Updated October 2026
Best S3-compatible object storage products 2026: 23 ranked by the Object Storage Ledger
The best S3-compatible object storage products in 2026 by Ledger Index are Ceph RGW (66.3), MinIO AIStor (64.1), IBM Storage Ceph (62.9), out of 23 scored in the Object Storage Ledger (21 ranked). Scores come from public release records only; no vendor pays for placement.
Dependable builder
Real innovator, portfolio-gated
Dependable builder
Full ranking
| # | Product | Index /100 | Capability /100 | Credibility /25 | Commercial risk /25 | Lock-in /25 | User rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ceph RGW Dependable builder | 66.3 | 81.5 | 18.5 | n/a | 9 | none yet |
| 2 | MinIO AIStor Real innovator, portfolio-gated | 64.1 | 78.6 | 16 | 16 | 4 | none yet |
| 3 | IBM Storage Ceph Dependable builder | 62.9 | 81.2 | 16.5 | 11.5 | 10.5 | none yet |
| 4 | SeaweedFS Dependable builder, open core | 61.6 | 69.3 | 16 | 8 | 7 | none yet |
| 5 | StorageGRID Dependable builder | 61.3 | 74 | 15.5 | 11 | 11 | none yet |
| 6 | Cloudian Real innovator, thinly documented | 60 | 77 | 13.5 | 12.5 | 11 | none yet |
| 7 | Versity S3 Gateway Dependable builder, young | 59.6 | 56.6 | 16 | n/a | 3 | none yet |
| 8 | VAST Real innovator, many items pending | 59.5 | 68.2 | 16 | 14.5 | 14 | none yet |
| 9 | ObjectScale Dependable builder, thinly documented | 59.1 | 71.9 | 14.5 | 13 | 13 | none yet |
| 10 | FlashBlade Dependable builder, hardware-bound | 58.9 | 63 | 16 | 12 | 14.5 | none yet |
| 11 | NooBaa Dependable builder, inside ODF | 58.5 | 58.2 | 16 | n/a | 6.5 | none yet |
| 12 | OpenShift Data Foundation Dependable builder, OpenShift-bound | 58.2 | 68.1 | 16 | 13.5 | 12 | none yet |
| 13 | Nutanix Objects Dependable builder | 57.7 | 63.9 | 16.5 | 12.5 | 13.5 | none yet |
| 14 | Scality RING Vision-led, thinly documented | 57.4 | 71.9 | 13.5 | 13 | 11.5 | none yet |
| 15 | RustFS Sharp opportunist, young product | 56.4 | 59.6 | 14.5 | 10.5 | 6 | none yet |
| 16 | Hitachi HCP Integrated stack | 54.7 | 67 | 13.5 | 15 | 14 | none yet |
| 17 | Qumulo Sharp opportunist | 54.4 | 58.5 | 15.5 | 14 | 11.5 | none yet |
| 18 | ARTESCA Sharp opportunist | 54.3 | 62.5 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 11 | none yet |
| 19 | ActiveScale Dependable builder | 51.6 | 62 | 14.5 | 15 | 14 | none yet |
| 20 | Swarm Sharp opportunist | 50 | 59.8 | 14 | 12 | 11 | none yet |
| 21 | CloudServer Dependable builder, maintenance-led | 49.9 | 46.6 | 15.5 | n/a | 4.5 | none yet |
| Not ranked: these fail one of the Ledger's inclusion tests, so their scores are for reference only. | |||||||
| IBM COS Slow follower | 52.4 | 64.6 | 13 | 12 | 14 | none yet | |
| MinIO CE Wound down for the commercial line | 38.3 | 61 | 4 | 23 | 4 | none yet | |
Risk and lock-in: lower is better. Source: Object Storage Ledger 2026, methodology.
Questions
What is the best object storage product in 2026?
Ceph RGW has the highest Ledger Index (66.3 out of 100) in the Object Storage Ledger, followed by MinIO AIStor (64.1) and IBM Storage Ceph (62.9). The best choice for you depends on your size, skills and budget.
How are the scores calculated?
The Ledger Index adds capability (what shipped, by domain and year), release credibility, commercial risk, technical lock-in and AI delivery, all from public release notes, roadmaps and pricing pages. The methodology page explains every score.
Can vendors pay to be listed or ranked?
No. Mr.PlanB takes no vendor money for listings, rankings or reviews, and the scores use no vendor briefings.
Who writes the user reviews?
Anyone who has used the product. Reviews are anonymous, need no account, and are checked by a person before they appear. Adverts, spam and personal attacks are removed.