Cloud Storage Pricing Comparison from AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud

By mid-2025, global data creation is expected to hit over 180 zettabytes—a tenfold growth from just five years ago. Driven by AI workloads, multimedia content, and IoT, businesses increasingly rely on cloud storage for scalability, accessibility, and reliability. IDC reports that more than 70% of enterprise data now lives in the cloud, fueling the race between big players—Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

But with so many tiers, options, and pricing structures, understanding cloud storage costs can feel like decoding a puzzle. Choosing the right balance between performance, access, and budget is critical. In this guide, we'll dive into a practical cloud storage pricing comparison across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, breaking down each tier, analyzing standard and archival use cases, and highlighting how other players like Cyfuture Cloud can offer compelling alternatives for regional hosting.

Whether you’re an individual developer, startup, or enterprise architect, let’s make sure you’re getting top performance and value.

Understanding the Core Storage Tiers

All major cloud providers offer multiple tiers tailored for different access frequencies:

Standard / Hot Storage: For active data—daily reads/writes.

Cool / Nearline Storage: For monthly-access data; cheaper than Standard.

Cold / Archive Storage: For rarely accessed data—week to year tier.

Deep Archive: Ultra-low-cost, long retrieval time.

Below is a comparison of pricing (prices approximate, USD, US region):

This raw storage cost is only part of the story. For a complete picture, let’s examine access, transfers, and real-world usage.

Breaking Down Cloud Storage Costs

1. Storage Cost (Per GB/Month)

Reflects the cost of keeping your data stored. As shown in the table, AWS, Azure, and Google offer closely aligned prices—with slight advantages in specific tiers. Cyfuture Cloud offers strong local pricing for Indian businesses.

2. Data Retrieval / Egress

Moving data out of the cloud often costs more than storing it:

AWS Outbound: ~$0.09/GB for first 10 TB, sliding to $0.05+/GB

Azure Data Transfer: ~$0.087/GB for first 50 TB

Google Cloud Egress (same region free): ~$0.12/GB general

Intra-region or to servers is usually free.

Cyfuture Cloud’s regional model offers mostly free or low-cost data transfers when using paired server hosting.

3. API Requests & Operations

Operations like PUT/GET/LIST carry micro-charges per 10,000 requests:

AWS GET ~ $0.0004; PUT ~ $0.005

Azure and Google follow similar pricing models

Archival tiers often have higher retrieval charges.

4. Minimum Storage Duration

Each tier has a minimum retention period to qualify for lower pricing:

AWS: Deep Archive 180 days, Glacier 90 days

Azure Archive: 180 days

GCP Archive: 365 days

Cyfuture Cloud lets you keep files indefinitely with flat pricing and no penalties.

5. Additional Costs

Early deletion fees if you delete before minimum duration

Versioning and lifecycle management charges

Encryption or advanced features based on vendor

Practical Use Case Scenarios

Scenario A: Active Blog and Media Server

1 TB Standard storage + 500 GB monthly egress + 5M GET/PUT requests

AWS: ~$23 + ~$45 + $2 = ~$70

Azure: ~$18 + ~$43 + $2 = ~$63

GCP: ~$20 + ~$60 + $2 = ~$82

Cyfuture: ₹1.5k + ₹150 + small API fees = ₹1.7k ($20)

Even before factoring egress, regional providers offer significant savings for domestic or local audience workloads.

Scenario B: Monthly Backup

10 TB Nearline (monthly access)

AWS: $125 + negligible requests = $125

Azure: $100

GCP: $100

Cyfuture: ₹4k (~$50)

Nearline backup is more cost-effective and Cyfuture shows better value in local currency, ideal for SMB backup/storage.

Scenario C: Long-Term Archive for Compliance

50 TB Archive tier, occasional (<1 TB/year) retrieval

AWS: $200 + $100 retrieval = $300

Azure: $100 + $50 = $150

GCP: $350

Cyfuture: ₹10k + ₹200 retrieval = ~$130

Azure and Cyfuture Cloud offers standout pricing in cold storage scenarios.

Why Choose Cyfuture Cloud?

For Indian businesses and developers, Cyfuture Cloud delivers unique value:

Local data centers ensure low latency and compliance

Simplified billing with no lock-in or hidden network fees

Flat-rate retention and flexible storage tiers

Seamless integration with Cyfuture’s server hosting and cloud management

Cost-effective regional models suitable for hybrid or national deployments

Tips to Optimize Cloud Storage Costs

Use Lifecycle Rules
Automatically move data to cheaper tiers after specified periods.

Avoid High Egress
Keep storage and serving within the same region or use paired VPS/cloud servers.

Classify Data Access Patterns
Store logs, backups, and archives in cool or archive tiers; keep hot data in standard tiers.

Batch Accesses
Reduce API charges by combining multiple small files into archives (e.g., ZIP/TAR).

Monitor Usage and Alerts
Use platform cost dashboards to monitor egress spikes or request surges.

Conclusion: Pick the Right Storage, and Save Big

Cloud storage is essential—but costs can spiral if not managed. AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud offer powerful, reliable services, but fees add up—especially when considering egress and archival data.

Cyfuture Cloud complements global giants by offering storage that’s optimized for Indian users: low-cost tiers, minimal egress charges, and parenting by local server hosting teams. If you're targeting domestic traffic, running backups, or keeping large archives, their regional pricing is compelling.

As a rule of thumb:

Use Standard tiers for live data—choose the provider with lowest retrieval cost in your primary region

Move to Nearline/Cool for monthly backups and archiving cycles

Archive with deep cold tiers for long-term retention—watch out for retrieval penalties

Optimize via lifecycle rules, batch API access, and aligning hosting and storage geographically

With strategy and smart choice, you get performance and reliability without overpaying. If you'd like a personalized cost comparison or deployment diagram for your application, I’d be happy to help you architect an optimized storage solution!