Compare Cloudflare R2 vs AWS S3 – Manage Your Storage Wisely with RcloneView
Explore the pros and cons of two popular object storage solutions—and discover how RcloneView lets you move, sync, and manage files between them effortlessly.
What Sets Cloudflare R2 and AWS S3 Apart?
Cloud storage is everywhere—but picking the right provider can save you time, hassle, and money. Let’s dive into what makes Cloudflare R2 and AWS S3 unique.
Understanding Cloudflare R2
- No egress fees: R2 eliminates outgoing data charges, making large-scale operations more cost-effective.
- S3-compatible API: Seamless migration and tool compatibility—with a few API gaps still being addressed.
- Generous free tier: Includes storage, read/write operations—with no expiry.
Understanding AWS S3
- Mature ecosystem: Rich feature set with tiered storage classes, lifecycle rules, versioning, IAM controls.
- Complex yet powerful pricing: Offers intelligent tiering and varied options—but includes egress and operational fees.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Cloudflare R2 | AWS S3 |
|---|---|---|
| Egress Fees | None | Starts from ~$0.05–0.09/GB |
| Pricing Structure | Simple, flat rates (storage + ops) | Tiered, variable based on region & class |
| API Compatibility | S3-compatible (with some limitations) | Native, full-featured S3 API |
| Feature Set | Basic: lifecycle, CDN integration | Advanced: versioning, encryption, tiers |
| Free Tier | Generous and perpetual | Limited (5 GB, 12-month window) |
Why Move Data Between AWS S3 and Cloudflare R2?
Maybe you're exploring cost optimization, redundancy, or vendor diversification. Here’s when syncing between R2 and S3 makes sense—and why RcloneView fits the bill:
- Cut costs: Offload heavy egress workflows to R2 while retaining data in S3.
- Increase resilience: Backup critical data across platforms for redundancy.
- Streamline operations: Manage and replicate buckets using one unified interface.
- Avoid complexity: Skip CLI tools—RcloneView gives you a GUI to manage both seamlessly.
Manage & Sync All Clouds in One Place
RcloneView is a cross-platform GUI for rclone. Compare folders, transfer or sync files, and automate multi-cloud workflows with a clean, visual interface.
- One-click jobs: Copy · Sync · Compare
- Schedulers & history for reliable automation
- Works with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, S3, WebDAV, SFTP and more
Free core features. Plus automations available.
How to Manage S3 ↔ R2 Transfers with RcloneView
Step 1 – Get Ready
- Ensure access keys or credentials for both platforms are ready (AWS IAM keys, Cloudflare API keys).
- Decide whether you're performing a one-time transfer, selective sync, or scheduled replication.
🔍 Helpful guides:
Step 2 – Connect Remotes in RcloneView
- Open RcloneView, click
+ New Remote - Add AWS S3 (authenticate via AWS access keys, name it
S3-Remote) - Add Cloudflare R2 (use API credentials and name it
R2-Remote) - Confirm both appear in the Explorer pane side by side.
Step 3 – Transfer or Sync Files
A) Drag & Drop
Easily move individual files or folders between S3 and R2.
👉 See more: Copying Files using Drag and Drop
B) Compare & Copy
Preview differences between buckets and sync only updated or missing objects.
👉 See more: Compare and Manage Files
C) Sync & Schedule Jobs
Set up recurring jobs—e.g., nightly sync from S3 to R2 for redundancy or cost-saving purposes.
👉 See more:
Pro Tips:
- Start with a small test folder to validate setup.
- Use dry-run mode to review actions before execution.
- Leverage filters to exclude temporary or irrelevant files.
Final Thoughts & Smart Usage Ideas
Summary
- Cloudflare R2: Cost-efficient with no egress fees, simple pricing, S3-compatible.
- AWS S3: Feature-rich and robust, but has complex pricing and egress costs.
- RcloneView: Your bridge—use its GUI to manage transfers, comparisons, and syncs between both platforms without command-line hassle.
Smart Additional Tips
- Blend R2 for public-facing workloads (e.g., CDN-hosted assets) and S3 for deep archival or enterprise workflows.
- Use lifecycle rules on S3 to tier cold data to cheaper storage, and replicate cold data to R2 for cost control.
- Monitor job logs in RcloneView to audit sync history.
FAQs
Q: Can I migrate without paying egress fees?
A: No—when transferring data out of S3, AWS charges egress. But subsequent transfers between S3 and R2 via RcloneView won’t incur R2 fees.
Q: Is RcloneView suitable for large-scale workflows?
A: Absolutely—its scheduling and syncing tools scale well for enterprise or repeat transfer jobs.
Ready to streamline your storage management?
Supported Cloud Providers
