If you're backing up a NAS to the cloud in Australia, you're almost certainly choosing between Backblaze B2, Synology C2, or Wasabi. All three work with the major NAS platforms, support S3-compatible protocols or native integration, and have pricing designed for the multi-terabyte backups that NAS users generate. The differences. Data centre locations, egress fees, per-TB costs, and how tightly they integrate with Synology or QNAP. Determine which one makes sense for your setup and budget.
In short: For Synology users, Synology C2 is the easiest setup with the best DSM integration. For Wasabi's no-egress-fee model, the Sydney region is a significant advantage for Australian users who restore data regularly. Backblaze B2 is the cheapest per-GB option but US-based. Higher latency and egress costs for restores apply. None of these services offer an offline encryption-at-rest key management model; all require trusting the provider with your encrypted data at rest.
Backblaze B2
Backblaze B2 is the lowest-cost S3-compatible object storage in this comparison at USD $0.006/GB/month ($6/TB/month) for storage, with download (egress) at USD $0.01/GB for the first GB/day and then standard rates. In AUD at current exchange rates, B2 storage costs approximately $9-10/TB/month. Backblaze's data centres are US-based (US West primary), which means all backup traffic crosses the Pacific. Relevant for both upload latency and restore costs.
NAS integration: Backblaze B2 supports the S3-compatible API, which means any NAS backup tool with S3 support works. Synology Hyper Backup, QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync, and most open-source backup clients (Duplicati, Rclone) work with B2. There is no native Backblaze package in Synology Package Centre or QNAP App Center. It connects as a generic S3-compatible target.
Restore costs for Australian users: Restoring data from B2 incurs egress charges at USD $0.01/GB (approximately $0.015 AUD/GB). Restoring 1TB costs approximately $15 AUD. For infrequent full restores, this is manageable. For workflows that regularly pull data back from cloud (media production, frequent disaster recovery tests), egress costs accumulate.
Australian considerations: B2 is US-hosted. For Australian data sovereignty requirements (healthcare, legal, accounting records), US storage may not comply with industry frameworks or client contractual requirements. B2's Cloudflare partnership (Bandwidth Alliance) offers zero-egress-cost access when serving content via Cloudflare's CDN. Not directly relevant to NAS backup but useful for web hosting use cases.
| Storage price | USD $0.006/GB/month (~$9-10 AUD/TB/month) |
|---|---|
| Egress (download) | USD $0.01/GB (~$0.015 AUD/GB) after 1GB/day free |
| Data centre | US West (Sacramento), US East, EU Amsterdam |
| AU data centre | None. US West is closest |
| S3 compatible | Yes |
| NAS native package | No. Connects as generic S3 target |
| Minimum storage | None |
| Free tier | 10GB storage + 1GB/day egress free |
Pros
- Lowest per-GB storage cost of the three services
- S3 API compatibility works with any backup tool
- No minimum commitment or storage fees beyond usage
- 10GB free tier for testing
Cons
- US-based only. High latency for Australian backups and restores
- Egress fees apply for restores (can be significant for large data sets)
- No AU data centre. Data sovereignty concern for regulated industries
- No native NAS integration package. S3 connection only
Synology C2
Synology C2 Storage is Synology's own cloud object storage service, designed primarily for use with DSM Hyper Backup and C2 Transfer. It's the easiest cloud backup option for Synology NAS users. Setup takes minutes from within DSM, and Hyper Backup provides versioning, deduplication, and scheduling that integrates directly with the Synology ecosystem.
Pricing (AUD approximate): Synology C2 Storage is subscription-based rather than pure pay-per-use. Plans start at approximately $4.50 AUD/month for 100GB, scaling up to $34/month for 2TB and $59/month for 5TB (pricing varies by region and promotion, check current pricing at c2.synology.com). There are no egress fees for restores to a Synology NAS. This egress-free model is a significant advantage for users who need to restore regularly.
Data centre (AU context): Synology C2 offers a Singapore (SG) region. The geographically closest option to Australia. There is no AU-based C2 region. Singapore adds latency compared to Wasabi's Sydney region, but is closer and faster than US-based alternatives. For most backup/restore workflows, Singapore latency is acceptable.
