🧰 Free Tool
Cloud Storage Cost Comparator
See what subscription cloud storage really costs over 3–5 years compared to Long Drive's one-time permanent storage.
How storage options actually compare
Scenario: you need to keep 5 GB of important files. Long Drive bills by actual usage; subscription services have no 5 GB tier, so the smallest plan (2 TB) applies.
| Compared on | Long Drive | Google One 2TB | Dropbox Plus 2TB | Baidu Netdisk SVIP | Self-hosted NAS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity tier | 5 GB (as needed) | 2 TB (smallest) | 2 TB (smallest) | 5 TB (membership) | ~4 TB (buy drives) |
| Total cost, 5 years | $266 | $599 | $719 | ~$125 | ~$600 |
| Total cost, 10 years | $266 | $1,199 | $1,439 | ~$250 | ~$1,000 |
| If you stop paying | Files kept permanently | Access lost | Access lost | Access lost | Hardware ages out |
| Payment type | One-time | Monthly | Monthly | Yearly | Hardware + upkeep |
| Provider can delete | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Third-party verifiable | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Sources: each provider's publicly listed pricing (Sept 2026); Long Drive at current Arweave rates. Note: subscription services offer no 5 GB tier — figures shown are their smallest plan, charged in full even if unused, while Long Drive bills precisely by actual usage. NAS figures exclude electricity and maintenance time.