Amazon cloud storage is data storage hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and accessed over a network. It is an umbrella term, not the name of one product: Amazon S3 is AWS’s best-known object-storage service, while AWS also offers file and block storage for different needs.
What does cloud storage mean?
With cloud storage, a provider operates the storage infrastructure and makes data available to customers or applications over the public internet or a private network connection. AWS describes provider-managed infrastructure and capacity that can scale with demand as core features of its cloud-storage model. See AWS’s cloud storage overview.
Instead of maintaining all the storage hardware yourself, you use a service hosted by AWS. The phrase “Amazon cloud storage” can refer broadly to that set of services, so naming the specific service is clearer.
What is Amazon S3?
Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) is AWS’s object-storage service. In S3, data is stored as objects inside buckets: an object consists of a file and its associated metadata, and a key identifies it within its bucket. AWS describes uses including websites, mobile applications, backup and restore, archiving, enterprise applications, IoT devices, data lakes, and analytics. Its Amazon S3 documentation calls S3 “storage for the internet.”
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#1 Best Overall
- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more.
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
- See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage.
S3 is not automatically the same experience as a consumer file-sync or photo-library app. It is an infrastructure service that developers and administrators can manage through the AWS Management Console, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), software development kits (SDKs), and REST API. AWS provides separate user and developer guides for managing S3 and working with its APIs.
How does S3 storage work?
- Create a bucket and select an AWS Region for it.
- Upload files as objects. Each object has a key, which identifies it within the bucket, and metadata associated with the file.
- Choose how applications or people access the data. AWS says buckets and objects are private by default; access can be managed with policies, IAM permissions, access control lists, and access points.
The console offers a graphical management interface; the CLI, SDKs, and REST API provide ways to manage S3 programmatically. The appropriate method depends on whether you are working interactively or integrating storage into an application.
Rank #2
- MEET ECHO SHOW 15 - A stunning 15.6" Full-HD (1080p) smart display that's perfect for your kitchen and ready to show you more. Use customizable widgets to keep your day on track, watch your favorite shows with Fire TV and powerful vibrant sound, and enjoy natural video calling, with 3.3x zoom and wide field of view.
- FAMILY ORGANIZATION HUB - See your top widgets at a glance, like your family’s calendars and to-do lists, local weather, smart home, and more.
- ALL YOUR FAVORITES, ALL RIGHT HERE - Built-in Fire TV unlocks endless entertainment, so you can enjoy your favorite content from thousands of apps like Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV, and more (subscription may be required). Fire TV remote included. Plus, now you can quickly add a device to play music with Active Media - start playing a song in the kitchen, then add the living room and bedroom on the fly.
- SMART HOME CENTRAL - Control smart devices with your voice or a few taps using the smart home dashboard. Easily turn on all your living room lights at once or check live camera feeds to see what's happening around your home.
- YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES ON DISPLAY - Brighten your space (and your day) by turning your home screen into a photo slideshow that displays your favorite memories. Auto curate your images and show off your favorite family memories.
What other kinds of Amazon cloud storage are there?
AWS groups cloud storage into three broad models. They serve different application needs, so S3 should not be treated as a synonym for every AWS storage service.
| Storage model | What it stores | AWS examples |
|---|---|---|
| Object | Files and associated metadata, addressed as objects inside buckets | Amazon S3 |
| File | Data organized and accessed as files | Amazon EFS and Amazon FSx |
| Block | Data organized as blocks for use by computing workloads | Amazon EBS, associated with Amazon EC2 workloads |
AWS describes these service categories in its cloud storage overview. If you are asking about storage for an EC2 workload, shared files, or data stored as objects, identifying that need helps narrow down the relevant AWS service.
Rank #3
- New size, more viewing area: The 11“ smart display features a vibrant Full-HD touchscreen with 60% more viewing area versus Echo Show 8 (2025 release), built-in smart home hub, AZ3 Pro chip for powerful performance, and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- Content looks and sounds incredible: Watch shows on Prime Video, Netflix, and more on the vibrant Full-HD 11" screen and enjoy room-filling spatial audio, crisper vocals, wider sound stage, and up to 2x bass versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release). With Alexa+, find the name of that song you love and discover new shows based on your preferences.
- Your everyday assistant: The 11" display makes it easy to see recipes and calendars at a glance, find meal inspo, and manage your shopping lists. With Alexa+, find recipes based on foods you love, make reservations, order groceries, and more.
- Simple Smart Home control: Pair and control thousands of devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. Easily view your camera feeds. Manage lights, thermostats, and more using the display or your voice. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature, presence, or visual ID detection.
- Crystal-clear video calls: Video calls feel natural on the vibrant 11" screen with a centered, auto-framing camera, 3.3x zoom, and noise reduction technology. Use live view to check in on your family, pets, and more while you're away.
How do S3 storage classes differ?
S3 offers storage classes intended for different patterns of access. The choice involves more than the cost of storing data: consider how often you need it, how quickly you need to retrieve it, and what resilience and placement requirements apply. AWS’s storage-class documentation describes these categories:
- Frequent access: S3 Standard is intended for data accessed frequently.
- Less frequent access: S3 Standard-IA and S3 One Zone-IA are intended for data accessed less often.
- Changing or unknown access patterns: S3 Intelligent-Tiering is intended for data whose access pattern varies or is not known in advance.
- Archiving: S3 Glacier classes are intended for archive use. Some archive retrievals are not immediate, so check retrieval timing as well as storage and access costs.
Features, availability, and prices can change. Check AWS’s current documentation and pricing for the class and workload you are considering rather than assuming every class behaves like frequently accessed online storage.
Rank #4
- Alexa can show you more - Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5” display so you can see news and weather at a glance, make video calls, view compatible cameras, stream music and shows, and more.
- Small size, bigger sound – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- See more with the built-in camera – Check in on your family, pets, and more using the built-in camera. Drop in on your home when you're out or view the front door from your Echo Show 5 with compatible video doorbells.
- See your photos on display – When not in use, set the background to a rotating slideshow of your favorite photos. Invite family and friends to share photos to your Echo Show. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage.
Is Amazon cloud storage the same as Amazon Photos?
Not necessarily. “Amazon cloud storage” can mean AWS infrastructure services such as S3, EFS, FSx, or EBS. The information here does not establish the current plans or features of Amazon Photos or other consumer-facing Amazon storage services. For a consumer photo or file-sync product, check that product’s current documentation rather than assuming it uses the same experience or terms as S3.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Powerfully smart, beautifully built: The redesigned 8.7" smart display features a vibrant HD touchscreen with 15% more viewing area versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release), built-in smart home hub, AZ3 Pro chip for powerful performance, and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- Content sounds incredible: Stream music or watch shows on Prime Video, Netflix, and more. All with room-filling spatial audio, crisper vocals, wider sound stage, and up to 2x bass versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release). With Alexa+, find the name of that song you love and discover new shows based on your preferences.
- Your everyday assistant: See recipes and calendars at a glance, easily find meal inspo and manage your shopping lists. With Alexa+, find recipes based on foods you love, make reservations, order groceries, and more.
- Simple Smart Home control: Pair and control thousands of devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. Easily view your camera feeds. Manage lights, thermostats, and more using the display or your voice. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature, presence, or visual ID detection.
- Crystal-clear video calls: Video calls feel natural with a centered, auto-framing camera, 3.3x zoom, and noise reduction technology. Use live view to check in on your family, pets, and more while you're away.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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