For IT teams tracking cloud spend, object storage often seems like the most straightforward line item—until the monthly bill tells a different story. A new independent report from tech2.ai digs into the surprisingly complex economics behind cloud object storage, revealing why many organizations end up paying far more than expected. From API requests to egress charges to metadata overhead, the costs of using your data can easily outpace the costs of storing it. 

The full report walks through real-world scenarios, including AI workloads and backup datasets, and compares costs across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Wasabi. 

Why this matters now 

As storage fuels everything from AI models to compliance archives, financial predictability is no longer optional. Teams need pricing models that align with the realities of modern data use—not pricing traps that punish innovation, agility, or simply accessing your own data. 

This report surfaces the hidden levers that inflate cloud object storage costs and explores how providers like Wasabi approach the problem differently—with flat-rate, no-fee pricing that simplifies forecasting and supports smarter long-term planning.