The current climate for self-hosting cloud solutions is challenging, particularly due to rising costs associated with storage technology. Prices for a 1TB SSD are currently several hundred dollars, making options like eBay for secondhand purchases more appealing for those looking to store large amounts of data.
While transitioning from services such as Google Photos to self-hosted alternatives like Immich is a consideration for many, the storage crisis affects both SSDs and HDDs. For those needing substantial backup solutions, HDDs remain a more cost-effective choice, with an 8TB internal drive available for under $200.
However, users should be prepared for increased expenses if opting for NAS-specific drives, which are designed for continuous operation. The surge in storage costs highlights the complexities involved in self-hosting, especially as prices continue to fluctuate in the current market.