Google Cloud Storage Nearline vs Microsoft Azure File Storage comparison

Google and Microsoft are both solutions in the Public Cloud Storage Services category. Google is ranked #9 with an average rating of 7.6, while Microsoft is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.2. Google holds a 10.6% mindshare in PCSS, compared to Microsoft’s 10.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Google users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 97% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Google Cloud Storage Nearline

Read 10 Google Cloud Storage Nearline reviews

1,700 Views
1,459 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Azure File Storage

Read 48 Microsoft Azure File Storage reviews

2,969 Views
2,478 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Google Cloud Storage Nearline

Microsoft Azure File Storage

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 1, 2024

Google Cloud Storage Nearline and Microsoft Azure File Storage both offer cloud storage solutions with distinct advantages. Google Cloud Storage Nearline seems to have the upper hand in cost-effectiveness for less frequently accessed data, while Microsoft Azure File Storage excels in versatility and integration with Windows environments.

Features: Google Cloud Storage Nearline provides cost-effective storage for infrequently accessed data, seamless integration with Google Cloud services, and robust data reliability. Microsoft Azure File Storage offers strong file sharing capabilities, SMB access, and easy integration with Windows environments.

Room for Improvement: Google Cloud Storage Nearline could improve its retrieval times, offer more comprehensive documentation, and enhance customer support. Microsoft Azure File Storage could better support larger-scale deployments, reduce latency periods, and simplify deployment in non-Windows environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Google Cloud Storage Nearline offers straightforward deployment processes but needs better customer service support. Microsoft Azure File Storage provides smooth deployment within Windows-based systems and reliable customer service, although it faces complexities in non-Windows environments.

Pricing and ROI: Google Cloud Storage Nearline has a highly competitive pricing model, making it ideal for cold data storage. Microsoft Azure File Storage, priced higher, delivers better ROI through its array of features and integration capabilities, justifying the cost for organizations needing these functionalities.

To learn more, read our detailed Google Cloud Storage Nearline vs. Microsoft Azure File Storage Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud Storage Nearline vs. Microsoft Azure File Storage

April 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 851,604 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Google Cloud Storage Nearline

Ranking in Public Cloud Storage Services

9th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Microsoft Azure File Storage

Ranking in Public Cloud Storage Services

4th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Public Cloud Storage Services category, the mindshare of Google Cloud Storage Nearline is 10.6%, up from 5.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Azure File Storage is 10.3%, down from 13.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Public Cloud Storage Services

Featured Reviews

AmitKumar36

Solution Architect at HCL Technologies

Flexible, seamless, and scalable document storage with AI and analytics integration, providing reliable support

The solution is very flexible in terms of scalability. It is an online service, so we can scale it anytime with some pre-planning. I rate the scalability a nine out of ten. As for the users using this solution in our organization, that varies according to what time of the day and what day it is, but it goes around 2,000 to 3,000 users. The maximum is about 3,000. On average, it stays somewhere between 2,000 and 1,800.

Read full review

PrashanthR

Lead Software Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Seamlessly streamlines document processing with advanced file storage and OCR integration

We need to store data over there. We process documents through Kofax Time is a major benefit, as well as ease of processing. With configuration, it happens quite easily, and we can finish tasks early. File storage is complemented by OCR with Azure Cognitive Service. This enhances the processing…

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I find the flexibility in storing documents or data and the ease of retrieval valuable with this solution."

"The best part of Nearline storage is the ability to take backups at optimal costs and its availability across multiple regions."

"It can isolate files and stop them from corrupting other files."

"The data structure and the types of data that are supported are very good."

"The most valuable feature of Nearline is the access. It's helpful to move data that is generated once a month, such as salary information, to Nearline."

"The most valuable aspect of Google Cloud Storage Nearline is its integration with the wider Google Cloud ecosystem."

"Nearline is highly stable."

"Google is always introducing new features and tends to have a new release every month."

More Google Cloud Storage Nearline pros

"Azure File Storage gives us easy access to cloud solutions at the storage level."

"The initial setup is very seamless."

"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Azure File Storage is the cloud file storage capability."

"The initial setup is fairly easy."

"It's a stable product."

"We have not explored the desktop performance analysis of the file storage, but the user interface, API, and the response that we receive over the file storage are very good. We have a lot of customers that connect to the client-side, click the images, and upload them. The beauty of the solution is that we can mount the file storage into a critical server as well as an external drive. The speed that we receive with the images is pretty good."

"My client had zero data loss while using the solution for backups and file security."

"The most significant aspect of Microsoft Azure File Storage is its life cycle functionality, which enables us to transfer files to various storage options, such as hot storage, full storage, and archive. This feature is crucial since we can apply a life cycle method to files that have not been in use for an extended period, and then move them to a cheaper cold storage option to save costs. Since the newest files are stored in the hot storage, it met our specific requirements. Consequently, older files can be transferred to archive and cold storage."

