I want the cheapest place to keep rarely used application files, but I still need restore when something gets deleted. What are my options?

If the files are rarely used but you still need the ability to restore deleted data, the cheapest options are usually archive or cold-storage services with backup/versioning.

Best low-cost options

1) Object storage with archive tiers

Good for: files you almost never access, but want to keep recoverable.

Examples:

• AWS S3 Glacier / Glacier Deep Archive
• Azure Blob Archive
• Google Cloud Archive / Coldline

Pros:

• Very low storage cost
• Durable
• Can restore files when needed

Cons:

• Retrieval takes time
• Retrieval and restore requests cost extra
• Not ideal for active file browsing

2) Backup storage with versioning

Good for: application files that can be accidentally deleted and need point-in-time recovery.

Examples:

• B2 Cloud Storage + versioning
• AWS S3 + versioning + lifecycle to Glacier
• Azure Backup / blob versioning

Pros:

• Easy restore of deleted files
• Keeps prior versions
• Can automate lifecycle rules to move old files to cheaper tiers

Cons:

• Costs more than pure archive if you keep many versions
• Restore is not instant if archived

3) Low-cost object storage with lifecycle rules

Good for: files that start in hot storage, then age out.

Examples:

• Backblaze B2
• Wasabi
• AWS S3 Standard-IA / Intelligent-Tiering
• Google Cloud Nearline/Coldline

Pros:

• Simpler than pure archive
• Still supports restore after deletion
• Lifecycle rules can move infrequently used files down to cheaper tiers

Cons:

• More expensive than deep archive
• Some services charge minimum retention / retrieval fees

Cheapest practical setup

If you want lowest cost while still being able to restore deleted files:

• Store files in object storage
• Enable versioning or backups
• Use a lifecycle policy to move old data to an archive tier

That gives you:

• low storage cost
• protection against accidental deletion
• recoverability when needed

Things to watch

• Retrieval fees can surprise you
• Minimum storage duration may apply
• Restore time can range from minutes to hours
• Some “cheap” storage is only cheap if you rarely retrieve anything

Simple recommendation

• Absolute cheapest: deep archive tier + versioning/backup
• Best balance of cheap + usable: Backblaze B2 or S3/Blob with lifecycle rules
• Need easy restore often: standard object storage with versioning, not deep archive

If you want, I can compare the cheapest options from AWS, Azure, Google, Backblaze, and Wasabi for your expected storage size and restore frequency.