NEWJoin 2M+ software buyers|Get Weekly Insights, Trends & Expert PicksSubscribe free →

AWS Snowball vs Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) Comparison

Last updated:

AWS Snowball

4.7(10 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

AWS Snowball, a part of the AWS Snow Family, is the perfect solution for petabyte-scale data transportation with onboard storage and compute capabilities. It offers two options of Snowball Edge Storage Optimized devices,…

Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)

4.6(654 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Small Business

Introducing Amazon's Simple Storage Service, S3 - the solution that redefines object storage as simple and efficient. With the tagline Object Storage Made Simple, S3 is designed to streamline data management while ensuri…

AWS Snowball leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 10 reviews.

AWS Snowball vs Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) — at a glance

FeatureAWS SnowballAmazon Simple Storage Service (S3)
Rating4.7 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews10654
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Small Business, Medium Business
CategoryEnterprise IT Management Suites SoftwareEnterprise IT Management Suites Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudBrowser Based (Cloud)
APIAvailable
Support modesOnlineOnline
CertificationsSOC 2SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between AWS Snowball and Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)

  • User satisfaction: AWS Snowball scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: AWS Snowball supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) supports Browser Based (Cloud).

AWS Snowball vs Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Enterprise IT Management Suites Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

AWS Snowball - New SaaS Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Free PDF comparison

Download this AWS Snowball vs Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) comparison

Get the full side-by-side as a PDF — these picks plus the top Enterprise IT Management Suites Software tools, with verified ratings, pricing and features.

  • Side-by-side on pricing, features & ratings
  • Plus the category top 10, scored & ranked
  • Emailed to you — no on-screen download

No file downloads on screen — we email it to you. One-click unsubscribe anytime.

AWS Snowball vs Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3): Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

AWS Snowball

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)

Best for scalable, secure cloud-native object storage with flexible cost options.

Choose if
  • You need highly scalable and reliable storage for cloud-native applications or big data.
  • You want to optimize costs using multiple storage classes tailored to access patterns.
  • You require robust security and seamless integration within the AWS ecosystem.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your team lacks AWS experience and prefers simpler, more straightforward storage solutions.
  • You need on-premises storage or simple file sharing without cloud infrastructure dependency.

AWS Snowball typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) tends to fit Large Enterprises and Small Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

AWS Snowball, a part of the AWS Snow Family, is the perfect solution for petabyte-scale data transportation with onboard storage and compute capabilities. It offers two options of Snowball ... Read More about AWS Snowball

Introducing Amazon's Simple Storage Service, S3 - the solution that redefines object storage as simple and efficient. With the tagline Object Storage Made Simple, S3 is designed to ... Read More about Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.65

(10)

Best Company Size

51-500 employees500+ employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

Need a second opinion?

Get decision help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

Spotsaas advisor
Get decision help from a software advisor
  • Independent advice — matched to your business
  • Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
  • Free 15-min call with a software advisor.

Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

Trusted by teams at

How do AWS Snowball and Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) Compare on Features?

Total Features

6 Features

7 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare AWS Snowball and Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      AWS Snowball pricing

      Pricing information not available

      AWS Snowball vs Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3): Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Medium Business
      • Individuals
      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Medium Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Mobile - Android
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Mobile - Android

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      AWS Snowball vs Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✓ Yes

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      ISO 27001

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      AWS Snowball User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      4.6

      (based on 654 reviews)

      Rating Distribution

      16

      4

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 20 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Petabyte-scale data transportation
      • Onboard storage capabilities
      • Local processing options

      Common complaints

      • High cost for small transfers
      • Requires AWS infrastructure
      • Complex setup process

      Buyer sentiment

      Users generally praise Amazon S3 for its scalability, reliability, and security, while noting complexity in pricing and initial setup.

      What buyers like

      • Scalability
      • Security
      • Integration with AWS services

      Common complaints

      • Pricing complexity
      • Learning curve

      Pros and Cons

      • Handles petabyte-scale transfers efficiently.

      • Onboard processing enhances data handling capabilities.

      • Secure and reliable data transportation.

      • Not suitable for small data transfers.

      • Requires AWS infrastructure for full functionality.

      • Highly scalable and reliable object storage

      • Wide range of cost-effective storage classes

      • Robust security and access control features

      • Pricing complexity due to multiple storage classes and data transfer costs

      • Steep learning curve for new users unfamiliar with AWS ecosystem

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used AWS Snowball or Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      AWS Snowball and Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) Customers

      Customers

      Netflix

      Netflix

      NGA

      NGA

      INVISTA

      INVISTA

      Zalando

      Zalando

      Nasdaq

      Nasdaq

      GeorgiaPacific

      GeorgiaPacific

      Media and Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to AWS Snowball and Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) in 2026

      Expand your comparison

      Add another option to compare side by side

      Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, AWS Snowball or Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)?
      AWS Snowball edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.6). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do AWS Snowball and Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) offer a free trial?
      Neither AWS Snowball nor Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of AWS Snowball vs Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)?
      AWS Snowball starts at Contact for pricing. Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to AWS Snowball?
      Top alternatives to AWS Snowball include Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), IBM Cloud Object Storage, Azure Storage Explorer, IBM Sterling B2B Collaboration, DigitalOcean Spaces.
      What are the top alternatives to Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)?
      Top alternatives to Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) include IBM Cloud Object Storage, Azure Storage Explorer, AWS Snowball, BetterCloud, DigitalOcean Spaces.