Backblaze B2

Overview

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is an object storage service introduced by Backblaze in 2015, building on the company's existing data backup infrastructure established in 2007. The service is engineered for developers and technical buyers seeking scalable, durable, and cost-effective cloud storage solutions. B2 is designed to accommodate a range of applications, including long-term data archiving, serving as storage for backup solutions, and acting as an origin store for Content Delivery Networks (CDNs).

The platform offers an S3-compatible API, which facilitates migration from or integration with applications originally designed for Amazon S3. This compatibility aims to reduce the development effort required for integrating new services or migrating existing workloads. Backblaze B2 provides comprehensive documentation, including API references and SDKs for multiple programming languages such as Python, Go, Java, Ruby, and PHP, to assist developers in building and managing applications. A command-line interface (CLI) and a web-based user interface are also available for administrative tasks and data management.

Backblaze B2's infrastructure is designed for data durability and availability, with data replicated across multiple drives and data centers. The service emphasizes a transparent pricing model, separating costs for storage and data egress, with a free tier providing 10 GB of storage and 1 GB of daily downloads. For larger data transfers, Backblaze offers integrations and partnerships that can reduce or eliminate egress fees, notably with Cloudflare for free egress to their CDN services. This approach positions B2 as a competitive option for scenarios where data storage volume is high and egress costs are a consideration for budget management.

While often compared to hyperscale cloud providers, Backblaze B2 focuses specifically on object storage, differentiating itself through its pricing structure and developer-centric approach to integration and management. Its use cases extend beyond simple backup to include serving as a repository for large datasets, hosting static website content, and providing backend storage for various applications that require a reliable and scalable object storage layer.

Key features

• S3-Compatible API: Provides an API that is compatible with Amazon S3, enabling existing S3 tools and applications to integrate with Backblaze B2 with minimal modification. This reduces vendor lock-in and simplifies multi-cloud strategies Backblaze B2 API Reference.
• Transparent Pricing: Separate, published rates for data storage and data download, designed to provide predictability for budgeting Backblaze B2 Pricing.
• Free Egress to CDN Partners: Offers free data transfer out to select CDN providers, including Cloudflare, which can significantly reduce costs for content delivery applications Backblaze B2 Pricing Details.
• Developer SDKs: Official SDKs are available for Python, Go, Java, Ruby, and PHP, streamlining development and integration into various applications Backblaze B2 SDKs.
• Command-Line Interface (CLI): A dedicated CLI tool allows for scripting, automation, and direct management of buckets and files from the terminal Backblaze B2 Docs.
• Web-Based User Interface: A graphical interface provides a way to manage buckets, upload/download files, and configure settings without needing API calls or CLI commands Backblaze B2 Overview.
• Lifecycle Rules: Allows users to define rules for automatically deleting or moving files after a specified period, useful for managing data retention and compliance policies.
• Snapshots and Versioning: Supports file versioning to protect against accidental deletions or overwrites, enabling restoration of previous file states.
• Data Durability: Designed for high data durability through data replication and integrity checks across its storage infrastructure.
• Compliance Certifications: Adheres to standards such as SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, CCPA, and PCI DSS, addressing specific regulatory and security requirements for enterprise use cases Backblaze B2 Compliance Information.

Pricing

Backblaze B2 offers a free tier and a pay-as-you-go model for its cloud storage services, with separate charges for storage and data egress. Pricing is subject to change; the table below reflects information as of June 2026.

For the most current pricing details, refer to the Backblaze B2 pricing page.

Common integrations

• Cloudflare CDN: Direct integration for free data egress, allowing B2 to serve as an origin for Cloudflare's global content delivery network Cloudflare R2 documentation.
• Veeam Backup & Replication: Compatible for offsite backup and archiving of virtual machines and other data Backblaze B2 Integrations.
• Duplicati: Open-source backup client that supports Backblaze B2 as a storage destination for encrypted, incremental backups.
• Synology NAS: Integration with Synology's Hyper Backup application for direct backups from NAS devices to B2 Cloud Storage.
• Cyberduck / Mountain Duck: Desktop clients for managing files on B2, providing a graphical interface for uploads, downloads, and synchronization Backblaze B2 Third-Party Tools.
• rclone: A command-line program to sync files and directories to and from various cloud storage providers, including B2.
• Cloudberry Backup (MSP360): Backup and recovery software that supports B2 as a cloud storage target for Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.

Alternatives

• Amazon S3: A widely adopted object storage service offering various storage classes, extensive integrations within the AWS ecosystem, and a comprehensive set of features for data management and analytics.
• Cloudflare R2: An object storage service notable for its zero egress fees, designed to be S3-compatible, and integrated with Cloudflare's global network for low-latency access and content delivery.
• Wasabi Cloud Storage: An object storage provider that focuses on hot cloud storage with no egress fees and simplified pricing, aiming for cost-effectiveness for frequently accessed data.
• Google Cloud Storage: Google's object storage service offering multiple storage classes, strong consistency, and integration with other Google Cloud Platform services.
• Azure Blob Storage: Microsoft's object storage solution for the cloud, supporting various storage tiers, large-scale data lakes, high-performance computing, and application workloads.

Getting started

To get started with Backblaze B2, you typically create an account, then create a bucket to store your files. Here's a Python example using the b2sdk to upload a file:

import b2sdk.v1 as b2
import os

# Replace with your actual application key ID and application key
application_key_id = os.environ.get("B2_APPLICATION_KEY_ID")
application_key = os.environ.get("B2_APPLICATION_KEY")
bucket_name = "my-cloudpicker-bucket"
file_to_upload = "my_local_file.txt"

# Initialize B2 API
info = b2.InMemoryAccountInfo()
api = b2.B2Api(info)

try:
    api.authorize_account("production", application_key_id, application_key)
    print("Authorization successful.")

    # Get the bucket by name
    bucket = api.get_bucket_by_name(bucket_name)
    print(f"Accessing bucket: {bucket_name}")

    # Upload the file
    with open(file_to_upload, 'rb') as f:
        uploaded_file = bucket.upload_bytes(f.read(), file_to_upload)
    print(f"File '{file_to_upload}' uploaded successfully as '{uploaded_file.file_name}'.")

except Exception as e:
    print(f"An error occurred: {e}")

# It's good practice to close the API session if you're done with it
# In a short script, this might not be strictly necessary, but for longer-running apps, it's important.
# api.close_resources()

Before running this code:

1. Install the B2 Python SDK: pip install b2sdk.
2. Create an account on Backblaze B2.
3. Generate an Application Key ID and Application Key from your Backblaze B2 account dashboard Backblaze API Keys.
4. Create a bucket named my-cloudpicker-bucket (or your preferred name) in your B2 account. Ensure the bucket has appropriate permissions.
5. Create a local file named my_local_file.txt with some content for testing.
6. Set your application key ID and key as environment variables (B2_APPLICATION_KEY_ID and B2_APPLICATION_KEY) or replace the placeholder values directly in the script (not recommended for production).

This script demonstrates the basic steps of authenticating with B2 and uploading a file to a specified bucket. For more advanced operations, such as downloading, deleting, or managing bucket settings, consult the Backblaze B2 API documentation.