Backblaze Cloud Storage: B2 Storage and When to Use It

What Is Backblaze Cloud Storage?

Backblaze B2 at a glance (checked October 18, 2026)

Item	Details
Type	Object storage in buckets
Price	From $6.95 per TB per month, billed on average data stored
Free tier	First 10 GB of storage always free
Downloads (egress)	Free up to 3x average monthly storage, then $0.01 per GB
Best for	NAS backups, backup apps, servers, websites
Not for	Non-technical users wanting a one-click backup

I often point NAS owners to object storage like B2 after they learn their computer backup plan will not cover network drives. This guide explains what B2 is, and when it beats a regular backup plan.

How Is B2 Different From Backblaze Computer Backup?

They are two different products. Computer Backup is an app with a flat price per computer and unlimited data. B2 is raw storage that you connect to other software, and you pay for exactly what you store.

B2 vs Computer Backup

Feature	B2 Cloud Storage	Computer Backup
Pricing	Per TB stored	Flat per computer
Software	Bring your own	Backblaze app included
NAS and servers	Yes	No
Version rules	Set by your app and bucket settings	30 days, or longer for a fee

For the computer product, read our full Backblaze review.

How Does Object Storage Work for Backups?

Your backup software splits data into objects and uploads them to a bucket. The software tracks versions and decides what to delete. B2 simply stores the objects and serves them back when you restore.

Object lock adds ransomware protection. It makes chosen objects immutable for a set period, so nobody can delete them early. CISA recommends enabling “delete protection or object lock” on storage often targeted in ransomware attacks.

What Does Backblaze Cloud Storage Cost?

Backblaze lists B2 from $6.95 per terabyte per month, with the first 10 GB free. Downloads are free up to three times your average monthly storage, then $0.01 per gigabyte. Here are example monthly costs at that base rate.

Example monthly storage costs at $6.95 per TB

Data stored	Approximate monthly cost
500 GB	About $3.48
1 TB	$6.95
4 TB	$27.80
10 TB	$69.50

Remember that versions use Backblaze cloud storage space too. Long retention can double the stored amount. For wider price comparisons, see our guide to the cost of cloud storage.

When Should You Use B2?

• NAS owners: Synology Hyper Backup and QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync can send backups to cloud storage targets.
• Linux users: tools such as rclone and restic support object storage.
• Arq users: Arq can back up Windows and Mac computers to your own storage.
• Website owners: many backup plugins and hosts can upload to S3-compatible storage.

Our guide to sending a NAS backup to the cloud walks through the NAS setup step by step.

How to Get Started With B2

1. Create a Backblaze account and enable B2.
2. Create a private bucket, and turn on object lock if your software supports it.
3. Create an application key limited to that bucket.
4. Add the bucket and key in your NAS or backup app.
5. Turn on client-side encryption in the app and save the password safely.
6. Run the first backup, then restore a folder to test it.

Privacy and Security on B2

Use client-side encryption in your backup app, so data is encrypted before it leaves your network. Keep buckets private, and give each device its own limited key. That way, one stolen key cannot touch every bucket.

Common Myths About Object Storage

“B2 is a backup by itself”

It is storage. Versioning, schedules and restores come from your software. Without a proper backup app, B2 is just a remote folder.

“Object storage is only for big companies”

The first 10 GB are free and small amounts cost little, so home NAS owners can use it too. To compare it with a classic plan, read our cloud backup comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Backblaze B2 compatible with Amazon S3 tools?

Yes. B2 offers an S3-compatible API, so many tools built for Amazon S3 can connect to it with an endpoint, key and bucket name. Check your app’s documentation for the exact settings, and test with a small folder before running a large backup.

Does Backblaze charge for restoring data from B2?

Downloads are free up to three times your average monthly storage. Beyond that, Backblaze lists egress at $0.01 per gigabyte. For most home restores this means no extra fee. Very large or repeated restores can exceed the free amount, so check before a big download.

Can I use B2 for Time Machine backups?

Not directly, because Time Machine only writes to local or network disks. You can back up the Mac to a NAS with Time Machine, then send the NAS data to B2. Alternatively, use a Mac backup app that supports B2 as a destination.

How does object lock protect against ransomware?

Object lock makes stored objects unchangeable for a period you set. Even someone with your password cannot delete or overwrite them early. That keeps a clean copy available if ransomware encrypts your files or an attacker tries to wipe your backups.

Is B2 cheaper than a computer backup plan?

It depends on data size. A flat computer plan suits one machine with lots of data. B2 suits smaller amounts, many devices or NAS boxes, because you pay only for what you store. Remember to include old versions when you estimate how much you will store.