I am using the same hosting with a 115 GB tariff. I have several sites there, including both PHP and Rails projects, so moving is a bit complicated.

I pay about $5 per month for this plan.

Now I am running out of space. This hosting doesn't allow increasing the storage space; the only option is to upgrade the tariff, which would cost almost $10 with the SL tariff. The price difference is significant.

The lack of space is due to the static files of the Rails project, especially the uploaded files. Specifically, each uploaded image retains its original as well as 4 copies of different sizes. This is a specific feature of the project.

I am now leaning towards using Amazon S3 to transfer and store all files uploaded by users, as well as other static files from the Rails project. But what about the cost? I have seen the prices on their website, but could you share your experience? For example, how much would it cost for 20,000 GET requests per month? Let's ignore other types of requests for now.
The images I want to store there are always displayed on one page or another of the site. So, it's certain that one session will include at least 2 GET requests.

If it turns out that Amazon S3 is more expensive than upgrading to a new tariff on the current hosting, then I will have to upgrade there instead. I'm just trying to find the most optimal solution right now.

As for cloud hosting, I am completely unfamiliar with it, and I can't imagine how much it will cost for my Rails project, or what to do with the rest of the simple PHP sites.
For instance, hosting with 1GB of space. Can you use an example to show how much you would pay there for the cloud?

I believe I have covered all the points of interest. I hope for your help

Let's break down your questions and concerns.

1. **Amazon S3 Pricing:** As of now, the cost for 20,000 GET requests per month on Amazon S3 is $0.004 per 1,000 requests, so for 20,000 requests, it would be approximately $0.08. Since you mentioned that each session includes at least 2 GET requests, we can estimate that for 20,000 sessions, the cost would be around $1.60 per month just for the GET requests.

2. **Comparing Costs:** To compare this with the cost of upgrading to a new tariff on your current hosting, consider the additional costs of data transfer, storage, and any potential overage charges from your current hosting provider. These factors can vary greatly based on your specific usage and hosting provider.

3. **Storage on Amazon S3:** Storage costs on Amazon S3 are $0.023 per GB for the first 50 TB. This cost will depend on how much storage you require for your Rails project's static files, especially the uploaded images and their various sizes. You will need to calculate the total storage needed and multiply it by the storage cost to estimate this expense accurately.

4. **Cloud Hosting for PHP Sites:** For your PHP sites, you can explore options like AWS (Amazon Web Services), DigitalOcean, or Linode, which offer flexible and scalable cloud hosting solutions. These providers usually offer transparent pricing on their websites, allowing you to calculate the cost based on your predicted usage.

5. **Example Cost Calculation for Cloud Hosting:** Let's consider an example where you opt for a 1GB cloud hosting plan. Assuming a typical price of $5 per month for 1GB of space, this can serve as a rough estimate. However, it's essential to verify the specific offerings of the cloud hosting provider you choose, as prices may vary based on other factors such as bandwidth, CPU usage, and additional services.


Let's delve deeper into the cost comparison between upgrading your current hosting plan and utilizing Amazon S3 for your storage needs.

1. **Calculating Storage Costs on Amazon S3:**
  - Determine the total storage required for your Rails project's static files, particularly the uploaded images and their various sizes.
  - Multiply the total storage needed by the storage cost on Amazon S3, which is $0.023 per GB for the first 50 TB.

2. **Estimating Total Cost on Amazon S3:**
  - Combine the estimated storage cost with the cost of GET requests (which we approximated earlier at $1.60 per month for 20,000 sessions with 2 GET requests each).
  - This will give you a rough monthly estimate of using Amazon S3 for your project's storage.

3. **Assessing Potential Benefits of Cloud Hosting:**
  - Explore the features and benefits offered by cloud hosting providers for your PHP sites, such as scalability, reliability, and additional services like databases, content delivery networks (CDNs), and security options.
  - Consider how these benefits might impact your overall development and maintenance costs.

4. **Projected Costs on Cloud Hosting for 1GB Space:**
  - Utilizing a hypothetical $5 per month cost for 1GB of cloud hosting space, calculate the projected monthly expenses based on this plan. However, remember to verify and compare the specific offerings and pricing of different cloud hosting providers to make an informed decision.

5. **Other Considerations:**
  - Take into account the ease of migration and integration with your existing projects when evaluating different hosting options.
  - Factor in the potential for future growth and the ability to handle increased traffic and storage requirements.

By thoroughly analyzing these aspects and obtaining a clear overview of the anticipated costs and benefits, you'll be better equipped to make an informed decision regarding the most suitable hosting solution for your multiple projects. If you have further questions or require detailed assistance with specific calculations or comparisons, feel free to ask for additional support.

The engine and hosting are separate. With just $3, you can turn it on the hosting as well.

The downloaded files are stored separately. Currently, I have accumulated several gigabytes of downloaded files stored in a specialized Cloud Storage (specifically in clodo, which is the most cost-effective alternative to Amazon S3 for hosting sites targeting customers in Russia. It was the cheapest option I found at the time, but this is not an advertisement, as Clodot crashes do occur).

The concept here is that Cloud Storage provides very inexpensive FILE STORAGE WITHOUT an ENGINE. Gigabytes of files cost just a few tens of rubles per month.

We can host the engine on another hosting provider (even from a different hoster) and pay nominal sums for it.

HOW MUCH EXACTLY the requests will cost - you can easily calculate for yourself. And certainly, you will also have statistics on your current server, such as the number of requests, file size, etc.

How will MY file size help you in cost calculations?
I assure you, my files are distinct from the ones you have.

If you are considering starting a hosting service, I would recommend looking into dedicated servers. While they may be more expensive, they offer greater flexibility and fewer limitations. One option to start with is to explore providers like kimsufi or soyoustart.

I personally use soyoustart and have been satisfied with my experience. Over the course of three years, the only drawback I have encountered is the need to provide all necessary data if there is an issue with the server (such as a failing disk in the RAID). However, this is not a significant issue. In the event of a dead disk, the provider will handle the problem themselves. It's always advisable to have backups in place, and they offer a built-in backup server with 100 GB capacity accessible via FTP from the ordered server. Keep in mind that it may not be convenient to store excessive data there.

Utilizing a hypothetical $5 per month cost for 500GB of cloud hosting space, calculate the projected monthly expenses based on this plan. However, remember to verify and compare the specific offerings and pricing of different cloud hosting providers to make an informed decision.

Amazon S3 is a great option for storing static files, especially for your Rails project. For 20,000 GET requests per month, you're looking at a cost of around  1.50 to 2.50, depending on the storage class and region you choose. Since you mentioned that each uploaded image has 5 copies, you'll need to factor in the storage costs as well. A rough estimate would be around 0.01 to 0.05 per GB-month, depending on the storage class. For 20,000 images, that's around 20 to 100 per month.

However, if you're not comfortable with the cost, upgrading to the SL tariff on your current hosting might be a more cost-effective option. As you mentioned, the price difference is significant, and you'd be getting more storage space to boot.

As for cloud hosting, it's a whole different ball game. With a cloud hosting provider like DigitalOcean or Linode, you can get 1GB of space for around 5 t o10 per month. However, you'll need to consider the costs of the instances, which can add up quickly. For example, a small instance with 1GB of RAM and 1 CPU core might cost around 10 to 20 per month.

This article provides a clear comparison of file storage and hosting options. It's a helpful guide for choosing the right solution based on scalability, security, and cost-effectiveness.