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Wasabi vs AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Wasabi logo

Wasabi

Software

Hot cloud storage without egress fees

From
$7.99/month
Rated
-
AWS (Amazon Web Services) logo

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Software

The leading cloud computing platform

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only AWS (Amazon Web Services) has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Wasabi 90-day minimum storage duration with no option to delete before full period without penalty; AWS (Amazon Web Services) data transfer in is free and data transfer out is charged, which is the standard source of unexpected bills
  • They diverge on capability: Wasabi covers Hot Cloud Storage, AWS (Amazon Web Services) covers EC2 - Virtual Servers.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Wasabi and AWS (Amazon Web Services) differ
AttributeWasabiAWS (Amazon Web Services)
Starting price$7.99/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, Api, Cli, Mobile
Founded20152006

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

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 Wasabi

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

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

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • HIPAA

What people use each for

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

Wasabi

  • Backup and recoverynot AWS (Amazon Web Services)
  • Media storagenot AWS (Amazon Web Services)
  • Archive replacementnot AWS (Amazon Web Services)
  • Ransomware protectionnot AWS (Amazon Web Services)

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Wasabi

$7.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Wasabi review.

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Wasabi if

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

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.

Questions people ask

Is Wasabi or AWS (Amazon Web Services) better?
Neither clearly leads. Wasabi starts at $7.99/month and AWS (Amazon Web Services) at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Wasabi or AWS (Amazon Web Services)?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.99/month for Wasabi and Free for AWS (Amazon Web Services).
Does Wasabi or AWS (Amazon Web Services) run on more platforms?
Wasabi runs on Web, API. AWS (Amazon Web Services) runs on Web, Api, Cli, Mobile.
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. Wasabi starts at $7.99/month.
What is Wasabi best used for?
Wasabi is most often used for backup and recovery, media storage, archive replacement, ransomware protection. Of those, backup and recovery and media storage are not what AWS (Amazon Web Services) is typically brought in for.
What can Wasabi do that AWS (Amazon Web Services) cannot?
Wasabi covers Hot Cloud Storage, S3 Compatible API, Object Lock, Versioning. AWS (Amazon Web Services) covers EC2 - Virtual Servers, S3 - Object Storage, RDS - Managed Database, Lambda - Serverless Computing. Both handle SOC2, HIPAA.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
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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