clarity on data protection, performance, and speed, you will find clues in the overview at Data protection, performance, and speed. This is how I secure projects in the long term and reduce Risks due to unplanned data flows.

Security and key management

Security begins with encryption: on the server side with provider-owned keys, KMS keys managed by the customer, or entirely on the client side. My assessment:

• Key managementRotation, audit logs, import/export (Bring Your Own Key).
• access models: Fine-grained policies, condition keys (IP, referrer, VPC), and temporary credentials.
• ImmutabilityObject Lock (Governance/Compliance Mode), Retention, and Legal Hold.
• LoggingAccess logs and inventories for traceability and billing control.

For backups, I rely on 3-2-1 with separate accounts/projects, versioning, and WORM. This significantly reduces the risk of operational errors or compromised access.

Integration into the hosting setup

Everyday use is the deciding factor: Is the storage easy to use with rclone, Connect S3FS or SDKs? I integrate buckets as drives, automate backups, and connect CMS plugins for media storage. For static front ends, I use direct hosting from the bucket and set up a CDN before delivery. Logs, database dumps, and server images are regularly stored in object storage via job scheduling. Setting up integrations cleanly saves administration time and wins you Flexibility for changes.

Monitoring, cost control, and observability

I activate metrics and alerts early: egress, requests, 4xx/5xx errors, latencies by region. Budgets with warning thresholds prevent surprises. Useful features include:

• Usage reports per bucket/prefix for cost driver analysis.
• Storage inventory for object numbers, size distribution, and tags.
• lifecycle driftCheck whether rules are effective and old versions are really being thinned out.

I keep monitoring close to the application: I can see errors in the upload path and retries for multipart immediately and can fine-tune limits (parallelism, part size).

Provider categories and areas of application

I broadly distinguish between four groups: hyperscalers, cost-optimized alternatives, EU-focused providers, and self-hosted/private cloud. Each group has its own strengths. Costs, functions, and compliance. Hyperscalers excel in integrations, while specialist providers often score points for egress. EU providers offer data sovereignty, while self-hosted solutions strengthen control and proximity to your own infrastructure. The following overview helps you assign requirements to a suitable mode and Workloads to be clearly positioned.

Category	Typical storage price	Egress conditions	API functions	EU/GDPR Focus	Suitable workloads
hyperscaler	$0.015–$0.025 / GB	Rather higher, according to zones/traffic	Very wide	Regionally electable	Enterprise, analytics, large ecosystems
Cost-optimized alternatives	$0.005–$0.012 / GB	Low to very low	Key features strong	Some EU regions	Web assets, backups, Media
EU-focused providers	$0.008–$0.02 / GB	Moderate, transparent	Compliance features	Yes, EU locations	GDPR-critical projects, Industries
Self-hosted/private cloud	Hardware/Ops-dependent	In your own network	Depending on the software	Full control	In-house data, sovereignty

SLAs, support, and operational readiness

I align SLAs with business requirements: availability, durability, support response times. Escalation paths, maintenance windows, and clear communication in the event of incidents are important. For productive workloads, I test support early on (tickets, chat, runbooks) and check whether metrics, logs, and status pages are reliable. A clean AVV, defined responsibilities, and versioned API changes show how mature an offering is for operation.

Practical examples for hosting customers

For media outsourcing, I move images, videos, and downloads to the bucket and let a CDN handle the Delivery accelerate. This relieves the web server, reduces I/O load, and keeps loading times low. I store backups with versioning and object lock so that incorrect operation or ransomware cannot cause any damage. I bring static websites online directly from the bucket and get a lean, fast platform. These patterns work reliably and make budgets and Growth calculable.

Common pitfalls and countermeasures

• Too many small filesHigh GET/LIST ratios, low CDN hit rate. Countermeasures: bundling, longer cache headers, prefetch/preload.
• Unclear namespaces: Deep, inconsistent prefixes slow down lists. Remedy: prefix sharding and consistent naming.
• Lack of cache busting: Old assets remain with the user. Countermeasure: Versioned file names and immutable headers.
• Multipart incorrectly dimensioned: Parts that are too small increase overhead, parts that are too large slow down retries. Remedy: Test part sizes of 8–64 MB, adjust parallelism.
• Cold classrooms without a planRetrieval costs can be surprising. Countermeasure: Analyze retrieval patterns and only migrate truly „cold“ data.
• Incomplete rights: Overly broad policies compromise security. Countermeasure: Least privilege, separate roles for upload, read, and admin.

CDN plus object storage

The combination of CDN and storage solves latency issues with Edge caches. I configure the CDN so that it pulls directly from the bucket and updates file versions cleanly via cache busting. For large files, I pay attention to range requests and consistent headers so that downloads run reliably. SSL, caching rules, and signing regulate access and security. This is how I scale globally and maintain Costs low due to offloading.

Checklist for selection

I'll start with a clear focus on data: current volume, expected growth, and monthly hits, plus typical File sizes. I then calculate egress based on realistic download volumes and check API limits that affect automation. I validate regions and certifications against compliance requirements and test critical functions in a test environment. I then measure upload, download, and latency from relevant target markets. Finally, I document migration paths so that I can switch providers without any problems if necessary. Standstill can change.

Migration and exit strategy

I plan the change from the outset: keep object layouts, metadata, and ACLs as generic as possible, document policies, and prepare tools such as synchronizations and parallel write paths. A pragmatic process:

• Dual-Write for new objects on source and destination buckets.
• Bulk Sync the inventory data with checksum verification.
• Cutover via DNS/CDN switching and gradual traffic shift.
• rollback plan including timeout and data diff.

I test signed URLs, headers, redirects, and CORS at the destination in advance so that applications can continue to run without code changes. A clear exit strategy prevents lock-in and keeps negotiations on an equal footing.

Briefly summarized

S3-compatible offers differ primarily in terms of Price, egress, performance, data location, and API depth. I prioritize workload patterns: high retrieval traffic, backup focus, or EU compliance. Then I select a provider from the appropriate category and test functions in a proof of concept. I manage security and costs with versioning, object lock, and lifecycle. This approach keeps the architecture open and preserves Flexibility and minimizes risks from costly wrong decisions.