Re: Cloud storage for 1TB media backup?

ORSlen · 02-13-2025 05:52 AM

Hello!

I’m looking for a backup solution for my photo and video archive, which is currently about 1TB and growing. I store everything on an SSD, but I’d like to back it up. Would cloud storage be a good option for this size, or is it more suited for larger archives?

greb

Hi @ORSlen,

Welcome to Google Cloud Community!

Cloud storage is an excellent choice for storing backups of your expanding 1TB photo and video collection. Google Cloud Storage (GCS) provides various storage classes depending on the frequency with which you access your data:

Coldline Storage (~$4/month per TB) – good for data you rarely access.
Archive Storage (~$1.20/month per TB) – cheapest, but best for long-term storage with minimal access.

If you just need a reliable backup, I recommend Archive Storage, it is the most cost-effective. Just keep in mind retrieval fees may incur if you need your files later.

For pricing details, you may check Google Cloud Storage Pricing.

Other options like pCloud or IDrive might work too, depending on your needs.

Was this helpful? If so, please accept this answer as “Solution”. If you need additional assistance, reply here within 2 business days and I’ll be happy to help.

ORSlen

Hi! Thanks for your reply and explanation.

I’m a bit confused about the payment for receiving and storage with minimal access. If I understand correctly, does that mean I won’t always have access to the files? I don’t check them every day, but I’d still like to be able to access them anytime. Is that possible?

talk2patel

You can access the data anytime, but an access fee will apply each time you retrieve it.

Coldline storage is best suited for data that you expect to read or modify no more than once per quarter.

Archive storage is the most cost-effective option for data that you plan to access less than once a year.

In your case, Google One might be a more economical choice: https://one.google.com/about/plans

ORSlen

Thanks for the info! I hadn’t seen it that way before, so that was really helpful!