The MinIO Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about MinIO in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
MinIO
The Insider’s Guide
S3-compatible object storage software you run yourself
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among file storage and sync services, read from MinIO’s own pages.
Made by MinIO, Inc. · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from MinIO’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on MinIO’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 34 of the 91 other file storage and sync services we grade
MinIO makes AIStor, object storage software that speaks the S3 API and also covers Iceberg tables and SFTP, deployed on your own servers or cloud. It is aimed at engineering and data teams rather than people who want a file-sync app. The original open-source edition is described on the pricing page as end of life.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about MinIO, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Deployed on your own servers or cloud and run by operators.
- 1
Best for S3-compatible object storage for engineers
MinIO sells AIStor, S3-compatible object storage for engineering and data teams.
- 2
There is a free plan
AIStor Free: the full AIStor feature set on a single-node deployment, with community Slack and documentation support. Redistribution is prohibited.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
S3-compatible object storage
AIStor is described as fully S3-compatible, with S3 Express, an Iceberg catalog and SFTP also listed among its protocols.
- 5
Replication
The feature list names active-active, synchronous and asynchronous, multi-site, bucket and batch replication.
- 6
Security
Encryption, a key management server, a data firewall and immutability are listed, and the page shows FIPS 140-3, SOC 2 and ISO 27001 badges.
- 7
A 2.2 GPA, above 34 of 91
That is against the other file storage and sync services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Nothing MinIO does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
MinIO at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 60-day free trial of Enterprise Lite and Enterprise
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- MinIO, Inc., since 2014
- Category
- File Storage & Sync
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for S3-compatible object storage for engineers
MinIO sells AIStor, S3-compatible object storage for engineering and data teams. The free version is a single node with no resilience, clusters need quoted Enterprise subscriptions, and the pricing page calls the old open source edition end of life.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | The free tier is single-node and Enterprise Lite and Enterprise are quoted on request, so there is no price to compare. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free single-node deployment with the full feature set and community support. Redistribution is prohibited, and there is a 60-day trial of the paid tiers. |
| Features | C | S3 API, replication, security and management for object storage. It is not a file-sync app, and clustering is paid. |
| Ease of use | D | Deployed on your own servers or cloud and run by operators. No store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web console, S3 API and Kubernetes, Prometheus, NVIDIA and Databricks listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who MinIO is for
- Fits if you run your own infrastructure and need S3-style storage
- Works for data teams that want a single test node for free
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want a file-sync or sharing app
- Not for you if you want a managed service, as it runs on your own servers
- Watch out: the pricing page says the original AGPLv3 edition is end of life with no fixes or security patches
- Watch out: clusters need a paid subscription whose price is not published
Good to know
Good for
- Engineering and data teams that need S3-compatible storage on their own hardware
- Single-node development and small self-supported deployments on the free tier
Worth knowing
- Clustered, highly available deployments need a paid Enterprise Lite or Enterprise subscription; the free tier is single-node only.
- No Enterprise Lite or Enterprise prices are published; both are quoted on request.
- The pricing page says the original open-source MinIO edition (AGPLv3) is end of life with no fixes or security patches.
- This is infrastructure software for operators, not a consumer file-sync or sharing app.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
3
plans to choose from
MinIO has a free plan.
The free tier is single-node and Enterprise Lite and Enterprise are quoted on request, so there is no price to compare.
Free
$0
Single-node deployment with community Slack and documentation support; no resiliency beyond one node.
Enterprise Lite
Custom
Multi-node, horizontally scalable, for capacity under 400 TiB. Priced on request; optional direct-to-engineer support with a sub-5-day SLA.
Enterprise
Custom
Multi-node with 24/7/365 direct-to-engineer support, a sub-4-hour SLA and dedicated onboarding. Priced on request.
The free plan
AIStor Free: the full AIStor feature set on a single-node deployment, with community Slack and documentation support. Redistribution is prohibited.
Trying it first
60-day free trial of Enterprise Lite and Enterprise
Read from min.io on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
S3-compatible object storage software you run yourself. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: self-hostable, public API, file management.
