Head-to-head · Decentralized Storage Services
Sia vs Stratos
Sia leads on 1 check, Stratos on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreSia · 9.6/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresSia · 4 of 4
Sia scores higher on our rubric for decentralized storage services: 9.6 against 6.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #9.
Sia offers client-side encryption; Stratos doesn't publish it.
Sia is the better fit for individuals and teams wanting broad device coverage. Stratos is the better fit for users wanting broad-device decentralized storage access.
- Sia fits best
Individuals and teams wanting broad device coverage
- Stratos fits best
Users wanting broad-device decentralized storage access
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Side by side
| Feature | Sia 9.6/10 Visit ↗ | Stratos 6.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.6 | 6.6 |
| Ranking | #1 in Decentralized Storage Services | #9 in Decentralized Storage Services |
| Best for | Individuals and teams wanting broad device coverage | Users wanting broad-device decentralized storage access |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile | Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Sia 4/4 · Stratos 3/4 | ||
| Client-side encryption | ✓ (best) | Not published |
| IPFS support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Desktop apps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile apps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Free storage | 50 GB | Not published |
| Network type | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Sia is a decentralized storage service for individuals, teams, developers, storage renters, and storage providers. It distributes encrypted, erasure-coded data across independent hosts and uses blockchain-enforced storage contracts. The… Read the review → |
Stratos is a decentralized data infrastructure network for decentralized application developers, infrastructure providers, and organizations building Web3 services. Its storage layer supports file upload, download, listing, pinning,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Sia — where it wins
- 50 GB free plan with client-side encryption
- Apps for web, desktop, mobile, and API access
- S3, rclone, Cyberduck, Nextcloud, and IPFS support
Where it doesn't
- Paid tiers limit the number of connected apps
- Open-network pricing uses provider-set Siacoin rates
- Multiple access tools can make setup more involved
Stratos — where it wins
- IPFS-compatible SPFS cluster and gateways
- Web, desktop, mobile, API, and self-hosted access
- Configurable replication with proof-based traffic accounting
Where it doesn't
- Free SPFS access has usage limitations
- Paid subscription amounts are not stated
- Blockchain settlement adds token-based operational complexity
- Sia9.6/10 · Free plan
A broad, encrypted storage platform with a free tier and flexible access options.
Visit SiaFull verdict → - Stratos6.6/10 · Free plan
A broad-access decentralized storage network with IPFS compatibility and token-based settlement.
Visit StratosFull verdict →
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All decentralized storage services comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Last updated · How we research and update