Limitations: C2 is exclusive to Synology NAS users and DSM applications. QNAP users cannot use C2. The subscription pricing model is higher per-TB than B2 for large storage volumes, but the egress-free restores and native DSM integration justify the premium for most home and prosumer Synology users. Australian Consumer Law applies to Synology C2 subscriptions purchased through Australian channels.
| Storage price | Subscription: ~$4.50/mo (100GB) to ~$59/mo (5TB) AUD |
|---|---|
| Egress (download) | Free for restores to Synology NAS |
| Data centre | Singapore (SG), US East, EU Frankfurt |
| AU data centre | None. Singapore is closest |
| NAS integration | Native. Synology DSM Hyper Backup, C2 Transfer |
| S3 compatible | Partial. S3-compatible endpoint available |
| Platform requirement | Synology NAS + Synology Account (free) |
| Free tier | None (trial periods available) |
Pros
- Zero egress fees. Restores from C2 to Synology NAS are free
- Native DSM Hyper Backup integration. Simplest setup of the three
- Versioning, deduplication, and incremental backup built into DSM
- Singapore region is closer than US-based alternatives
Cons
- Synology-only. Not usable with QNAP or other NAS brands
- Subscription pricing is higher per-TB than B2 or Wasabi for large storage
- No Australian data centre. SG region still adds latency
- Per-plan storage caps require upgrading plan as your backup grows
Wasabi
Wasabi is S3-compatible object storage at a flat USD $6.99/TB/month with no egress fees and no API request fees. For Australian users, Wasabi's Sydney (ap-southeast-2) region is a significant advantage. Local storage means fast uploads and restores without cross-Pacific latency. For large NAS libraries that require regular restore testing or media retrieval, the no-egress-fee model makes total cost of ownership significantly lower than B2.
Pricing: At USD $6.99/TB/month, Wasabi is cheaper than Synology C2 at scale and more expensive than B2 on pure storage cost. But the egress calculation reverses this quickly. If you ever restore more than ~700GB in a month, you've exceeded B2's egress cost and Wasabi's flat price becomes cheaper. For most NAS users who test restores regularly or run an active media workflow, Wasabi's all-in cost is lower than B2 despite the higher per-TB rate.
NAS integration: Wasabi integrates via S3 API. Synology Hyper Backup, QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync, Rclone, and Duplicati all support Wasabi. Configure the endpoint as ap-southeast-2.wasabisys.com for the Sydney region. No native package is required.
90-day minimum storage policy: Wasabi charges for a minimum of 90 days of storage even if you delete data earlier. For backup use cases where data is retained long-term anyway, this is not a concern. For short-lived temporary storage or frequent deletion/recreation of backup sets, factor this into the cost calculation.
Australian data sovereignty: Wasabi's Sydney region stores data in Australia. For industries with Australian data residency requirements. Healthcare, legal, government. Wasabi SYD is the strongest choice of the three services.
| Storage price | USD $6.99/TB/month (flat rate) |
|---|---|
| Egress (download) | Free (no egress fees) |
| API requests | Free |
| Data centre (AU) | Sydney (ap-southeast-2). AU data residency |
| S3 compatible | Yes. Full S3 API |
| NAS native package | No. Connects as S3 target |
| Minimum storage period | 90 days minimum charge per object |
| Free tier | None (30-day trial available) |
Pros
- Sydney data centre. AU data residency, lowest latency of the three for Australian users
- No egress fees. Restores are free regardless of volume
- Full S3 API compatibility with any NAS backup tool
- Flat, predictable pricing. No surprise data transfer bills
Cons
- 90-day minimum storage charge. Less flexible for frequently changing backup sets
- Higher per-TB cost than B2 if you never restore or rarely test
- No native NAS integration. S3 connection only
- No free tier for testing (trial period available)
Cost Comparison: 5TB at 12 Months
Annual Cost Comparison. 5TB Cloud Backup (AUD approximate, includes 1 full restore)
| Backblaze B2 | Synology C2 | Wasabi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage (5TB x 12mo) | ~$660/yr | ~$708/yr (5TB plan) | ~$630/yr |
| Egress (1x full 5TB restore) | ~$75 | $0 | $0 |
| Data centre proximity (AU) | US only (high latency) | Singapore (moderate) | Sydney (low latency) |
| AU data residency | No | No (SG) | Yes (SYD) |
| Total (storage + 1 restore) | ~$735/yr | ~$708/yr | ~$630/yr |
| NAS integration | S3 API only | Native Synology DSM | S3 API only |
| Egress model | Pay per GB | Free to Synology NAS | Always free |
| Best for | Budget, set-and-forget | Synology users, easy setup | AU residency, active restores |
All pricing shown in approximate AUD at 2026 exchange rates. Cloud storage pricing changes. Verify current rates before committing to a service. The Cloud vs NAS Cost Calculator models ongoing storage costs against the cost of on-premises NAS storage for your specific library size and AU electricity rate.
