Getting Started with Backblaze B2

Backblaze B2 is one of the most cost-effective cloud object storage solutions available. It's compatible with the S3 API, integrates with tools like rclone and Cyberduck, and offers a generous free tier. Whether you're backing up files, storing media, or building an app that needs cheap storage, this guide will get you up and running in minutes.

What You'll Need

  • A free Backblaze account (sign up at backblaze.com)
  • A web browser (for the initial setup)
  • Optionally: rclone or the B2 CLI tool for programmatic access

Step 1: Create a Backblaze Account

Head to backblaze.com and click Sign Up. Choose the B2 Cloud Storage option (not the personal backup product). Fill in your email and password, verify your email, and log into your new account dashboard.

Step 2: Create a Storage Bucket

A "bucket" in B2 is a top-level container for your files — similar to a folder at the root level, but with its own settings and permissions.

  1. In your B2 dashboard, click Buckets in the left sidebar.
  2. Click Create a Bucket.
  3. Give your bucket a unique name (it must be globally unique across all B2 accounts).
  4. Choose Private (recommended) or Public depending on your use case.
  5. Leave default encryption and lifecycle settings for now, then click Create a Bucket.

Step 3: Upload Your First File

You can upload files directly through the web interface for testing:

  1. Click on your newly created bucket name.
  2. Click Upload/Download.
  3. Drag and drop files, or click Upload Files to browse your local machine.
  4. Once uploaded, you'll see your file listed with its size and upload timestamp.

Step 4: Generate an Application Key

To access B2 programmatically (via CLI, rclone, or your app), you'll need an Application Key — not your master account credentials.

  1. Go to App Keys in the left sidebar.
  2. Click Add a New Application Key.
  3. Give it a name, optionally restrict it to a specific bucket, and set the permissions (Read and Write for most use cases).
  4. Click Create New Key.
  5. Important: Copy the Application Key immediately — it will only be shown once.

Step 5: Connect with rclone (Optional but Recommended)

rclone is a powerful open-source tool that lets you sync files between your computer and B2 (and dozens of other cloud providers). After installing rclone:

  1. Run rclone config and select New remote.
  2. Name your remote (e.g., b2-backup).
  3. Choose Backblaze B2 as the storage type.
  4. Enter your Account ID (found in your B2 dashboard under App Keys) and Application Key.
  5. Test with: rclone ls b2-backup:your-bucket-name

Understanding B2 Pricing

B2 charges for storage and download bandwidth, but the first 10 GB of storage is free and the first 1 GB of daily downloads is free. Storage beyond the free tier is very competitively priced compared to AWS S3 or Google Cloud Storage — making it attractive for backup-heavy workloads.

Next Steps

  • Set up lifecycle rules to automatically delete old file versions and save on costs.
  • Enable Server-Side Encryption for sensitive data.
  • Integrate B2 with your backup software (many tools like Duplicati and Arq support B2 natively).
  • Use B2 as a CDN origin by pairing it with Cloudflare for free egress bandwidth.

Backblaze B2 rewards a little upfront setup with reliable, low-cost storage that scales as your needs grow. Once configured, it largely runs itself.