Google Cloud Logging vs Amazon CloudWatch Logs

Google Cloud Logging8.0Visit Amazon CloudWatch Logs8.0Visit

Google Cloud Logging #3 in Log Management Software 8.0/10 Free plan · paid from $0.50 Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Google Cloud

vs

Amazon CloudWatch Logs #4 in Log Management Software 8.0/10 From $0.50 ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit AWS

• Google Cloud Logging fits best

  Google Cloud environments

• Amazon CloudWatch Logs fits best

  AWS-native teams centralizing operational logs

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Side by side

Feature	Google Cloud Logging 8.0/10 Visit ↗	Amazon CloudWatch Logs 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.0	8.0
Ranking	#3 in Log Management Software	#4 in Log Management Software
Best for	Google Cloud environments	AWS-native teams centralizing operational logs
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Docs, Community	Docs, Community, Tickets, Phone
Integrations	4 integrations	5 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Google Cloud Logging 3/4 · Amazon CloudWatch Logs 4/4
Log pipelines	✓	✓
Archive export	✓	✓
Live log tailing	✓	✓
Structured log parsing	Not published	✓ (best)
Specs
Included ingestion	Not published	Not published
Log retention	30 days	Not published
Deployment options	Cloud	Cloud
Our review
Pros	First 50 GiB per project per month is free SQL analysis, live tail, metrics, and alerting are included Routes logs to BigQuery, Cloud Storage, Pub/Sub, and more	Centralizes logs from AWS services, applications, and other sources Combines querying, Live Tail, metric filters, and retention controls Routes, transforms, masks, and exports log data across AWS services
Cons	Cloud-only deployment limits fit for self-managed environments Usage-based billing requires monitoring log ingestion Storage includes up to 30 days in log buckets	Usage-based pricing varies by Region and does not use fixed plans Its strongest ecosystem fit is centered on AWS services Cost comparison is less direct without a fixed entry plan
Our verdict	Google Cloud Logging is a managed service for collecting, storing, searching, analyzing, monitoring, and alerting on log data. It is designed for teams operating Google Cloud resources, while also accepting logs from applications,… Read the review →	Amazon CloudWatch Logs is a managed AWS service for collecting, centralizing, storing, searching, filtering, and analyzing logs. It is aimed at teams operating AWS resources, applications, and other sources that need one place for… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Google Cloud Logging — where it wins

  • First 50 GiB per project per month is free
  • SQL analysis, live tail, metrics, and alerting are included
  • Routes logs to BigQuery, Cloud Storage, Pub/Sub, and more

  Where it doesn't

  • Cloud-only deployment limits fit for self-managed environments
  • Usage-based billing requires monitoring log ingestion
  • Storage includes up to 30 days in log buckets

• Amazon CloudWatch Logs — where it wins

  • Centralizes logs from AWS services, applications, and other sources
  • Combines querying, Live Tail, metric filters, and retention controls
  • Routes, transforms, masks, and exports log data across AWS services

  Where it doesn't

  • Usage-based pricing varies by Region and does not use fixed plans
  • Its strongest ecosystem fit is centered on AWS services
  • Cost comparison is less direct without a fixed entry plan

• Google Cloud Logging8.0/10 · Free plan · paid from $0.50

  A capable Google Cloud logging service with usage-based pricing and broad routing options.

  Visit Google CloudFull verdict →
• Amazon CloudWatch Logs8.0/10 · From $0.50

  A broad AWS-native log service with strong routing and analysis, priced by usage rather than fixed plans.

  Visit AWSFull verdict →