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AWS S3 vs. Google Cloud Storage: Which One is More Cost-Effective?

 

AWS S3 vs. Google Cloud Storage: Which One is More Cost-Effective?

When choosing a cloud storage provider, cost is often a primary concern. Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage (GCS) are two of the most popular object storage services, offering competitive pricing, performance, and features. However, determining which one is more cost-effective depends on various factors, including storage class, data transfer costs, retrieval fees, and access frequency. This article compares AWS S3 and Google Cloud Storage to help you determine the most budget-friendly option for your needs.

Storage Pricing

Both AWS S3 and Google Cloud Storage offer multiple storage classes tailored for different use cases. Here’s a breakdown of their standard storage pricing per GB per month (as of recent data):

Storage ClassAWS S3 (per GB)Google Cloud Storage (per GB)
Standard$0.023$0.020
Infrequent Access (Nearline)$0.0125$0.010
Archive (Deep Archive/Coldline)$0.00099$0.004

Google Cloud Storage generally offers lower prices per GB for most storage classes. However, these rates don’t tell the full story.

Data Transfer Costs

Both providers charge for data egress (transferring data out of their cloud to another region or the internet). The pricing varies based on the volume of data transferred.

  • AWS S3:

    • First 1GB: Free

    • Up to 10TB: $0.09 per GB

    • 10TB–50TB: $0.085 per GB

    • 50TB–150TB: $0.07 per GB

    • Beyond 150TB: Custom pricing

  • Google Cloud Storage:

    • First 1GB: Free

    • Up to 10TB: $0.12 per GB

    • 10TB–50TB: $0.11 per GB

    • 50TB–150TB: $0.08 per GB

AWS S3 has a slight edge when it comes to data egress costs, especially for higher data volumes.

API Request Costs

Both AWS and Google charge for API operations such as PUT, GET, and DELETE requests. The costs for standard storage are:

  • AWS S3:

    • PUT, COPY, POST, LIST: $0.005 per 1,000 requests

    • GET and SELECT: $0.0004 per 1,000 requests

  • Google Cloud Storage:

    • Class A operations (e.g., WRITE): $0.005 per 1,000 requests

    • Class B operations (e.g., READ): $0.0004 per 1,000 requests

These costs are fairly similar, with no significant advantage for either provider.

Retrieval Fees

For infrequent access and archival storage, retrieval fees can add significant costs.

  • AWS S3:

    • S3 Standard-IA: $0.01 per GB retrieved

    • S3 Glacier: $0.0025 per GB (bulk retrieval)

    • S3 Glacier Deep Archive: $0.002 per GB (bulk retrieval)

  • Google Cloud Storage:

    • Nearline: $0.01 per GB retrieved

    • Coldline: $0.02 per GB retrieved

    • Archive: $0.05 per GB retrieved

AWS has a cost advantage in long-term archival storage, especially for bulk retrievals.

Other Cost Considerations

  • Durability & Availability: Both services offer 99.999999999% (11 nines) durability. Google provides a 99.95% availability SLA for Standard storage, while AWS offers 99.99%.

  • Free Tier: AWS offers 5GB free in S3 each month, while Google Cloud provides 5GB free in Standard storage.

  • Cold Storage Minimum Storage Duration: AWS Glacier requires data to be stored for at least 90 days, whereas Google’s Coldline requires 90 days and Archive requires 365 days.

So Which One is More Cost-Effective?

If you primarily store hot data (frequently accessed data), Google Cloud Storage tends to be slightly cheaper for standard storage. However, AWS S3 becomes more cost-effective when handling large-scale data transfers and archival storage, thanks to its lower retrieval and egress fees.

Ultimately, the best option depends on your specific use case. If you’re primarily concerned about raw storage costs, Google Cloud Storage might be the better choice. But if you need to move a lot of data or require frequent access to archived files, AWS S3 offers more cost savings in the long run.


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