Object tiers, lifecycle & protection · AWS vs Google Cloud
Amazon S3 storage classes / Amazon Glacier (original vault service) vs Cloud Storage classes (Standard, Nearline, Coldline, Archive)
S3 storage classes map to Cloud Storage's Standard, Nearline, Coldline, and Archive classes.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon S3 storage classes Amazon Glacier (original vault service) Maintenance | Cloud Storage classes (Standard, Nearline, Coldline, Archive) |
| Lifecycle | Generally available The standalone vault-based Glacier service (2012 REST API) no longer accepts new customers. Existing data stays accessible. AWS recommends the S3 Glacier storage classes instead. | Generally available |
| What it is | Standard, Intelligent-Tiering, Express One Zone, Standard-IA, One Zone-IA, Glacier Instant Retrieval, Glacier Flexible Retrieval, and Glacier Deep Archive. Minimum storage durations are 30 days (the IA classes), 90 days (Glacier Instant and Flexible), and 180 days (Deep Archive). Archive storage in vaults with its own API, separate from S3 and the S3 Glacier storage classes. | Storage classes with lower storage prices for colder data, offset by minimum storage durations and retrieval fees. All classes return data in milliseconds. |
| Pricing model | Lower GB-month as you go colder, with per-GB retrieval fees, minimum durations (30, 90, or 180 days), and a 128 KB minimum billable object size on the IA classes and Glacier Instant Retrieval. | Billed per GB-month by storage class and location, plus operations (per 10,000), retrieval fees for colder classes, and network egress. |
| Docs | Amazon S3 storage classes docs Amazon Glacier (original vault service) docs | Cloud Storage classes (Standard, Nearline, Coldline, Archive) docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon S3 storage classes pricing Amazon Glacier (original vault service) pricing | Cloud Storage classes (Standard, Nearline, Coldline, Archive) pricing |
Key differences
- Nearline, Coldline, and Archive have 30-, 90-, and 365-day minimum storage durations, plus retrieval fees.
- Even Archive returns data in milliseconds; there is no restore job or expedited/bulk retrieval tier.
- Storage class is set per object, with a bucket default.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Lower GB-month as you go colder, with per-GB retrieval fees, minimum durations (30, 90, or 180 days), and a 128 KB minimum billable object size on the IA classes and Glacier Instant Retrieval. Amazon S3 storage classes pricing → Amazon Glacier (original vault service) pricing →
- GCP
- Billed per GB-month by storage class and location, plus operations (per 10,000), retrieval fees for colder classes, and network egress. Cloud Storage classes (Standard, Nearline, Coldline, Archive) pricing →
And on Azure?
Direct match Azure's equivalent is Blob Storage access tiers (hot, cool, cold, archive). AWS vs Azure comparison →
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of Amazon S3 storage classes and Amazon Glacier (original vault service)?
S3 storage classes map to Cloud Storage's Standard, Nearline, Coldline, and Archive classes.
How does pricing compare between Amazon S3 storage classes and Amazon Glacier (original vault service) and Cloud Storage classes (Standard, Nearline, Coldline, Archive)?
AWS: Lower GB-month as you go colder, with per-GB retrieval fees, minimum durations (30, 90, or 180 days), and a 128 KB minimum billable object size on the IA classes and Glacier Instant Retrieval. Google Cloud: Billed per GB-month by storage class and location, plus operations (per 10,000), retrieval fees for colder classes, and network egress. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
Blob Storage access tiers (hot, cool, cold, archive) (direct match). S3 storage classes map to Blob access tiers.