Filecoin vs Arweave: Enterprise DApp Hosting

Pay-as-you-go model: Storage costs are dynamic and competitive (~$0.0000000001/GB/sec). This matters for scalable applications with variable data growth, like user-generated content platforms or large-scale analytics, where you only pay for what you use.

Multi-provider replication: Data is automatically distributed across a global network of independent storage providers. This matters for mission-critical data requiring high durability and availability, ensuring resilience against single points of failure.

One-time, upfront fee: Pay once for 200+ years of guaranteed storage. This matters for archival, compliance, and permanent records (e.g., legal documents, NFT metadata, protocol history) where long-term cost predictability and immutability are non-negotiable.

Direct, HTTP-based retrieval: Data is accessible via simple HTTP GET requests (e.g., arweave.net/[txId]). This matters for frontend hosting and static web apps where low-latency, CDN-like access is required without complex retrieval deals or gateways.

Pay-as-you-go storage model: Costs are variable and can be as low as $0.0000000001/GB/month. This is ideal for large-scale, frequently updated datasets like user-generated content, logs, or temporary backups where permanent storage isn't required. Enterprises can optimize costs by adjusting deal duration and replication factors.

Retrieval is not guaranteed and can be slow. Data must be fetched from storage providers, which can introduce latency (seconds to minutes). This creates a poor user experience for front-end DApps requiring instant asset loading. Solutions like Filecoin Saturn (CDN) are emerging but add complexity.

One-time, upfront payment for perpetual storage. The endowment model provides absolute data permanence, critical for NFT metadata, legal documents, and protocol archives where data integrity is non-negotiable. Retrieval is fast and permissionless via HTTP gateways, simplifying front-end integration.

Cost-prohibitive for mutable or temporary data. Paying for 200+ years of storage upfront is inefficient for datasets with short lifespans. This makes Arweave a poor fit for application state, caching layers, or any data requiring frequent overwrites. The model incentivizes storing only high-value, immutable data.

One-time, upfront payment for 200+ years of storage. This eliminates recurring fees and budgeting complexity. Ideal for NFT metadata, legal documents, and permanent archives where data integrity over decades is non-negotiable. Protocol examples: Solana NFT projects, ArDrive, everVision's everPay.

Data is stored on-chain with built-in, incentivized retrieval. This creates a unified experience for hosting static frontends (dApps), decentralized blogs, and game assets without managing separate retrieval markets. Contrasts with Filecoin's two-phase process (store/find).

Market-based pricing via storage provider competition, often ~$0.0000001/GB/month. This is optimal for cold storage, large datasets (scientific research, video archives), and backup solutions where cost-per-gigabyte is the primary constraint. Used by Starboard, Slingshot, and Filecoin Green.

19+ EiB of raw storage capacity and integration with traditional cloud S3 APIs via Lotus or Web3.Storage. This enables hybrid cloud migrations, compliant data storage, and massive scalability for enterprises like Lockheed Martin, USC Shoah Foundation.

Permanent pricing model can be cost-prohibitive for petabyte-scale datasets that may not need centuries of retention. A 1TB archive could cost ~$3,500 upfront vs. ~$0.10/month on Filecoin. Better for high-value, smaller payloads.

Separate retrieval market can introduce latency and complexity for real-time dApp assets. Requires managing deal-making, provider reputation, and potential retrieval fees. Solutions like Lassie and IPFS Gateway help, but add architectural overhead.