Backblaze B2 vs Cloudflare R2

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Backblaze B2

Low-cost S3-compatible object storage for backups, media and application data.

Free plan + paid

Visit Backblaze B2 Backblaze B2 profile

Cloudflare R2

Cloudflare's S3-compatible object storage with no egress fees and a monthly free tier.

Free plan + paid

Visit Cloudflare R2 Cloudflare R2 profile

The short answer

Backblaze B2 and Cloudflare R2 are both S3-compatible object stores with 10 GB free. B2 suits backups, archives and media libraries where storage cost matters most and downloads are modest. R2 suits files served heavily to the internet, and apps on Cloudflare Workers, because it charges nothing for egress. The key difference: B2 is cheaper to store data, R2 is cheaper to serve it.

Backblaze B2 or Cloudflare R2: our take

Storage pricing favours B2 for large, rarely downloaded data. B2 starts at $6.95 per TB/month on a single always-hot tier. R2 Standard storage is $0.015 per GB-month, and its Infrequent Access class is $0.01 per GB-month but adds retrieval fees and has no free tier. B2 also has no minimum file size or minimum storage duration fees, and both services give the first 10 GB of storage free.

Egress is where they split. R2 charges no egress for any storage class, so serving images, downloads or datasets to the public doesn't add bandwidth bills. B2's downloads are free up to three times the data you store each month, and many CDN and compute partners get free egress beyond that, but anything past those limits is billed. On operations, B2's basic API calls are free on pay-as-you-go accounts, while R2 bills two classes of operations, with Class A writes at $4.50 per million requests on Standard after the free tier.

The surrounding platforms differ too. R2 lives inside Cloudflare's developer platform, with a native Workers API that lets serverless code read and write buckets without managing keys, and migration tools that copy data from other S3-style providers in bulk or as objects are requested. B2 comes from the company behind Backblaze's computer backup, is widely supported by backup tools and NAS devices, sells annual capacity with volume discounts, and offers a faster B2 Overdrive tier for AI and high-throughput workloads.

Use B2 for backups, archives, NAS sync and media libraries that are written often and read occasionally. Use R2 for public assets, user uploads served to many people, or apps already running on Cloudflare Workers. Some teams use both: B2 for backups and R2 for what they serve.

Choose Backblaze B2 if…

Developers and IT teams who want cheap S3-compatible storage without minimum duration fees
First 10 GB of storage is free
No minimum file size or storage duration fees

Choose Cloudflare R2 if…

Developers serving files to the web who want to avoid egress fees, especially on Cloudflare Workers
No egress charges for any storage class
Free tier of 10 GB storage and millions of operations a month

What is Backblaze B2?

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is an object storage service from the company behind Backblaze's personal computer backup. It offers an S3-compatible API alongside its own native API, so backup tools, NAS devices, media workflows and apps can store data in buckets without code changes beyond an endpoint. Pricing is per terabyte stored with a single always-hot tier, and the first 10 GB is free. Downloads are free up to three times the amount you store each month, and many CDN and compute partners get free egress beyond that. Basic API calls are free for pay-as-you-go accounts, and there are no minimum file size or minimum storage duration fees, unlike several rivals. Capacity can also be bought annually with volume discounts, and a faster B2 Overdrive tier targets AI and high-throughput workloads. It runs as a web service with a browser console and command-line tools. It suits developers, IT teams and creators who want cheap, predictable cloud storage.

What is Cloudflare R2?

Cloudflare R2 is an object storage service on Cloudflare's developer platform. It exposes an S3-compatible API, so existing S3 tools and SDKs work after switching the endpoint, and it also has a native API for Cloudflare Workers, which lets serverless code read and write buckets without managing keys. The main draw is that R2 charges nothing for egress, so serving files, images or datasets to the internet doesn't add bandwidth bills. You pay for stored data and for two classes of operations, with a Standard class and a cheaper Infrequent Access class that adds retrieval fees. A free tier covers 10 GB of Standard storage plus a set number of reads and writes each month. Migration tools can copy data from other S3-style providers, either in bulk or gradually as objects are requested. It runs entirely in Cloudflare's network and is managed from the dashboard, API or CLI. It suits developers serving public assets or building apps on Cloudflare.

Side by side

Attribute	Backblaze B2	Cloudflare R2
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web	Web
Best for	Developers and IT teams who want cheap S3-compatible storage without minimum duration fees	Developers serving files to the web who want to avoid egress fees, especially on Cloudflare Workers
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	Backblaze B2	Cloudflare R2
S3 compatible	Yes	Yes