File Storage · head to head
Microsoft OneDrive vs Storj
Microsoft OneDrive
File Storage
Cloud storage that comes with Microsoft 365
- From
- $1.99/month
- Rated
- -
Storj
File Storage
S3-compatible object storage distributed in encrypted pieces across independently operated nodes
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Storj has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft OneDrive free tier not available; minimum cost is $1.99/month for 100 GB storage; 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.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft OneDrive and Storj actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft OneDrive | Storj |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Per terabyte per month |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, API, Linux, macOS, Windows |
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 Microsoft OneDrive
Nothing recorded that Storj does not also cover.
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.
Microsoft OneDrive
- Personal cloud storage and file backupnot Storj
- Family file sharing and collaborationnot Storj
- Business document managementnot Storj
- Enterprise ransomware protectionnot Storj
Storj
- An offsite backup or archive target where the data is large, written once and occasionally restorednot Microsoft OneDrive
- Serving large media files internationally without paying hyperscaler egress ratesnot Microsoft OneDrive
- Storing data where the objection to AWS, Azure or Google is jurisdiction and concentration rather than costnot Microsoft OneDrive
- A second, independent copy of a dataset that already lives in a hyperscaler bucketnot Microsoft OneDrive
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Microsoft OneDrive
- Free tier not available; minimum cost is $1.99/month for 100 GB storage
- Higher-tier plans required for advanced Copilot features
- Per-user pricing increases significantly with family plans
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
Microsoft OneDrive
$1.99/month- Microsoft 365 Basic$1.99/month
- 100 GB cloud storage
- Outlook access
- OneDrive access
- Microsoft 365 Personal$9.99/month
- 1 TB cloud storage
- Desktop Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote)
- Copilot features
- Microsoft 365 Family$12.99/month
- Up to 6 TB cloud storage (1 TB per person)
- 1-6 users supported
- Same apps and features as Personal
- Microsoft 365 Premium$19.99/month
- Up to 6 TB cloud storage (1 TB per person)
- 1-6 users
- Extensive Copilot feature access
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 Microsoft OneDrive if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft OneDrive from Storj on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft OneDrive or Storj better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft OneDrive starts at $1.99/month and Storj at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft OneDrive or Storj?
- Storj has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1.99/month for Microsoft OneDrive and Free for Storj.
- Does Microsoft OneDrive or Storj run on more platforms?
- Microsoft OneDrive runs on 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. Microsoft OneDrive starts at $1.99/month.
- What is Microsoft OneDrive best used for?
- Microsoft OneDrive is most often used for personal cloud storage and file backup, family file sharing and collaboration, business document management, enterprise ransomware protection. Of those, personal cloud storage and file backup and family file sharing and collaboration are not what Storj is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft OneDrive do that Storj cannot?
- Storj covers Erasure coded distribution, Client side encryption, S3-compatible gateway, Native uplink access.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Microsoft OneDrive: How much does Microsoft OneDrive cost?
OneDrive pricing starts at $1.99/month for Microsoft 365 Basic with 100 GB storage. Personal plan costs $9.99/month with 1 TB storage. Family plan at $12.99/month supports 1-6 people with up to 6 TB total storage. Premium tier at $19.99/month adds advanced Copilot and AI features.
SourceStorj: 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.
Microsoft OneDrive: Is there a free version of Microsoft OneDrive?
Microsoft does not offer a free OneDrive plan through their paid subscription tiers. However, users with Microsoft accounts receive 5 GB of complimentary OneDrive storage at no cost when creating a Microsoft account.
SourceStorj: 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.
Microsoft OneDrive: What security features are included in OneDrive plans?
All OneDrive plans include ransomware detection with files restore, password-protected and expiring-link file sharing settings, and anywhere editing with real-time collaboration. Premium and higher tiers offer exclusive agentic AI security features.
SourceStorj: 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.
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.
Related pages
More on Microsoft OneDrive
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