Garage vs MinIO
Self-host pick — both replace AWS S3 (Object storage / blob store).
Both Garage and MinIO self-host as a replacement for AWS S3 (Object storage / blob store). Pick MinIO if you want the lighter footprint — 5min docker run, $5 vps for a few hundred gb; storage cost scales with the disk you attach (e. Pick Garage if you need geo-replicated storage on cheap, heterogeneous hardware (Garage was written by an internet co-op for exactly this) — 20min docker-compose for a 3-node cluster and $15/mo for 3 small vpses geographically spread; garage is built for low-end, geo-distributed hardware.
| Garageopen-source | MinIOopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Setup time | 20min docker-compose for a 3-node cluster | 5min docker run |
| Monthly cost | $15/mo for 3 small VPSes geographically spread; Garage is built for low-end, geo-distributed hardware. | $5 VPS for a few hundred GB; storage cost scales with the disk you attach (e.g. Hetzner $7/mo for 1TB). |
| GitHub | deuxfleurs-org/garage | minio/minio |
| Replaces | AWS S3 | AWS S3 |
Good fit for
Garage
Geo-replicated storage on cheap, heterogeneous hardware (Garage was written by an internet co-op for exactly this).
Weak at:Less polished than MinIO; smaller community; no admin GUI by default.
MinIO
Teams that want a drop-in S3 API on their own hardware, with a polished web console.
Weak at:Erasure-coded multi-node setups need ≥4 drives; AGPL can spook some lawyers.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli aws-s3 prints AWS S3's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Garage or MinIO?
Garage: 20min docker-compose for a 3-node cluster. MinIO: 5min docker run.
What does each cost to run?
Garage: $15/mo for 3 small VPSes geographically spread; Garage is built for low-end, geo-distributed hardware.. MinIO: $5 VPS for a few hundred GB; storage cost scales with the disk you attach (e.g. Hetzner $7/mo for 1TB).. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Garage and MinIO replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to AWS S3.