Hetzner Storage Box vs Storj: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Hetzner Storage Box and Storj is a common decision for cloud storage buyers in 2026. Hetzner Storage Box has been in the market since 1997, giving it a 17-year head start over Storj (founded 2014). Hetzner Storage Box serves 500K+ users while Storj has 25K+ users globally. Hetzner Storage Box differentiates with sftp and rsync access and samba/cifs support, while Storj leads with s3-compatible api and decentralized network. In this head-to-head comparison, Hetzner Storage Box earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 90/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

📦
Hetzner Storage Box
Cloud Storage
90
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
🌐
Storj
Cloud Storage
86
hiltonsoftware.co Score

Quick Comparison

Hetzner Storage Box
Storj
Starting Price
$3.81/mo (1TB)
$0.004/GB/mo
Free Plan
No
Yes
Users
500K+
25K+
Founded
1997
2014
Rating
4.5/5
4.3/5
Best For
European businesses and developers wanting cheap, ...
Developers wanting cheap, decentralized S3-compati...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Hetzner Storage BoxStorj
92Ease of Use83
91Features90
87Value for Money92
83Customer Support84
84Integrations83
88Scalability85
88Learning Curve83

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Hetzner Storage Box
+Extremely affordable pricing
+European data hosting (GDPR)
-No desktop sync client
-Technical setup required
Storj
+Very cheap decentralized storage
+S3 compatible with no egress fees
-Latency can vary
-Niche for mainstream users
AI Verdict

After comparing Hetzner Storage Box and Storj across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Hetzner Storage Box takes the lead with a score of 90/100 versus Storj's 86/100. Hetzner Storage Box's key advantages include "extremely affordable pricing" and "european data hosting (gdpr)". That said, Storj has its own strengths — particularly "very cheap decentralized storage" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

On pricing, there's a clear difference: Storj offers a free plan, making it more accessible for individuals and small teams exploring cloud storage solutions. Hetzner Storage Box starts at $3.81/mo (1TB) with no free tier, but often justifies the cost with sftp and rsync access and samba/cifs support.

Bottom line: Choose Hetzner Storage Box if you need european businesses and developers wanting cheap, reliable storage with sftp. Go with Storj if your priority is developers wanting cheap, decentralized s3-compatible cloud object storage. Both are strong cloud storage tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.

CHOOSE HETZNER STORAGE BOX IF:

European businesses and developers wanting cheap, reliable storage with SFTP.

CHOOSE STORJ IF:

Developers wanting cheap, decentralized S3-compatible cloud object storage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hetzner Storage Box better than Storj in 2026?
Hetzner Storage Box scores 90/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Storj's 86/100. Hetzner Storage Box stands out for "extremely affordable pricing" and is best for European businesses and developers wanting cheap, reliable storage with SFTP. Storj is known for "very cheap decentralized storage" and suits Developers wanting cheap, decentralized S3-compatible cloud object storage. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Hetzner Storage Box and Storj?
Storj offers a free plan while Hetzner Storage Box starts at $3.81/mo (1TB), giving Storj a lower barrier to entry. When comparing value, consider that Hetzner Storage Box (founded 1997, 500K+ users) includes features like SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots. Storj (founded 2014, 25K+ users) offers S3-compatible API, Decentralized network, End-to-end encryption. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Hetzner Storage Box and Storj?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Hetzner Storage Box excels at SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots, while Storj focuses on S3-compatible API, Decentralized network, End-to-end encryption. Hetzner Storage Box's main advantage is "extremely affordable pricing", though some users note "no desktop sync client". Storj's strength is "very cheap decentralized storage", but "latency can vary" can be a drawback. Both serve the Cloud Storage market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Hetzner Storage Box to Storj?
Switching between Hetzner Storage Box and Storj is possible since both operate in the Cloud Storage space. Before migrating, export your data from Hetzner Storage Box and check Storj's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots (Hetzner Storage Box) vs S3-compatible API, Decentralized network, End-to-end encryption (Storj). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Hetzner Storage Box or Storj?
Storj's free plan makes it more accessible for small teams on a budget. It's best for Developers wanting cheap, decentralized S3-compatible cloud object storage. Hetzner Storage Box ($3.81/mo (1TB)) is worth considering if you need SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots and have the budget.

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