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Head-to-head · MySQL Hosting

Cloud SQL for MySQL vs Azure Database for MySQL

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Cloud SQL for MySQL #4 in MySQL Hosting 9.0/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Google Cloud
Azure Database for MySQL #5 in MySQL Hosting 8.9/10 Paid ✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Azure

Cloud SQL for MySQL leads on 0 checks, Azure Database for MySQL on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreCloud SQL for MySQL · 9.0/10
  • Free trialonly Cloud SQL for MySQL
  • Most featuresCloud SQL for MySQL · 4 of 4

Cloud SQL for MySQL scores higher on our rubric for mysql hosting: 9.0 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #5.

Cloud SQL for MySQL is the better fit for google Cloud application backends. Azure Database for MySQL is the better fit for flexible Azure MySQL deployments.

  • Cloud SQL for MySQL fits best

    Google Cloud application backends

  • Azure Database for MySQL fits best

    Flexible Azure MySQL deployments

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Side by side

Feature Cloud SQL for MySQL 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Azure Database for MySQL 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.9
Ranking #4 in MySQL Hosting #5 in MySQL Hosting
Best for Google Cloud application backends Flexible Azure MySQL deployments
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price 30-day trial —
Free plan — —
Free trial 30 days —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Docs Docs
Integrations 6 integrations 5 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Cloud SQL for MySQL 4/4 · Azure Database for MySQL 1/4
Automated backups ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Point-in-time restore ✓ (best) Not checked yet
High availability ✓ ✓
Private networking ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Scaling mode Both Not checked yet
Included storage Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Point-in-time recovery and automated daily backups
  • Automatic failover across zones with replica support
  • Private connectivity and broad Google Cloud integrations
  • Four deployment tiers cover burstable to memory-optimized workloads
  • Point-in-time restore and automatic backups support recovery planning
  • Private networking, replicas, and Azure service integrations are included
Cons
  • Paid service with no free plan
  • Usage-based pricing varies by region and resources
  • Not an open-source database service
  • The free tier has limited resources and lasts 12 months for first-time users
  • Read replicas are available only for supported compute tiers
  • Its deployment and integration model is centered on Microsoft Azure
Our verdict

Cloud SQL for MySQL is a fully managed relational database service for running MySQL Community Edition databases on Google Cloud. It is designed for application teams and organizations running production MySQL workloads, including backends…

Read the review →

Azure Database for MySQL is a fully managed relational database service based on MySQL Community Edition. It is designed for application developers and organizations running web, mobile, and enterprise workloads on Azure. Microsoft manages…

Read the review →
  1. Cloud SQL for MySQLMySQL Hosting 9.030-day trial
  2. Azure Database for MySQLMySQL Hosting 8.9Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Cloud SQL for MySQL — where it wins

    • Point-in-time recovery and automated daily backups
    • Automatic failover across zones with replica support
    • Private connectivity and broad Google Cloud integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Paid service with no free plan
    • Usage-based pricing varies by region and resources
    • Not an open-source database service

  • Azure Database for MySQL — where it wins

    • Four deployment tiers cover burstable to memory-optimized workloads
    • Point-in-time restore and automatic backups support recovery planning
    • Private networking, replicas, and Azure service integrations are included

    Where it doesn't

    • The free tier has limited resources and lasts 12 months for first-time users
    • Read replicas are available only for supported compute tiers
    • Its deployment and integration model is centered on Microsoft Azure

More comparisons

All MySQL hosting comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update