Softwr

File Storage · head to head

Storj vs Zerto

Storj logo

Storj

File Storage

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zerto logo

Zerto

File Storage

Continuous data protection with near-zero RPO

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Storj has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Zerto zerto with Azure is listed on UK G-Cloud as a reseller-managed disaster recovery service, not Zerto's own licence pricing, with OS management from £75 per host per month for the public sector
  • They diverge on capability: Storj covers Erasure coded distribution, Zerto covers Continuous data protection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Storj and Zerto actually diverge.

Attributes where Storj and Zerto differ
AttributeStorjZerto
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelPer terabyte per monthsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, API, Linux, macOS, WindowsWindows, Linux, Web
FoundedUnknown2009

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 Storj

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

Only in Zerto

  • Continuous data protection
  • Journal-based recovery
  • Automated failover
  • Non-disruptive testing
  • Multi-cloud mobility
  • Long-term retention
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V

What people use each for

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

Storj

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

Zerto

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

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Zerto

  • Zerto with Azure is listed on UK G-Cloud as a reseller-managed disaster recovery service, not Zerto's own licence pricing, with OS management from £75 per host per month for the public sector

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Zerto

$5/month
  • Zerto Enterprise Cloud$5/month
    • Continuous protection
    • Journal-based recovery
    • Multi-cloud mobility

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Zerto if

  • You need continuous data protection.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want journal-based recovery.
Zerto review

Questions people ask

Is Storj or Zerto better?
Neither clearly leads. Storj starts at Free and Zerto at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Storj or Zerto?
Storj has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Storj and $5/month for Zerto.
Does Storj or Zerto run on more platforms?
Storj runs on Web, API, Linux, macOS, Windows. Zerto runs on Windows, Linux, Web.
Can I use Storj for free?
Yes. Storj has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zerto starts at $5/month.
What is Storj best used for?
Storj is most often used for an offsite backup or archive target where the data is large, written once and occasionally restored, serving large media files internationally without paying hyperscaler egress rates, storing data where the objection to aws, azure or google is jurisdiction and concentration rather than cost, a second, independent copy of a dataset that already lives in a hyperscaler bucket. Of those, an offsite backup or archive target where the data is large, written once and occasionally restored and serving large media files internationally without paying hyperscaler egress rates are not what Zerto is typically brought in for.
What can Storj do that Zerto cannot?
Storj covers Erasure coded distribution, Client side encryption, S3-compatible gateway, Native uplink access. Zerto covers Continuous data protection, Journal-based recovery, Automated failover, Non-disruptive testing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Zerto: Can I try Zerto before buying?

Yes, Zerto offers a 14-day free trial or on-demand lab access to test the platform.

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.

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.

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 Storj

More on Zerto

Keep looking

Other head to heads