Is Microsoft Azure's Archive tier the best deal?

Blob Storage · $0/mo

Best in class

Azure Archive tier offers the lowest storage cost in the market at $0/month per GB, making it unbeatable for long-term retention. However, the high retrieval fees ($0.02/GB plus $6.50 per 10,000 ops), 180-day minimum retention lock-in, and 128 KiB minimum billing per object create significant hidden costs if you need frequent or early access to data.

Before you switch

Verify your actual retrieval frequency and priority level before committing; high-priority retrieval at $0.02/GB adds up quickly on large datasets
Confirm the 180-day minimum retention aligns with your compliance and business needs; early deletion incurs penalties
Calculate the effective cost including the 128 KiB minimum per object, especially if storing many small files
Compare against AWS Glacier Deep Archive or Google Cloud Coldline if retrieval is infrequent; their retrieval models may be cheaper depending on your access pattern
Ensure outbound bandwidth costs are factored in; Azure charges above 100 GB/month pooled free tier

This comparison is generated from publicly listed pricing and may contain errors or omissions. It is not financial or professional advice, and CloudHosting.io is not responsible for decisions made based on it. Pricing, promotions, and specs change frequently and may not reflect current terms, regional availability, taxes, or contract length. Always verify current pricing and terms directly on the provider's site before purchasing or switching.

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