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Object Storage comparison · 2026
MinIO (86) and Amazon S3 (81) are closely matched — this is one of the tightest Object Storage comparisons in our database, with just 5 points separating them overall. MinIO leads on Egress Cost (100 vs 40), while Amazon S3 has the edge on Ecosystem (98 vs 70). The two are closest on Performance, where the gap is just 7 points. Both offer a free tier, making either a low-risk starting point. Use the radar chart and dimension table below to find which fits your specific priorities best.
MinIO
Open-source, self-hosted S3-compatible object storage
86/100
Amazon S3
The original and most widely adopted object store
81/100
Radar comparison
MinIO
86
Amazon S3
81
Durability
Data redundancy guarantees and SLA-backed durability.
Price / Value
Storage cost per GB and egress fees.
Performance
Upload/download throughput and latency.
Developer UX
SDK quality, S3 API compatibility, and setup speed.
Egress Cost
Cost of transferring data out — often the hidden expense.
Ecosystem
CDN integration, multi-region support, and tooling.
Overall Score
Based on our independent scoring across 6 dimensions, MinIO scores 86/100 overall versus Amazon S3's 81/100 — a 5-point margin. MinIO leads on Egress Cost in particular. That said, Amazon S3 may still be the right choice if the dimensions where it scores higher match your specific priorities — the radar chart above shows the full profile side by side.
Both MinIO and Amazon S3 offer a free tier, so entry-level cost is not a differentiating factor. Compare the feature and usage limits of each free plan to see which gives you more headroom before a paid upgrade is needed.
MinIO scores higher on Egress Cost — 100/100 versus 40/100 for Amazon S3. If egress cost is your primary decision criterion, MinIO is the stronger choice in this head-to-head.
Switching between object storage tools is generally possible but involves migration effort: exporting your data or configuration from MinIO, re-importing or reconfiguring in Amazon S3, and updating any API integrations or environment variables in your codebase. The effort scales with how deeply embedded the tool is in your stack. Test Amazon S3 on a non-production project first before migrating.
MinIO (86/100) is the better fit for teams who prioritise egress cost — its strongest dimension — and who want a free entry point. Amazon S3 (81/100) is the better fit for teams who prioritise durability and want a free entry point. If both dimensions matter equally, the overall score winner (MinIO) is the safer default choice.
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