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Confluent Cloud vs Wasabi

Confluent Cloud logo

Confluent Cloud

Cloud

The data streaming platform built on Apache Kafka, delivered as a fully managed cloud service

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Confluent CloudFull review
Wasabi logo

Wasabi

Cloud

Hot cloud storage without egress fees

From
$7.99/month
Free plan
No
Visit WasabiFull review

The short version

  • Confluent Cloud is a managed Apache Kafka service billed.
  • Confluent Cloud has a free plan, then $385/mo; Wasabi starts at $7.99/mo.
  • Where Confluent Cloud falls short: requires understanding of eCKU (Elastic Confluent Unit) billing.
  • Where Wasabi falls short: 90-day minimum storage duration with no option to delete before full period without penalty.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Confluent Cloud and Wasabi actually diverge.

Attributes where Confluent Cloud and Wasabi differ
AttributeConfluent CloudWasabi
Starting priceFree$7.99/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, API

Identical on both: category (Cloud).

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Wasabi, founded for Confluent Cloud.

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 Confluent Cloud

Nothing recorded that Wasabi does not also cover.

Only in Wasabi

  • Hot Cloud Storage
  • S3 Compatible API
  • Object Lock
  • Versioning
  • Multi-region
  • Data Migration Tools
  • Immutability
  • Ransomware Protection

What people use each for

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

Confluent Cloud

  • Apache Kafka event streaming and processingnot Wasabi
  • Real-time data pipeline architecturenot Wasabi
  • Multi-cloud event broker deploymentnot Wasabi
  • Stream processing and analyticsnot Wasabi
  • Microservices data synchronizationnot Wasabi

Wasabi

  • Backup and recoverynot Confluent Cloud
  • Media storagenot Confluent Cloud
  • Archive replacementnot Confluent Cloud
  • Ransomware protectionnot Confluent Cloud

Where each one falls short

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

Confluent Cloud

  • Requires understanding of eCKU (Elastic Confluent Unit) billing
  • Data in/egress costs add $0.014-$0.050 per GB
  • Storage costs of $0.03-$0.08 per GB-month
  • Minimum commitment recommended for cost optimization

Wasabi

  • 90-day minimum storage duration with no option to delete before full period without penalty
  • Significantly smaller global footprint than AWS with only 16 regions, resulting in higher latency for users in underserved regions
  • Performance can degrade with high-volume transactions requiring throughput management strategies
  • Hot storage only, no cold/archival storage tier for long-term data at lower cost
  • Support responsiveness gaps with teams experiencing multi-day waits for critical issue resolution

Pricing, plan by plan

Confluent Cloud

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Free first eCKU
    • Then $0.14 per eCKU-hour
    • 99.5% uptime
  • Standard$385/mo
    • $0.75 per eCKU-hour
    • 99.99% uptime with 2+ eCKUs
    • Infinite storage
  • Enterprise$895/mo
    • $1.75-$2.25 per eCKU-hour
    • Private networking
    • GBps+ scaling
  • Freight$2,300/mo
    • $2.25 per eCKU-hour
    • Specialty logging tier
    • Highest throughput requirements

Wasabi

$7.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Wasabi review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Confluent Cloud if

  • You want to start without paying.
Confluent Cloud review

Choose Wasabi if

  • You need hot cloud storage.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want s3 compatible api.
Wasabi review

Questions people ask

Is Confluent Cloud or Wasabi better?
Neither clearly leads. Confluent Cloud starts at Free and Wasabi at $7.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Confluent Cloud or Wasabi?
Confluent Cloud has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Confluent Cloud and $7.99/month for Wasabi.
Does Confluent Cloud or Wasabi run on more platforms?
Confluent Cloud runs on Web. Wasabi runs on Web, API.
Can I use Confluent Cloud for free?
Yes. Confluent Cloud has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Wasabi starts at $7.99/month.
What is Confluent Cloud best used for?
Confluent Cloud is most often used for apache kafka event streaming and processing, real-time data pipeline architecture, multi-cloud event broker deployment, stream processing and analytics. Of those, apache kafka event streaming and processing and real-time data pipeline architecture are not what Wasabi is typically brought in for.
What can Confluent Cloud do that Wasabi cannot?
Wasabi covers Hot Cloud Storage, S3 Compatible API, Object Lock, Versioning.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Confluent Cloud: How much does Confluent Cloud cost?

Confluent Cloud pricing starts free on Basic tier with $0.14 per eCKU-hour, Standard at $0.75 per eCKU-hour (~$385/month base), Enterprise at $1.75-$2.25 per eCKU-hour (~$895/month base), and Freight specialty tier at $2.25 per eCKU-hour (~$2300/month).

Source
Wasabi: What is Wasabi's pricing structure?

Wasabi offers pay-as-you-go pricing at $7.99 per TB per month as of July 2026, with no egress or API request fees. Reserved capacity plans are available for multi-year terms with volume discounts.

Source
Confluent Cloud: Is there a free tier for Confluent Cloud?

Yes, the Basic tier is free with one eCKU credit included. Additional usage is billed at $0.14 per eCKU-hour, plus data transfer and storage fees apply.

Source
Wasabi: Does Wasabi charge for data downloads or API calls?

No. Wasabi includes zero egress fees and zero API request fees, which is a major cost advantage over AWS S3. Customers can plan their budget to the penny without worrying about surprise data transfer charges.

Source
Confluent Cloud: What additional fees does Confluent Cloud charge?

Beyond eCKU hours, Confluent charges data in/egress at $0.014-$0.050 per GB and storage at $0.03-$0.08 per GB-month. Costs vary by tier and region.

Source
Wasabi: Is there a minimum storage duration requirement?

Yes. Wasabi enforces a 90-day minimum storage term. Users who delete data before 90 days are still charged for the full 90-day period.

Source
Confluent Cloud: Does Confluent offer discounts for higher usage?

Yes, volume discounts are negotiated upfront based on annual consumption estimates. Annual commitments allow flexible cross-product allocation with guaranteed cost savings.

Source
Wasabi: Is Wasabi S3-compatible?

Yes. Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage is fully S3-compatible, meaning organizations can integrate it into existing workflows without rewriting application code used with AWS S3.

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