Softwr

File Storage · head to head

Carbonite vs Storj

Carbonite logo

Carbonite

File Storage

Simple and reliable cloud backup for businesses

From
$6/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Storj logo

Storj

File Storage

S3-compatible object storage distributed in encrypted pieces across independently operated nodes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Storj has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Carbonite upload speeds are significantly slower than competitors due to lack of block-level algorithms and multithreading; Storj billing includes a per segment charge and every object consumes at least one segment, so a bucket holding millions of small files can cost several times what the four dollar per terabyte headline implies.
  • They diverge on capability: Carbonite covers Automatic backup, Storj covers Erasure coded distribution.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Carbonite and Storj actually diverge.

Attributes where Carbonite and Storj differ
AttributeCarboniteStorj
Starting price$6/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer terabyte per month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Mac, WebWeb, API, Linux, macOS, Windows
Founded2005Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (File Storage).

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 Carbonite

  • Automatic backup
  • Continuous protection
  • Remote file access
  • Bare metal restore
  • Encryption
  • Compliance support
  • Microsoft 365
  • Windows Server

Only in Storj

  • Erasure coded distribution
  • Client side encryption
  • S3-compatible gateway
  • Native uplink access
  • Object Lock and versioning
  • Storj Select

What people use each for

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

Carbonite

  • Data protectionnot Storj
  • Disaster recoverynot Storj
  • Business continuitynot Storj
  • Ransomware protectionnot Storj
  • Compliancenot Storj

Storj

  • An offsite backup or archive target where the data is large, written once and occasionally restorednot Carbonite
  • Serving large media files internationally without paying hyperscaler egress ratesnot Carbonite
  • Storing data where the objection to AWS, Azure or Google is jurisdiction and concentration rather than costnot Carbonite
  • A second, independent copy of a dataset that already lives in a hyperscaler bucketnot Carbonite

Where each one falls short

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

Carbonite

  • Upload speeds are significantly slower than competitors due to lack of block-level algorithms and multithreading
  • Bandwidth throttling control is limited, preventing users from managing full bandwidth allocation
  • Mobile apps and web access are more limited than sync-first services like Dropbox or Google Drive
  • Uses AES-128 encryption instead of industry-standard AES-256
  • Hybrid backup support is restricted to professional plans, unavailable for personal users

Storj

  • Billing includes a per segment charge and every object consumes at least one segment, so a bucket holding millions of small files can cost several times what the four dollar per terabyte headline implies.
  • Reconstructing an object requires responses from dozens of independent nodes, so time to first byte is noticeably higher than a centralised bucket and it is a poor fit behind a latency sensitive read path.
  • Performance depends on the mix of node operators serving you at that moment rather than on a datacentre you can raise a ticket against, so slow reads are diagnosed statistically rather than fixed.
  • The hosted S3 gateway terminates encryption on Storj infrastructure, so using the convenient access path gives up the end to end encryption that is the main architectural argument for the service.
  • The S3 gateway is compatible rather than identical, so tools that lean on less common API calls, multipart edge cases or unusual header behaviour need testing before you commit a workload to it.

Pricing, plan by plan

Carbonite

$6/month
  • Basic$6/month
    • Automatic backup
    • Unlimited cloud storage
    • Easy restore

Storj

Free
  • Free trialFree
    • 25 GB stored
    • 25 GB egress per month
    • No card required to start
  • Storj$4/month
    • 4 USD per terabyte stored per month
    • 7 USD per terabyte of egress
    • Per segment fee on top of stored volume

Which should you pick?

Choose Carbonite if

  • You need automatic backup.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Web.
  • You also want continuous protection.
Carbonite review

Choose Storj if

  • You need erasure coded distribution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API, Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want client side encryption.
Storj review

Questions people ask

Is Carbonite or Storj better?
Neither clearly leads. Carbonite starts at $6/month and Storj at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Carbonite or Storj?
Storj has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $6/month for Carbonite and Free for Storj.
Does Carbonite or Storj run on more platforms?
Carbonite runs on Windows, Mac, Web. Storj runs on Web, API, Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Storj for free?
Yes. Storj has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Carbonite starts at $6/month.
What is Carbonite best used for?
Carbonite is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what Storj is typically brought in for.
What can Carbonite do that Storj cannot?
Carbonite covers Automatic backup, Continuous protection, Remote file access, Bare metal restore. Storj covers Erasure coded distribution, Client side encryption, S3-compatible gateway, Native uplink access.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Carbonite: Does Carbonite offer unlimited storage?

Yes, Carbonite's personal plans (Safe Basic through Safe Server Ultimate) offer unlimited cloud storage, though business plans have tiered storage starting at 250 GB.

Source
Storj: Why is my bill higher than four dollars per terabyte?

Almost always the per segment fee. Objects are split into segments and small files each consume one, so a few million tiny objects generate a segment charge that dwarfs the storage line.

Carbonite: What is Carbonite's pricing?

Personal plans range from $4.91 to $83.33 per month with annual billing. Business plans start around $50-$75 per endpoint annually, with volume discounts available for multi-year contracts.

Source
Storj: Can node operators read my data?

No. Files are encrypted client side and each operator holds only an erasure coded fragment, which is not a readable portion of the file.

Carbonite: How fast are Carbonite's upload speeds?

Carbonite's upload speeds are notably slow and are consistently identified as the platform's main weakness. The lack of block-level algorithms and multithreading contributes to these speed limitations.

Source
Storj: Is there a minimum retention period?

No. You are billed for what you store while you store it, unlike several competitors that bill a ninety day minimum whatever you delete.

Carbonite: What encryption does Carbonite use?

Carbonite uses AES-128 encryption at rest, which is an unusual choice in 2026 when AES-256 is the industry standard.

Source
Storj: Is it fast enough to serve a website from?

For large files with parallel reads, yes. For many small objects where time to first byte matters, put a CDN in front of it or use something centralised.

Share

Related pages

More on Carbonite

More on Storj

Keep looking

Other head to heads