Which Service Should You Choose?
Choose Synology C2 if: You have a Synology NAS, want the simplest possible setup, and value deep DSM integration over cost optimisation. The native Hyper Backup integration, zero egress fees for Synology restores, and reliable support via Synology Account make it the lowest-friction option for most Synology home and prosumer users.
Choose Wasabi if: Australian data residency matters (regulated industries, client contracts), you actively test restores or retrieve data regularly, or you want predictable flat-rate pricing without egress surprises. The Sydney region is the strongest AU advantage here. And at scale, the no-egress-fee model makes Wasabi the lowest total cost of the three for active users.
Choose Backblaze B2 if: You want the lowest per-GB storage cost, you rarely need to restore, and data residency in Australia is not a requirement. B2 is a strong choice for set-and-forget backup of large archives where you never expect to need a full restore. Be aware that a single large restore event can significantly increase the annual cost.
QNAP users: Synology C2 is not an option. Use Wasabi (Sydney region recommended) or Backblaze B2 via QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync S3 integration.
Affiliate note: Backblaze's affiliate program for publishers ended in March 2026. All three services are covered editorially. Service selection should be based on your use case, not promotional links.
Related reading: our NAS buyer's guide, our Synology brand guide, and our Synology vs QNAP comparison.
Free tools: Backup Storage Calculator and NAS Sizing Wizard. No signup required.
Does Synology C2 work with QNAP?
No. Synology C2 is designed exclusively for Synology NAS units and DSM applications (Hyper Backup, C2 Transfer). QNAP users should use Wasabi or Backblaze B2 via QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync with S3 protocol.
Is my data stored in Australia with any of these services?
Only Wasabi offers an Australian data centre. Their Sydney (ap-southeast-2) region stores data in Australia. Backblaze B2 is US-only. Synology C2's closest region to Australia is Singapore (SG). For industries with Australian data residency requirements, Wasabi SYD is the only compliant choice of the three.
What are egress fees and why do they matter?
Egress fees are charges for downloading data out of cloud storage. Backblaze B2 charges approximately USD $0.01/GB for egress. If you restore 1TB from B2, the egress cost alone is approximately $15 AUD. Synology C2 charges no egress for restores to a Synology NAS. Wasabi charges no egress at all. For disaster recovery scenarios where you need to restore large amounts of data, services with no egress fees (C2, Wasabi) have a significantly lower total cost of recovery.
How do I connect Synology Hyper Backup to Wasabi?
In Hyper Backup, create a new backup task and select S3 Storage as the destination. Enter the Wasabi endpoint for your region (ap-southeast-2.wasabisys.com for Sydney), your Wasabi access key ID and secret key, and the bucket name you've created in your Wasabi account. No special configuration is required beyond the S3 endpoint URL. Wasabi is fully S3-compatible.
Is Backblaze B2 still a good option in 2026?
B2 remains a viable option for Australian NAS users who have large archives and rarely need to restore. It's the cheapest per-GB storage of the three. The limitations are US-only data centres (higher latency for AU users), egress fees that can be significant during restores, and no native NAS integration. For set-and-forget backup of cold archives where full restores are very infrequent, B2 is cost-effective. For active backup and restore workflows, Wasabi's Sydney region and zero egress fees make it the stronger AU choice.
What about Synology C2 pricing compared to Wasabi for large libraries?
Synology C2 is subscription-based with storage tiers (100GB, 200GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 5TB, 10TB). For large libraries (5TB+), Wasabi's per-TB flat rate is typically cheaper than C2's tier pricing. C2's advantage is the native DSM integration and egress-free restores. Which can offset the higher storage cost depending on how often you restore. Use the cost calculator linked above to model your specific library size.
See how cloud backup costs compare against on-premises NAS storage for your library size and AU electricity rate.
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