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Head-to-head · Cloud Hosting

Google Compute Engine vs Amazon Web Services (AWS)

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Google Compute Engine #3 in Cloud Hosting 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Google Cloud
Amazon Web Services (AWS) #6 in Cloud Hosting 8.9/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit AWS

Google Compute Engine leads on 0 checks, Amazon Web Services (AWS) 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 scoreGoogle Compute Engine · 9.3/10
  • Free planonly Google Compute Engine
  • Most featuresGoogle Compute Engine · 4 of 4

Google Compute Engine scores higher on our rubric for cloud hosting: 9.3 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #6.

Google Compute Engine is the better fit for enterprise VM workloads needing broad controls. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the better fit for compliance-focused AWS cloud hosting.

  • Google Compute Engine fits best

    Enterprise VM workloads needing broad controls

  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) fits best

    Compliance-focused AWS cloud hosting

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Google Compute Engine 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Amazon Web Services (AWS) 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.9
Ranking #3 in Cloud Hosting #6 in Cloud Hosting
Best for Enterprise VM workloads needing broad controls Compliance-focused AWS cloud hosting
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Docs, Community · 24/7 Phone, Live chat, Community, Docs · 24/7
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Google Compute Engine 4/4 · Amazon Web Services (AWS) 0/4
Autoscaling ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Load balancing ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Object storage ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Managed databases ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Regions available Not checked yet Not checked yet
Monthly bandwidth Not checked yet Not checked yet
Support level Premium Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Custom VM types, block storage, autoscaling, and load balancing
  • Supports Linux, Windows, GPUs, TPUs, APIs, and console control
  • Connects with Cloud Storage, BigQuery, Cloud SQL, and more
  • HIPAA-eligible services and a standard Business Associate Addendum
  • Encryption, IAM, CloudTrail, backups, and compliance reporting
  • Multiple Regions, Availability Zones, dedicated hosts, and instances
Cons
  • Self-managed infrastructure requires operational expertise
  • Usage-based billing can make costs harder to forecast
  • Broader controls may be more than simple hosting needs
  • Costs vary by service, region, usage, storage, transfer, and backups
  • HIPAA eligibility applies only to designated AWS services
  • Customers must configure workloads under the shared-responsibility model
Our verdict

Google Compute Engine is an infrastructure-as-a-service platform for creating and running self-managed virtual machines on Google infrastructure. It suits teams running web servers, applications, databases, containers, batch processing,…

Read the review →

Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides cloud infrastructure and managed services for organizations building, hosting, storing, and processing applications and data. It supports startups, enterprises, public-sector organizations, nonprofits,…

Read the review →
  1. Google Compute EngineCloud Hosting 9.3Free plan
  2. Amazon Web Services (AWS)Cloud Hosting 8.9Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Google Compute Engine — where it wins

    • Custom VM types, block storage, autoscaling, and load balancing
    • Supports Linux, Windows, GPUs, TPUs, APIs, and console control
    • Connects with Cloud Storage, BigQuery, Cloud SQL, and more

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-managed infrastructure requires operational expertise
    • Usage-based billing can make costs harder to forecast
    • Broader controls may be more than simple hosting needs

  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) — where it wins

    • HIPAA-eligible services and a standard Business Associate Addendum
    • Encryption, IAM, CloudTrail, backups, and compliance reporting
    • Multiple Regions, Availability Zones, dedicated hosts, and instances

    Where it doesn't

    • Costs vary by service, region, usage, storage, transfer, and backups
    • HIPAA eligibility applies only to designated AWS services
    • Customers must configure workloads under the shared-responsibility model
  • Google Compute Engine9.3/10 · Free plan

    A broad-control VM platform for enterprise workloads across Linux and Windows.

    Visit Google CloudFull verdict →
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS)8.9/10 · Paid

    A broad AWS cloud platform for teams managing regulated workloads and complex infrastructure.

    Visit AWSFull verdict →

More options

More comparisons

All cloud hosting comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update