More Microsoft Azure File Storage pros

Cons

"The solution needs to offer better System Information and Event Management (SEIM). I'd like to discover how we could implement something like that within Google's cloud."

"The suggestion for improvement primarily revolves around cost efficiency."

"The interface for managing file storage in the buckets could be improved."

"One area that needs improvement is the documentation, which I find to be disorganized and not user-friendly."

"From a storage standpoint, it would be beneficial if the retrieval cost could be optimized, as it is comparatively higher than storage costs in Nearline."

"The pricing is quite high."

"They need a better, more visual, user interface for folders and files."

"The UI could be a little bit more effective."

More Google Cloud Storage Nearline cons

"Sometimes it takes very long to refresh the information."

"The transparency of cost should be improved."

"They should make the solution more user-friendly."

"The way retention policies are applied could be more optimized."

"There is room for improvement in helping customers understand and integrate Azure File Storage into their operations."

"The pricing and technical support could be better."

"Firewall rules should be introduced to secure the access date from any virus attacks. Anti-virus should be introduced in the work filtering and document filtering."

"Microsoft's technical support could be improved. Their response time is usually high, and it takes considerable time to get a response."

More Microsoft Azure File Storage cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Right now, for the number of servers and the storage that I have, I would say I'm charged between $125 and $150 per month."

"Google Cloud Storage Nearline is very inexpensive. It costs us less than $50 a month to store our files. We use approximately 10 terabytes. Overall, I would rate the product a five out of five for affordability."

"The pricing is usually dependent on your storage requirements. Overall, I believe Microsoft Azure File Storage's price is reasonable."

"The price of Microsoft Azure File Storage is expensive, we do not know exactly how the price is calculated."

"The product's pricing need improvement."

"The price of the solution is reasonable. The pricing model is based on usage."

"Microsoft Azure File Storage is expensive."

"The price is comparable to other competitive solutions."

"One needs to pay according to the storage they plan to use in the solution. The payments are to be made yearly. It is usually monthly, but we opted for yearly subscriptions in our company."

"The product must improve its price."

More Microsoft Azure File Storage pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Public Cloud Storage Services solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

851,604 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

20%

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Google Cloud Storage Nearline?

The most valuable feature of Nearline is the access. It's helpful to move data that is generated once a month, such as salary information, to Nearline.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Google Cloud Storage Nearline?

The storage and access cost of Nearline are considered optimal compared to other cloud storage solutions, although I lack a clear view of other cloud storage costs.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Google Cloud Storage Nearline?

From a storage standpoint, it would be beneficial if the retrieval cost could be optimized, as it is comparatively higher than storage costs in Nearline.

See all answers

Which file storage system is better - Amazon EFS (elastic file storage) or Azure File Storage?

Amazon EFS is easy to set up: you can use the AWS management console, API, or command-line. Amazon EFS can grow to petabytes and deliver consistent low latencies and high levels of throughput. This...

See all answers

What do you like most about Microsoft Azure File Storage?

The product is a reliable cloud solution.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Azure File Storage?

The pricing for Microsoft Azure File Storage is five out of ten, not so expensive and not so low.

See all answers

Comparisons

Amazon S3 Glacier vs Google Cloud Storage Nearline

Compared 97% of the time

Amazon S3 vs Google Cloud Storage Nearline

Compared 3% of the time

More Google Cloud Storage Nearline Competitors

Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) vs Microsoft Azure File Storage

Compared 46% of the time

Azure NetApp Files vs Microsoft Azure File Storage

Compared 21% of the time

Wasabi vs Microsoft Azure File Storage

Compared 15% of the time

Amazon S3 vs Microsoft Azure File Storage

Compared 7% of the time

Amazon S3 Glacier vs Microsoft Azure File Storage

Compared 6% of the time

More Microsoft Azure File Storage Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud Storage Nearline

May 2025

Download Google Cloud Storage Nearline product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Azure File Storage

May 2025

Download Microsoft Azure File Storage product report

Also Known As

No data available

MS Azure File Storage

Overview

A low-cost, highly-durable and highly available storage service for infrequently accessed data, data archiving, online backup and disaster recovery. Data is available instantly, not within hours or days. With sub-second average response times and 1 cent per GB/month pricing, Cloud Storage Nearline gives you terrific performance at a low cost.

Google

Fully managed file shares that use the standard SMB 3.0 protocol

Key scenarios:

Share data across on-premises and cloud servers
Migrate file share-based applications to the cloud with no code changes
Integrate modern applications with File storage
Simplify hosting for high availability workload data

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Talon, Camden

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud Storage Nearline vs. Microsoft Azure File Storage

April 2025

Free Report: Google Cloud Storage Nearline vs. Microsoft Azure File Storage

Find out what your peers are saying about Google Cloud Storage Nearline vs. Microsoft Azure File Storage and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

851,604 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Google Cloud Storage Nearline vs. Microsoft Azure File Storage report.

See our list of best Public Cloud Storage Services vendors.

We monitor all Public Cloud Storage Services reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.