Arweave vs Filebase: IPFS/Arweave Integration

Guaranteed 200-year storage: Uses a novel endowment model where a one-time fee funds perpetual storage via blockweave consensus. This is critical for NFT metadata, legal documents, and protocol archives where data integrity is non-negotiable. Projects like Solana NFT collections and Mirror.xyz use it as a permanent ledger.

Higher upfront cost and developer overhead: Paying for permanence means higher initial fees per GB. Developers must interact directly with the Arweave network using tools like ArweaveJS or Bundlr. This is less ideal for high-volume, ephemeral data or teams needing simple S3-like APIs without deep blockchain integration.

Vendor lock-in and reliance on a service provider: While data is stored on decentralized networks, access and management flow through Filebase's centralized platform. This introduces a single point of failure for API availability and creates ongoing operational costs, unlike Arweave's direct, one-time payment model.

Guaranteed data permanence: Pay once, store forever via the endowment model and ~200-year crypto-economic guarantees. This is critical for NFT metadata, legal documents, and protocol archives where data loss is unacceptable. Native integration with tools like Bundlr and ArDrive.

Higher upfront cost and developer overhead: Pricing is in AR tokens for permanent storage, which can be a larger initial outlay. Requires direct interaction with the Arweave network or a bundler. Less suitable for high-volume, ephemeral data or teams wanting a pure S3-style experience.

S3-compatible API and unified interface: Manage data on IPFS, Arweave, and other networks through a single, familiar S3 API. Simplifies integration for teams already using AWS tools. Offers geo-redundant caching and predictable monthly billing in USD, ideal for web3 apps needing scalable, multi-protocol access.

Vendor lock-in and service dependency: You rely on Filebase's centralized platform for access and pinning services. While data is stored on decentralized networks, availability and performance are mediated by Filebase. This introduces a single point of failure for your gateway, unlike a direct Arweave node connection.

S3-Compatible API: Uses the universal AWS S3 API, allowing immediate integration with existing tools like AWS SDKs, CLI, and Terraform. This matters for teams with cloud-native experience who need to deploy decentralized storage without learning new protocols.

Single API for Multiple Backends: Stores data across IPFS, Arweave, and Sia from one interface. This matters for redundancy and censorship resistance, as data is pinned on multiple decentralized networks, not just one.

One-Time, Upfront Payment: Pay once for 200+ years of guaranteed storage via the protocol's endowment model. This matters for NFT metadata, legal documents, and archival data where long-term cost predictability is critical.

Direct Data Availability: Applications like Bundlr, ArDrive, and KYVE write directly to the Arweave chain, avoiding an intermediary layer. This matters for high-throughput dApps needing the lowest latency and highest assurance of data permanence.

Ongoing Operational Cost: Uses a traditional monthly/yearly subscription (e.g., $20/month for 1TB on IPFS). This matters for long-term projects where Arweave's one-time fee could be more economical over a 5-10 year horizon.

Unique Economic & Technical Model: Requires understanding of AR tokens, wallet-based payments, and bundlers. This matters for teams prioritizing speed to market who may prefer Filebase's familiar S3 abstraction and credit card payments.