It is not a file-sync app, and clustering is paid.
- S3-compatible object storage
- AIStor is described as fully S3-compatible, with S3 Express, an Iceberg catalog and SFTP also listed among its protocols.
- Replication
- The feature list names active-active, synchronous and asynchronous, multi-site, bucket and batch replication.
- Security
- Encryption, a key management server, a data firewall and immutability are listed, and the page shows FIPS 140-3, SOC 2 and ISO 27001 badges.
- Management
- An admin console, quality-of-service controls, lifecycle management, audit trail and Prometheus metrics are listed.
- Sized by usable capacity
- Subscription pricing follows usable storage capacity after erasure-code overhead, not raw disk.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- NVIDIA
- Databricks
- Kubernetes
- Prometheus
MinIO is made by MinIO, Inc., and has been around since 2014.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
34/91
Other file storage and sync services it is graded above
MinIO's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 34 of the 91 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 67 of 91) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 92 file storage and sync services we grade, cut by the letter each got. MinIO’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 14 of 91
- BFree plan and trialAbove 67 of 91
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 91
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 91
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 91
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Nothing MinIO does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
What you could not
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- It plugs into other products, NVIDIA, Databricks and Kubernetes among them, and has an API.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: SOC 2 and roles and permissions.
What this rests on. MinIO’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Wasabi, Backblaze B2, Storj, Filebase and Tigris
The 5 tools MinIO is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Wasabi
Free trial · from $7.99/mo
S3-compatible cloud object storage at a flat per-TB rate.
- MinIO has a free plan. Wasabi does not, though it has a free trial.
- MinIO is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
Backblaze B2
Free plan · from $6.95/mo
S3-compatible object storage billed per terabyte.
- MinIO is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 1.8GPA
Storj
Free trial · from $7/mo
Distributed S3-compatible object storage priced per terabyte.
- MinIO has a free plan. Storj does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Storj lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- MinIO is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
Filebase
Free plan · from $7.50/mo
S3-compatible object storage with IPFS pinning and free egress.
- MinIO is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
Tigris
Free plan
S3-compatible object storage with no egress fees.
- MinIO is self-hostable, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is MinIO free?
MinIO has a free plan. AIStor Free: the full AIStor feature set on a single-node deployment, with community Slack and documentation support.
How much does MinIO cost?
MinIO lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does MinIO work on?
MinIO is available on Web.
Does MinIO have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. MinIO is listed for Web.
Does MinIO have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. MinIO is listed for Web.
Is MinIO open source?
MinIO is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Can MinIO be self-hosted?
Yes. MinIO's own site says it can be run on a server of your own.
Does MinIO have an API?
Yes. MinIO offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does MinIO integrate with?
MinIO's listing names NVIDIA, Databricks, Kubernetes and Prometheus. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does MinIO have a free trial?
Yes. 60-day free trial of Enterprise Lite and Enterprise.
Who makes MinIO?
MinIO is made by MinIO, Inc. It dates from 2014.
What are the alternatives to MinIO?
The closest alternatives to MinIO in our directory are Wasabi, Backblaze B2, Storj, Filebase and Tigris.
How does MinIO compare with other file storage and sync services?
MinIO's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 34 of the 91 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 9.
Could I make my own version of MinIO?
Nothing MinIO does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from MinIO’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from MinIO's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by MinIO, Inc. Prices change, so check min.io before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- MinIO, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/minio
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "MinIO: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/minio
Know someone choosing between file storage and sync services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/minio/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded file storage and sync services after MinIO, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- File Storage & Sync Insider's GuideEvery one of the 92 file storage and sync services we grade, compared
- Google Drive Insider's GuideCloud storage tied to Google Docs, Gmail and Photos3.6 GPA
- Filen Insider's GuideEnd-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany with open source apps3.4 GPA
- Microsoft OneDrive Insider's GuideMicrosoft's cloud storage, bundled with Microsoft 365 plans3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what MinIO’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. MinIO is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by MinIO, Inc. Prices and plans change: check min.io before you buy.