EFS vs Azure Files vs Filestore — Managed File Storage Compared
Compare AWS EFS, Azure Files, and Google Cloud Filestore for managed NFS/SMB file storage. Performance, pricing, and use cases.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Amazon EFS | Azure Files | Google Cloud Filestore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol support | NFS | SMB + NFS | NFS |
| Auto-scaling | Yes (automatic) | Manual (pre-provision) | Manual (pre-provision) |
| Cheapest per-GB | $0.016 (IA tier) | $0.015 (Cool) | $0.044 (Basic HDD) |
| Hybrid sync | DataSync | Azure File Sync | Transfer Service |
Service Details
Amazon EFS
Fully managed NFS file system that scales automatically. Supports bursting and provisioned throughput modes.
- Automatic scaling (no capacity planning)
- Lifecycle management to IA tier
- Cross-AZ by default
- Elastic throughput mode
- NFS only (no SMB)
- Higher per-GB cost than EBS
- Throughput can be unpredictable in burst mode
Azure Files
Managed file shares supporting both SMB and NFS. Unique in offering native Windows file share protocol support.
- SMB and NFS support
- Azure File Sync for hybrid scenarios
- Premium tier with provisioned IOPS
- Snapshots and soft delete
- NFS only on Premium tier
- Transaction charges on standard tiers
- Performance varies by tier
Google Cloud Filestore
Managed NFS file storage with multiple tiers. Basic tier for simple workloads, Enterprise for multi-zone HA.
- Simple pricing (no transaction charges)
- Enterprise tier with multi-zone HA
- Good GKE integration
- Predictable performance
- NFS only (no SMB)
- Must pre-provision capacity
- Fewer tier options
When to Use Which
Choose EFS for auto-scaling NFS with no capacity planning. Choose Azure Files for SMB support and hybrid Windows file sharing. Choose Filestore for predictable pricing and simple GKE-attached storage.
File storage often runs over-provisioned. CloudExpat identifies right-sizing opportunities and lifecycle optimization to reduce managed file storage costs.
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