Quick answer
Cloudflare R2 - Cloudflare R2 wins for most builders who want predictable object storage for apps and web workloads, while Backblaze B2 is better if your main cost concern is cheap storage with generous free egress and low-op backup-style usage.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers solve related but different problems. Backblaze B2 is the more traditional backup and archive bucket: storage is cheap, the free tier covers 10 GB forever, and egress is free up to 3x your average monthly storage before overage charges kick in. That makes it attractive when you mostly store data and rarely move it out. Cloudflare R2 is shaped more like an app storage layer: the free tier includes 10 GB-month, 1 million Class A ops, 10 million Class B ops, and free egress, which is a better fit for builder workflows that involve lots of reads and object operations. After the free tier, B2 stays usage-based and simple, while R2 adds operation charges that can matter sooner for request-heavy apps. If you expect API traffic, R2’s free egress is a cleaner default; if you expect large stored datasets with modest traffic, B2 is often cheaper.
Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage vs Cloudflare R2 free tier, side by side
| Backblaze B2 Cloud StorageFTV 35 | Cloudflare R2FTV 38 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free storageB2 free storage applies across the service; R2 free storage is specifically Standard storage. | First 10GB always free | 10 GB-month of Standard storage per month |
| Free operationsR2 includes larger monthly request quotas in the free tier. | Class A free; Class B and C free for the first 2,500/day per class | 1 million Class A operations per month; 10 million Class B operations per month |
| EgressThis is the biggest structural difference between the products. | Free up to 3x average monthly storage; then $0.01 per GB | Free egress data transfer to the Internet |
| Storage pricing after free tierR2 has separate storage classes with different request and retrieval charges. | Starts at $6.95 / TB / mo | Standard: $0.015 / GB-month; Infrequent Access: $0.01 / GB-month |
| Minimum file size / duration feesThis matters mainly for short-lived objects and churny workflows. | No minimum file size fees; no minimum storage duration fees | Infrequent Access has a 30 day minimum storage duration |
After you outgrow the free tier
Both products are usage-based, but they expose cost differently. Backblaze B2 charges mainly for storage plus egress after the free allowance, with API costs mostly free at low volume. Cloudflare R2 also uses usage-based pricing, but request charges are part of the bill much earlier, especially for Class A operations. For small teams, R2 is usually easier to reason about when serving apps or downloads because egress is free. B2 is often cheaper when stored data is large and request volume is low. Exact totals depend on access patterns, and R2 Infrequent Access adds retrieval fees.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage | Cloudflare R2 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 GB stored, 50 GB egress/month, light API usageB2 storage is estimated from $6.95/TB/mo; R2 Standard storage is $0.015/GB-month. Both stay within free egress. | ~$0.68/mo | ~$1.50/mo |
| 1 TB stored, 1 TB egress/month, low request volumeB2 includes free egress up to 3x average monthly storage, so 1 TB egress is still within the free allowance if average storage is 1 TB. R2 egress is free. | ~$6.95/mo | ~$15.00/mo |
| 1 TB stored, 20 million Class A ops and 100 million Class B ops/monthB2 class A/B/C are free in the paid plan features shown, with Class D priced separately; the input does not give Class A/B/C paid rates for overage, so this is storage-only for B2. R2 adds request charges from the supplied rates. | ~$6.95/mo | ~$50.40/mo |
| 1 TB stored in Infrequent Access, 500 GB retrieval/month, moderate request volumeR2 Infrequent Access pricing is shown in the input; B2 has no separate infrequent-access tier here. | ~$6.95/mo | ~$15.00 storage + request charges + $5.00 retrieval/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage when…
- You are backing up files, archives, or media and expect storage to dominate cost more than request volume.
- You want a simple pay-as-you-go object store with low storage pricing and no minimum file size or storage duration fees.
- Your workload can stay within 3x average monthly storage for egress, or you do not move data out often.
- You are okay with a smaller free tier as long as the paid storage rate is low.
Pick Cloudflare R2 when…
- You are building an app that reads and writes objects frequently and want a free tier with operation quotas included.
- You want free egress by default for internet delivery, downloads, or asset serving.
- You need S3-compatible storage for web content, media assets, or batch-generated artifacts.
- You expect request volume to matter as much as storage, and you want the paid model to stay aligned with that usage.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Cloudflare R2 is the safer default if you are serving application data, assets, or downloads and want to avoid egress surprises. Backblaze B2 wins when you are mainly storing data, not constantly reading it back, and you want the lowest straightforward storage bill. If your workload is request-heavy, R2’s free egress and free tier structure usually fit better. If your workload is backup-heavy and storage-heavy, B2 is the cheaper and simpler option.
Read the full listings: Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage and Cloudflare R2. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.