Wasabi vs Backblaze B2 vs IDrive e2: Affordable S3-Compatible Storage Compared
AWS S3 isn't the only game in town for object storage. Wasabi, Backblaze B2, and IDrive e2 offer S3-compatible APIs at dramatically lower prices. This guide compares all three — and shows how RcloneView manages them all from a single interface.
If you're backing up terabytes of data, using object storage for media delivery, or archiving project files, AWS S3's pricing model can get expensive fast. Three serious alternatives have emerged: Wasabi (no egress fees), Backblaze B2 (pay-as-you-go, B2 Native API + S3), and IDrive e2 (ultra-low per-GB pricing). All three are S3-compatible, meaning RcloneView connects to all of them the same way.
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.
Pricing Comparison (2026)
| Provider | Storage (per GB/month) | Egress (per GB) | Minimum Storage | Free Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS S3 | ~$0.023 | ~$0.09 | None | 5 GB |
| Wasabi | ~$0.0069 | $0 (no egress fees) | 1 TB minimum billing | None |
| Backblaze B2 | ~$0.006 | $0.01 (first 3× storage free) | None | 10 GB |
| IDrive e2 | ~$0.004 | $0.05 | None | 10 GB |
Prices approximate; check each provider's website for current rates.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Wasabi | Backblaze B2 | IDrive e2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3-compatible API | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Versioning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Object Lock (immutability) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Server-side encryption | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lifecycle rules | ✓ | ✓ | Limited |
| Regions | US, EU, AP | US, EU | US, EU |
| CDN integration | Via 3rd party | Cloudflare free | Via 3rd party |
| Free egress partner | No | Cloudflare, Fastly | Cloudflare |
| Dashboard | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| RcloneView support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
When to Choose Wasabi
Wasabi shines when egress costs would otherwise dominate your bill. If you frequently read or download files from storage (media streaming, data analytics, frequent restores), Wasabi's zero-egress pricing makes the total cost predictable.
However, Wasabi charges for a minimum of 1 TB at all times, and it charges for objects deleted within 90 days of upload. If you're storing data that changes frequently (like cache or temporary files), those minimums make Wasabi expensive.
Best for: Media delivery, video streaming archives, large active datasets with frequent downloads.
When to Choose Backblaze B2
Backblaze B2 is the most flexible option for variable workloads. There's no minimum storage or minimum object age. The free Cloudflare CDN partnership means most egress through Cloudflare is also free. B2 has been S3-compatible since 2022 and works with any S3 client.
Best for: Personal backups, backup software (Veeam, Duplicati, Arq), media archives with Cloudflare CDN, and teams that want predictable per-GB billing with no surprises.
When to Choose IDrive e2
IDrive e2 offers the lowest per-GB storage price of the three, with a reasonable egress rate. It's S3-compatible and supported by a company with a long history in backup software. It's a good choice when minimizing the pure storage cost is the top priority.
Best for: Cold storage archives, long-term backup retention, price-sensitive workloads.
Connecting All Three in RcloneView
RcloneView can manage Wasabi, B2, and IDrive e2 simultaneously through their S3-compatible interfaces:
For each provider, add a new remote in RcloneView as S3-Compatible:
| Provider | Endpoint | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wasabi | s3.wasabisys.com (or regional endpoint) | No bucket creation fee |
| Backblaze B2 | s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com (region-specific) | Also has native B2 remote type |
| IDrive e2 | v2.us-east-1.mazodr.com (region-specific) | Use S3 remote type |
Migrating Between Providers with RcloneView
RcloneView makes it easy to test providers by copying data between them:
- Wasabi → B2 — test performance and access patterns before committing
- B2 → IDrive e2 — move cold archives to even cheaper storage
- AWS S3 → any of the three — escape AWS pricing
Recommendation Summary
| Your Situation | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Frequent downloads / media streaming | Wasabi (no egress) |
| Variable backups, Cloudflare CDN | Backblaze B2 |
| Maximum storage per dollar, cold archive | IDrive e2 |
| You're already using Cloudflare | Backblaze B2 (free egress) |
| Unpredictable access patterns | Backblaze B2 (no minimums) |
Getting Started
- Download RcloneView from rcloneview.com.
- Sign up for your chosen provider and generate S3 API credentials.
- Add the remote in RcloneView as S3-Compatible with the provider's endpoint.
- Start your first transfer — local backup, cross-cloud copy, or sync.
All three are dramatically cheaper than AWS S3. The best choice depends on your access patterns — and RcloneView works equally well with all of them.
Related Guides:
- Migrate Wasabi to Backblaze B2
- Sync IDrive e2 to S3 and Google Drive
- Immutable S3 Object Lock Backup
Supported Cloud Providers
