Pick / avoid summary (fast)
Skim these triggers to pick a default, then validate with the quick checks and constraints below.
- ✓ You need better ecosystem integration and Cloudflare bandwidth alliance
- ✓ You want partnerships and integrations that extend beyond raw storage
- ✓ You can model egress costs and prefer ecosystem breadth
- ✓ You want zero egress fees to simplify cost modeling for frequent restores
- ✓ You need immutable storage for ransomware protection
- ✓ You prioritize raw pricing simplicity over ecosystem integrations
- × Not a hyperscaler ecosystem; governance and integrations can be narrower
- × Request-heavy or restore-heavy access patterns can change economics materially
- × Smaller provider with less enterprise trust than hyperscalers
- × Fewer regions than AWS/GCP/Azure for global distribution
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CheckModel egress patterns and immutability needs—those often decide the fit more than storage $/GB
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The trade-offecosystem partnerships vs raw pricing + immutability
At-a-glance comparison
Backblaze B2
Cost-driven object storage for backups and media libraries, often evaluated versus Wasabi and S3 when the decision is pricing mechanics (egress + requests) rather than raw storage price.
- ✓ Often chosen for cost-driven storage economics in backup and media use cases
- ✓ S3-compatible API option supports many common tools and workflows
- ✓ Good fit when storage footprint is large and hyperscaler complexity is unnecessary
IDrive e2
IDrive e2 is an S3-compatible object storage from IDrive, focused on affordable pricing with zero egress fees. It's evaluated when buyers want cost-driven storage with immutable backups for ransomware protection, often compared to B2 and Wasabi.
- ✓ Very competitive pricing ($0.004/GB/mo) for cost-conscious storage needs
- ✓ Zero egress fees simplify cost modeling for backup and restore workflows
- ✓ Immutable storage for ransomware protection adds security value
What breaks first (decision checks)
These checks reflect the common constraints that decide between Backblaze B2 and IDrive e2 in this category.
If you only read one section, read this — these are the checks that force redesigns or budget surprises.
- Real trade-off: Budget object storage with S3 compatibility: ecosystem partnerships and Cloudflare bandwidth alliance vs zero egress fees and immutable storage
- Egress economics vs ecosystem depth: Model egress, requests, and transfer paths for your workload (media delivery, backups, cross-region replication)
- S3 compatibility vs pricing mechanics reality: Verify API surface and operational features you rely on (multipart uploads, lifecycle rules, replication, encryption controls)
Implementation gotchas
These are the practical downsides teams tend to discover during setup, rollout, or scaling.
Where Backblaze B2 surprises teams
- Not a hyperscaler ecosystem; governance and integrations can be narrower
- Request-heavy or restore-heavy access patterns can change economics materially
- Region footprint and latency/performance expectations must be validated
Where IDrive e2 surprises teams
- Smaller provider with less enterprise trust than hyperscalers
- Fewer regions than AWS/GCP/Azure for global distribution
- Limited ecosystem integrations compared to hyperscaler platforms
Where each product pulls ahead
These are the distinctive advantages that matter most in this comparison.
Backblaze B2 advantages
- ✓ Better ecosystem integration and Cloudflare bandwidth alliance
- ✓ More partnerships and integrations extending beyond storage
- ✓ Stronger ecosystem connections for workflow integration
IDrive e2 advantages
- ✓ Zero egress fees simplify cost modeling for restore-heavy workloads
- ✓ Immutable storage provides ransomware protection
- ✓ Simple pricing model without egress complexity
Pros and cons
Backblaze B2
Pros
- + You need better ecosystem integration and Cloudflare bandwidth alliance
- + You want partnerships and integrations that extend beyond raw storage
- + You can model egress costs and prefer ecosystem breadth
- + Your workload benefits from Cloudflare adjacency and bandwidth partnerships
- + You want cost-driven storage with stronger ecosystem connections
- + You don't require immutable storage for ransomware protection
Cons
- − Not a hyperscaler ecosystem; governance and integrations can be narrower
- − Request-heavy or restore-heavy access patterns can change economics materially
- − Region footprint and latency/performance expectations must be validated
- − Advanced features and integrations may not match hyperscaler parity
IDrive e2
Pros
- + You want zero egress fees to simplify cost modeling for frequent restores
- + You need immutable storage for ransomware protection
- + You prioritize raw pricing simplicity over ecosystem integrations
- + Your backup/archival workload benefits from zero egress economics
- + You want cost-driven storage without egress complexity
- + You can work with fewer ecosystem integrations and partnerships
Cons
- − Smaller provider with less enterprise trust than hyperscalers
- − Fewer regions than AWS/GCP/Azure for global distribution
- − Limited ecosystem integrations compared to hyperscaler platforms
- − No CDN integration for content delivery optimization
- − Less granular IAM and policy controls than hyperscalers
- − Limited SLA compared to hyperscaler-grade service levels
Keep exploring this category
If you’re close to a decision, the fastest next step is to read 1–2 more head-to-head briefs, then confirm pricing limits in the product detail pages.
FAQ
How do you choose between Backblaze B2 and IDrive e2?
Both are budget object storage with S3 compatibility targeting cost-conscious storage. B2 has better ecosystem integration and Cloudflare bandwidth alliance, while IDrive e2 has zero egress fees and immutable storage for ransomware protection. Choose B2 if ecosystem partnerships and integration breadth matter more than raw pricing. Choose IDrive e2 if zero egress and immutability are priorities for your backup and archival workloads.
When should you pick Backblaze B2?
Pick Backblaze B2 when: You need better ecosystem integration and Cloudflare bandwidth alliance; You want partnerships and integrations that extend beyond raw storage; You can model egress costs and prefer ecosystem breadth; Your workload benefits from Cloudflare adjacency and bandwidth partnerships.
When should you pick IDrive e2?
Pick IDrive e2 when: You want zero egress fees to simplify cost modeling for frequent restores; You need immutable storage for ransomware protection; You prioritize raw pricing simplicity over ecosystem integrations; Your backup/archival workload benefits from zero egress economics.
What’s the real trade-off between Backblaze B2 and IDrive e2?
Budget object storage with S3 compatibility: ecosystem partnerships and Cloudflare bandwidth alliance vs zero egress fees and immutable storage
What’s the most common mistake buyers make in this comparison?
Assuming both are interchangeable 'cheap S3' instead of modeling ecosystem integration needs, egress patterns, and immutability requirements
What’s the fastest elimination rule?
Pick Backblaze B2 if: You want ecosystem partnerships and Cloudflare bandwidth alliance with cost-driven storage
What breaks first with Backblaze B2?
Cost assumptions when request volume or restore frequency increases. Performance expectations if regions and user geography don’t align. Integration gaps if you rely on hyperscaler-native services and tooling.
What are the hidden constraints of Backblaze B2?
Your workload’s request profile can matter as much as egress for total spend. Restore frequency shifts economics compared to cold storage assumptions. S3-compatibility is helpful, but integration edge cases can still surface.
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Sources & verification
We prefer to link primary references (official pricing, documentation, and public product pages). If links are missing, treat this as a seeded brief until verification is completed.