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How to Store Large Files for Free Using AWS S3

How to Store Large Files for Free Using AWS S3

At CP Cloud Hosting, we strive to keep our shared hosting packages running fast and efficiently for all users. To maintain top-notch performance, we limit how much data you can store on shared hosting, especially when it’s unrelated to your website. But don’t worry! If you have large files like backups, videos, or archives that you need to store, AWS S3 is an excellent solution that offers scalable and affordable cloud storage.

In this post, we’ll explain why AWS S3 is a great option for storing large files, how its pricing works, and how to easily integrate it with your WordPress site to ensure your website stays fast and responsive.

What is AWS S3?

AWS S3 (Amazon Simple Storage Service) is a cloud storage service offered by Amazon Web Services that lets you store unlimited amounts of data and access it from anywhere, at any time. Whether you need to store website backups, media files, or large data that’s too much for your hosting plan, AWS S3 is a reliable and scalable way to handle your storage needs.

Why Shouldn’t You Store Large Files on Shared Hosting?

Storing a large number of files, especially non-website-related ones, on shared hosting can slow down your site and reduce performance. Shared hosting is designed to optimize your website’s speed and reliability, but hosting massive files can drain resources. This is where AWS S3 shines, offering a cloud-based solution to store all your large files, keeping your hosting plan light and efficient.

How to Set Up AWS S3 for Free Data Storage

Here’s how to get started with AWS S3 and take advantage of their free tier.

Step 1: Create an AWS Account

  • Visit AWS and sign up for a new account. AWS offers a free tier that includes:
    • 5GB of storage per month
    • 20,000 GET requests (accessing files)
    • 2,000 PUT requests (uploading files)

This free tier is perfect for small projects or for storing a few large files.

Step 2: Create Your S3 Bucket

  • After creating your AWS account:
    • Go to the S3 section in your AWS dashboard.
    • Click Create Bucket and name it.
    • Choose a region that’s close to your users for better performance.
    • Keep the default settings and hit Create.

Step 3: Upload Your Files

  • Now you can upload your files to your new bucket:
    • Open the bucket and click Upload.
    • Drag and drop your files into the upload section, then click Upload again to store them.

Step 4: Adjust File Permissions (Optional)

  • If you need to make your files publicly accessible, for instance, to embed videos on your site, you can adjust the permissions within the Permissions tab. Be sure to manage security carefully and only make public what’s necessary.

How Does AWS S3 Pricing Work?

AWS S3 pricing is quite flexible. Here’s a simple breakdown:

  • Free Tier: 5GB of storage and a set number of requests each month.
  • Paid Storage: After using the free tier, the cost is $0.023 per GB for the first 50TB each month.
  • Requests: For GET requests (accessing files), the cost is $0.0004 per 1,000 requests, and for PUT requests (uploading files), it’s $0.005 per 1,000 requests.

Example: Storing 100GB of Data

  • If you need to store 100GB of data, AWS S3 will cost about $2.20 per month:
    • 5GB is free, so you’ll pay for 95GB.
    • 95GB × $0.023 = $2.19.
    • 10,000 GET requests will cost around $0.004.
    • 1,000 PUT requests will cost around $0.005.

For the most accurate pricing, visit the AWS S3 website.

How to Use AWS S3 with WordPress

If you run a WordPress site and want to offload large files like media and backups to AWS S3, it’s simple with the right plugin. Here’s how you can set it up:

Step 1: Install a Plugin

  • Install the WP Offload Media Lite plugin, which automatically sends your WordPress media files to AWS S3.
    • In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New and search for WP Offload Media Lite.
    • Install and activate the plugin.

Step 2: Configure the Plugin

  • After activation, go to the plugin settings and enter your AWS Access Key and Secret Key (which you can create in AWS).
  • Select the S3 bucket you created earlier for storing your files.

Step 3: Upload Media to S3

  • Now, when you upload new media in WordPress, it will automatically be stored in AWS S3, keeping your hosting plan free of large media files.

Optional: Integrating AWS CloudFront

To further speed up your site, you can use AWS CloudFront, a content delivery network (CDN) that works with S3. CloudFront ensures your files are delivered to users from the closest server, boosting load times.

Why AWS S3 is Ideal for WordPress

Using AWS S3 to store large files offers several benefits for WordPress users:

  • Faster website: Offloading large media files to AWS S3 reduces the strain on your hosting server, keeping your website fast.
  • Scalable storage: AWS S3 grows with your needs, so you’ll never run out of space.
  • Cost-effective: You only pay for what you use, making it a budget-friendly solution.

By combining AWS S3 with your WordPress site, you get both fast, reliable hosting through CP Cloud Hosting and scalable cloud storage with AWS.

Conclusion

At CP Cloud Hosting, we’re focused on keeping your website fast and performing at its best. Using AWS S3 for storing large files, backups, and media ensures your hosting package remains efficient. Plus, integrating it with WordPress is a straightforward process. Whether you need to store website backups, large media files, or other data, AWS S3 is a powerful, affordable solution.