AWS S3 vs Google Cloud Storage vs Azure Storage - A Comprehensive Guide

When evaluating cloud storage options, AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage, and Azure Storage are top choices. This guide explores their features, cost structures, and a comparison with on-premises storage to help businesses, especially startups, make informed decisions.

Overview of Azure Storage

Azure Storage offers enterprise-grade solutions, integrating deeply with Microsoft products like Office 365 and Power BI. Key services include:

• Blob Storage Object storage for unstructured data.
• Azure Files Managed file shares via SMB/NFS protocols.
• Table Storage NoSQL storage for structured data.
• Queue Storage Message storage for workflows.
• Disk Storage Managed disks for Azure VMs.

Blob Storage compares directly with AWS S3 and Google Cloud Storage, featuring multiple access tiers and lifecycle management tools.

Storage Classes and Use Cases

AWS S3

AWS offers seven storage classes. S3 Standard suits frequent access, while Glacier Deep Archive is ideal for long-term archival. Intelligent-Tiering automatically optimizes costs by moving data between tiers.

Google Cloud Storage

Google Cloud organizes its offerings into four tiers: Standard, Nearline, Coldline, and Archive. While simpler than AWS, it lacks automated tiering, requiring manual lifecycle policies.

Azure Blob Storage

Azure offers three tiers:

• Hot Tier For frequent access.
• Cool Tier Cost-effective for infrequent access.
• Archive Tier Lowest cost for rarely accessed data.

Azure supports lifecycle policies to automate transitions between these tiers, similar to AWS Intelligent-Tiering.

Pricing Comparison

Storage Costs

Typical costs for object storage (per GB/month):

• AWS S3

  • Standard: ~$0.023
  • Standard-IA: ~$0.0125
  • Glacier Deep Archive: ~$0.00099

• Google Cloud Storage

  • Standard: ~$0.020
  • Coldline: ~$0.007
  • Archive: ~$0.0025

• Azure Blob Storage

  • Hot Tier: ~$0.018
  • Cool Tier: ~$0.01
  • Archive Tier: ~$0.002

Retrieval Costs

All providers charge for data retrieval. Google Cloud often has lower retrieval fees than AWS or Azure.

API and Operations Costs

Request costs vary across platforms but can significantly impact high-operation workloads.

Free Allocations for Startups

AWS Free Tier

• 5 GB of Standard storage for 12 months.
• 20,000 GET and 2,000 PUT requests/month.
• Startup Perks AWS Activate offers up to $100,000 in credits.

Google Cloud Free Tier

• 5 GB of Standard storage (perpetual).
• Free retrieval (up to 1 GB/month).
• Startup Perks Google Cloud for Startups provides up to $200,000 in credits.

Azure Free Tier

• 5 GB of Hot Blob Storage for 12 months.
• 2 million operations/month.
• Startup Perks Microsoft for Startups offers up to $150,000 in credits.

Helping Startups Evaluate Storage Costs

For startups, cost efficiency is critical. Here are steps to optimize costs:

1. Understand Access Patterns

   • Frequent access: AWS S3 Standard, Google Standard, or Azure Hot.
   • Infrequent access: AWS Standard-IA, Google Nearline, or Azure Cool.

2. Leverage Free Tiers

   Use free allocations to test and optimize workloads.

3. Evaluate Data Growth

   Choose archival tiers like AWS Glacier or Azure Archive for rarely accessed data.

4. Integration Costs

   • Google Cloud aligns with Workspace tools.
   • Azure integrates with Office 365.

5. Monitor Usage

   Use cost-management tools to identify savings (e.g., AWS Cost Explorer, Google Pricing Calculator, or Azure Cost Management).

Cost Comparison: Cloud Storage vs On-Premises Storage

To achieve cloud-level durability (99.999999999 percent) and availability (99.99 percent) on-premises, organizations face significant costs.

On-Premises Storage Costs

1. Hardware: $20,000-$50,000 for 100 TB.
2. Software: $1,000-$5,000 annually.
3. Infrastructure: $5,000-$15,000 upfront, plus operational costs.
4. Operational Costs: $10,000-$30,000 annually (electricity, staffing).
5. Depreciation: Hardware requires replacement every 3-5 years.

Cloud Storage Costs

• AWS S3 (100 TB Standard): ~$2,300/month, ~$33,600/year.
• Google Cloud Storage (100 TB Standard): ~$2,000/month, ~$28,800/year.
• Azure Blob Storage (100 TB Hot): ~$1,800/month, ~$26,400/year.

Comparison Table

Note: cost comparison is for illustrative purposes only.

Conclusion

While on-premises storage can be cost-effective for predictable, long-term workloads, cloud storage offers unparalleled flexibility and scalability. For startups, the low entry costs and free credits provided by AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure make cloud storage the ideal choice. By evaluating workload requirements and leveraging cost-saving tools, businesses can choose the right platform for their needs.