What storage devices offer the best value for long-term backup?

[Thomas01]

I've been researching options for storing important files like family photos and work documents. What storage-devicesare reliable and cost-effective for long-term use? I'm not looking for cloud options—just physical solutions.

[raotariq]

M-DISC (Archival Optical Disc)
Best for: Archiving family photos/documents for decades
Lifespan: 25–100+ years (if stored properly)
Capacity: 4.7 GB – 100 GB per disc
Cost per GB: High

Pros:

Designed for long-term data storage

Resistant to heat, humidity, and light

Compatible with Blu-ray drives (M-DISC ready)

Cons:

Low capacity per disc

Requires M-DISC compatible writer

[raotariq]

Solid-State Drives (SSD)
Best for: Faster access and moderately long-term storage
Lifespan: ~5–10 years (based on write cycles, not age)
Capacity Range: 250 GB – 8 TB
Cost per TB: Moderate to high

Pros:

No moving parts (more shock-resistant)

Faster read/write speeds

More reliable than HDDs for short/medium-term use

Cons:

More expensive per GB

Data retention can degrade after years of no power

Recommendation: Great for important documents and frequently used files. Keep in use or check periodically.

[abdul rehman]

thanks for a useful information

[angrygiraffe]

In my view, portable hard drives work better than SSDs, but that’s only my opinion.

[rocky07x]

For long-term physical backups, external hard drives and LTO (Linear Tape-Open) data tapes offer the best balance of reliability and cost. External HDDs are affordable, easy to use, and provide large capacities, while LTO tapes are designed for decades-long archival storage and are more durable if kept in proper conditions. For smaller or personal archives, archival-grade Blu-ray discs (M-DISC) are also excellent since they resist data degradation for up to 1,000 years. Ideally, use two different media types and store copies in separate locations for maximum safety.