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.

[Marlon22]

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.

Yes,my opinions are same with you.

[chaghy10]

For long-term backup, external HDDs are great for large files, M-DISCs are ideal for critical documents/photos, and SSDs work well for frequently accessed data. Using multiple types for redundancy is best.