Google Cloud Nearline Archive compared to Cloud Cold Storage?
Pricing taken from Google.com and CloudColdStorage.com, October 2025
Google Cloud: Flexible Compute & Hot Storage
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) provides powerful compute services such as Google Compute Engine, giving businesses scalable, reliable resources to run workloads efficiently. Its storage offerings include Cloud Storage Standard for frequent access and Nearline for less-used data. GCP Nearline delivers durability and integration within Google Cloud tools, but retrievals and egress incur additional costs.
Cloud Cold Storage: Simple, Cost-Effective Nearline
Cloud Cold Storage is designed for infrequently accessed data. With flat-rate pricing, no retrieval or egress fees, and 99.999% proven durability, it offers predictable, hassle-free storage. Ideal for backups, compliance records, or archival data, Cloud Cold Storage provides a reliable, low-cost alternative to traditional nearline storage services.
Cloud Cold Storage vs Google Cloud Storage Nearline
Reduce long-term archive costs by over 60% compared with GCP Nearline, while avoiding retrieval and egress fees entirely.
| Comparison | Cloud Cold Storage | Google Cloud Storage Nearline |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing (per GB / month) | $0.00155 / GB-month ($1.55 per TB) | $0.010 / GB-month ($10.00 per TB) |
| Minimum storage duration | No minimum — billed monthly | 30 days minimum |
| Retrieval latency | Seconds to minutes (streamed from your dedicated media) | Milliseconds to seconds (online disk tier) |
| Retrieval / egress fees | None — no retrieval or egress fees | $0.01 per GB retrieval + network egress costs |
| API & ecosystem | S3-compatible; works with major cloud tools | GCS API; best for Google-native workloads |
| Durability & infrastructure | 99.999% durability; same data-centre provider used by GCP & others. No power required once written until data is requested again. | 99.999999999% durability across regions |
| Best fit | Lower-cost nearline for long-term, rarely accessed data | Higher-cost nearline for faster access use cases |