Backblaze Pricing Backup: A Closer Look at Bandwidth Costs

Backblaze is a popular cloud storage service that offers affordable pricing for backup and storage needs. However, some users have reported being surprised by the cost of bandwidth usage when running backups. In this article, we'll take a closer look at Backblaze's pricing model and explore how it affects users who rely on regular backups.

At first glance, Backblaze's pricing seems straightforward: $6 per month or $60 per year for unlimited backup storage. However, the company also charges for download bandwidth, which can add up quickly, especially for large data sets. This is where things get interesting, as the cost of bandwidth usage can vary significantly depending on your backup needs.

For example, if you have a large repository of files and run regular backups, you may find yourself facing significant bandwidth costs. In my case, I recently discovered that Backblaze charged me $13.59 for bandwidth alone in just one month, which translates to over 1 terabyte of data downloaded. This is concerning, as it means that even with a relatively small backup retention period, the cost of bandwidth usage can add up quickly.

One way to get a better handle on your bandwidth costs is by using Restic, a command-line backup tool that provides detailed statistics on backup size and usage. By running commands like `restic stats -mode raw-data -tag backup_mysql`, you can determine the total size used by specific backups and track changes over time.

Backblaze's pricing model varies depending on whether you choose to pay monthly, annually, or bi-annually. The company offers a simple tiered structure, with costs ranging from $6 per month for unlimited storage to $110 per year for unlimited storage and bandwidth. However, it's important to note that these prices only apply to upload bandwidth; download bandwidth is charged separately.

So what can you do to minimize your bandwidth costs when using Backblaze? One strategy is to regularly review your backup statistics and identify areas where you can optimize your backups. For example, if you find that a particular database or file set is contributing significantly to your overall backup size, you may be able to reduce the frequency or scope of those backups.

Another option is to consider using Backblaze's File Lifecycle feature, which allows you to keep only the last version of each file. This can help reduce the amount of data being backed up and downloaded, ultimately leading to lower bandwidth costs.

In conclusion, while Backblaze offers affordable pricing for backup storage, it's essential to understand the company's bandwidth usage policies and plan accordingly. By using tools like Restic and regularly reviewing your backup statistics, you can minimize your bandwidth costs and ensure that your backups are running efficiently.

Backblaze pricing backup