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Cloud & Infrastructure · head to head

AWS (Amazon Web Services) vs Backblaze

AWS (Amazon Web Services) logo

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Cloud & Infrastructure

The leading cloud computing platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Backblaze logo

Backblaze

File Storage & Backup

Unlimited cloud backup at an affordable price

From
$9/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only AWS (Amazon Web Services) has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AWS (Amazon Web Services) data transfer in is free and data transfer out is charged, which is the standard source of unexpected bills; Backblaze personal Backup is $99 a year billed annually, with no monthly option
  • They diverge on capability: AWS (Amazon Web Services) covers EC2 - Virtual Servers, Backblaze covers Unlimited backup.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Backblaze actually diverge.

Attributes where AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Backblaze differ
AttributeAWS (Amazon Web Services)Backblaze
Starting priceFree$9/month
Pricing modelusage-basedUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Api, Cli, MobileWindows, macOS, Web
CategoryCloud & InfrastructureFile Storage & Backup
Founded20062007

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AWS (Amazon Web Services)

  • EC2 - Virtual Servers
  • S3 - Object Storage
  • RDS - Managed Database
  • Lambda - Serverless Computing
  • CloudFront - CDN
  • VPC - Virtual Network
  • IAM - Access Management
  • CloudWatch - Monitoring

Only in Backblaze

  • Unlimited backup
  • Continuous backup
  • Version history
  • Private encryption key
  • Restore by mail
  • Mobile apps
  • macOS
  • Windows

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

  • Web hostingnot Backblaze
  • Data storagenot Backblaze
  • Machine learningnot Backblaze
  • Big data analyticsnot Backblaze
  • Application developmentnot Backblaze

Backblaze

  • Unlimited backup of a personal computer and external drivesnot AWS (Amazon Web Services)
  • Restoring files from anywhere through the webnot AWS (Amazon Web Services)
  • Mailed hard drive restore for large recoveriesnot AWS (Amazon Web Services)
  • Private encryption key control for sensitive datanot AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

  • Data transfer in is free and data transfer out is charged, which is the standard source of unexpected bills
  • Discounts require one or three year Savings Plan commitments rather than being automatic
  • Every service is priced separately, so a working architecture has no single published cost
  • The free tier is a promotional allowance rather than an ongoing free plan

Backblaze

  • Personal Backup is $99 a year billed annually, with no monthly option
  • Web restores are capped at 500GB per request
  • Forever version history is a Business tier add-on rather than included
  • Administrative controls and SSO are Business features
  • Backs up user data from a computer and attached drives, so NAS and server backup are not covered by the personal plan

Pricing, plan by plan

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Free
  • AWS Free TierFree
    • EC2 750 hours/month
    • 5GB S3 storage
    • 20GB data transfer
  • Pay-As-You-GoFree
    • No upfront payment
    • No long-term commitments
    • Pay only for what you use

Backblaze

$9/month
  • Personal Backup$9/month
    • Unlimited storage for single computer
    • Unlimited version history
    • 30-day trial
  • B2 Cloud Storage$6/TB/month
    • S3-compatible storage
    • Pay-as-you-go model

Which should you pick?

Choose AWS (Amazon Web Services) if

  • You need ec2 - virtual servers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api, Cli, Mobile.
  • You also want s3 - object storage.
AWS (Amazon Web Services) review

Choose Backblaze if

  • You need unlimited backup.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Web.
  • You also want continuous backup.
Backblaze review

Questions people ask

Is AWS (Amazon Web Services) or Backblaze better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS (Amazon Web Services) starts at Free and Backblaze at $9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AWS (Amazon Web Services) or Backblaze?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AWS (Amazon Web Services) and $9/month for Backblaze.
Does AWS (Amazon Web Services) or Backblaze run on more platforms?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) runs on Web, Api, Cli, Mobile. Backblaze runs on Windows, macOS, Web.
Can I use AWS (Amazon Web Services) for free?
Yes. AWS (Amazon Web Services) has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Backblaze starts at $9/month.
What is AWS (Amazon Web Services) best used for?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) is most often used for web hosting, data storage, machine learning, big data analytics. Of those, web hosting and data storage are not what Backblaze is typically brought in for.
What can AWS (Amazon Web Services) do that Backblaze cannot?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) covers EC2 - Virtual Servers, S3 - Object Storage, RDS - Managed Database, Lambda - Serverless Computing. Backblaze covers Unlimited backup, Continuous backup, Version history, Private encryption key.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Backblaze: What is the pricing for Backblaze Personal Backup?

Backblaze Personal Backup costs $9/month on monthly billing or $8.25/month when billed annually, providing unlimited storage for a single computer.

Source
Backblaze: What storage options does Backblaze B2 offer?

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is priced at $6/TB per month with a pay-as-you-go model, and is S3 compatible for flexible cloud storage.

Source
Backblaze: Does Backblaze support Linux systems?

No. Backblaze does not support Linux operating systems, limiting it to Windows, macOS, and web access only.

Source
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