Object Storage vs Block Storage: what’s the difference and which is better?

01/02/23 Wavenet
Object Storage vs Block Storage: what’s the difference and which is better? placeholder thumbnail

When it comes to enterprise data management, the question of object storage vs block storage is one IT professionals and decision-makers face regularly. Whether you're modernising infrastructure, migrating to the cloud, or building data-intensive applications, understanding the difference between object storage vs block storage is essential.

In this blog, we’ll explore object storage vs block storage, compare use cases, performance metrics, and help you decide which storage solution is right for your business.

What is Block Storage?

In the discussion of object storage vs block storage, block storage represents the traditional method. It stores data in fixed-size blocks, each with a unique identifier, and requires a system to organise and retrieve these blocks.

Key benefits of block storage:

  • Low-latency, high-speed performance
  • Common in enterprise systems and databases
  • Ideal for structured data and fast I/O workloads

Use cases:

  • Databases (SQL, NoSQL)
  • Virtual Machines and boot volumes
  • Enterprise applications

What is Object Storage?

To understand object storage vs block storage, you need to see how object storage differs. It stores data as objects, each containing the data itself, metadata, and a globally unique identifier. Unlike block storage, it doesn’t use a file hierarchy, making it easier to scale.

Key benefits of object storage:

  • Virtually unlimited scalability
  • Rich metadata for better data management
  • Cost-effective for large volumes of unstructured data

Use cases:

  • Backups and archives
  • Media files (images, video, audio)
  • Data lakes and cloud-native applications

Object Storage vs Block Storage: head-to-head comparison

Feature Object Storage Block Storage
Structure Objects with metadata Fixed-size blocks
Performance Optimised for throughput Low-latency IOPS
Scalability Infinitely scalable Limited by hardware
Protocol HTTP/REST APIs iSCSI, Fibre Channel
Best For Unstructured data, backups Databases, VMs
Cost Cost-effective at scale Higher for performance

Object Storage vs Block Storage: which one should you use?

Still debating object storage vs block storage? Here’s a quick guide:

Choose Block Storage if you need:

  • High performance and low latency
  • Fast data retrieval (e.g., databases, apps)
  • SAN/NAS-like environments

Choose Object storage if you need:

  • Scalable, cost-efficient storage
  • To store large volumes of media or backups
  • Integration with cloud-native tools

Why Object Storage vs Block Storage matters in 2025

With the rise of hybrid cloud, edge computing, and big data, the object storage vs block storage debate is more relevant than ever. Object storage supports the growing demand for flexible, scalable solutions, while block storage continues to deliver unmatched performance for critical workloads.

Forward-thinking businesses often adopt a hybrid strategy, leveraging both storage types for different needs.

Conclusion: Object Storage vs Block Storage simplified

Understanding object storage vs block storage is vital for building modern IT infrastructures. If your business handles large, unstructured data sets or cloud workloads, object storage is the future. For high-speed processing and performance-sensitive apps, block storage is still king.

Need help choosing the right storage architecture?
Wavenet can guide you through the complexities of object storage vs block storage and tailor a solution that fits your business goals.

Talk to our storage experts →

Technology Services, Rubrik, Storage Solutions, Ebooks, Pure Storage, Cloudian

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