Best Google Cloud autoscaler Alternatives in 2026
The top Google Cloud autoscaler alternatives are Alibaba Cloud Auto Scaling, Scaleway Instance Groups and Amazon Elastic Container Service: 15 auto scaling software our editors would look at instead of Google Cloud autoscaler, in our ranking order.
Google Cloud autoscaler: A Google Cloud feature for scaling managed instance groups to match changing demand. Where it falls short: limited to managed instance groups running in google cloud.
Switching from Google Cloud autoscaler? For most auto scaling software buyers the best Google Cloud autoscaler alternative is Alibaba Cloud Auto Scaling, built for alibaba Cloud users scaling instance groups.
Why People Look for a Google Cloud autoscaler Alternative
- Limited to managed instance groups running in Google Cloud
- VM resource usage is chargeable even though autoscaling policy setup is not
- Support channels are community and documentation
- No free plan — 6 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallAlibaba Cloud Auto Scaling9.1
Alibaba Cloud users scaling instance groups
Visit Alibaba Cloud Auto Scaling - Best free optionAlibaba Cloud Auto Scaling9.1
Has a free plan (Google Cloud autoscaler has none)
Visit Alibaba Cloud Auto Scaling
All 15 Google Cloud autoscaler Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forAlibaba Cloud users scaling instance groups
- Better than Google Cloud autoscaler:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.1 vs 7.9
A free Alibaba Cloud service for scaling ECS and ECI instance groups.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Alibaba Cloud -
Best forScaleway users scaling virtual machine groups
A focused autoscaler for Scaleway VM groups, with CPU and RAM targets and load-balancer updates.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Scaleway -
Best forAWS teams scaling container services
AWS container orchestration with service and cluster autoscaling across several compute options.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Amazon ECS -
Best forTeams needing managed Kubernetes on AWS
Managed AWS Kubernetes with node scaling, Auto Mode, and broad AWS integrations.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Amazon EKS -
Best forSmall teams scaling DigitalOcean Kubernetes nodes
A managed Kubernetes service with node-pool autoscaling, billed by worker node.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit DigitalOcean -
Best forScaleway users running demand-based containers
- Better than Google Cloud autoscaler:
- Free plan
A focused fit for Scaleway workloads that need demand-based container scaling, including scale-to-zero.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Scaleway -
Best forTeams managing autoscaling in self-hosted Kubernetes
- Better than Google Cloud autoscaler:
- Free plan
A free, self-hosted Kubernetes platform that includes horizontal pod autoscaling.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Kubernetes -
Best forTeams already deploying apps on Heroku
A managed dyno platform with clear scaling tiers, pipelines, and deployment controls.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Heroku -
Best forAzure teams monitoring virtual-machine capacity
A broad Azure and hybrid VM monitoring service, but not a listed autoscaling tool.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Azure Monitor -
Best forAzure Kubernetes teams configuring pod networking
- Better than Google Cloud autoscaler:
- Free plan
Free AKS networking with policy and egress controls, but not an autoscaler.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Microsoft -
Best forGKE teams needing Kubernetes backups and restores
A GKE-focused backup service with scheduled protection and cross-cluster restores.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Google Cloud -
Best forAWS users scaling multiple resource types
- Better than Google Cloud autoscaler:
- Free plan
A free AWS service for coordinating scaling across supported resource types.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit AWS -
Best forKubernetes teams scaling event-driven workloads
- Better than Google Cloud autoscaler:
- Free plan
A free, cloud-agnostic Kubernetes component for scaling applications and batch jobs from events.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit KEDA -
Best forMulti-cloud Kubernetes teams optimizing node capacity
Automates Kubernetes node and workload optimization across four public clouds.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit CAST AI -
Best forEnterprise teams optimizing Kubernetes workloads
A broad Kubernetes optimizer for teams aligning workload performance with cloud cost.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit ScaleOps
Google Cloud autoscaler Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Google Cloud autoscaler?
Alibaba Cloud Auto Scaling: #1 in our Auto Scaling Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.1 out of 10. A free Alibaba Cloud service for scaling ECS and ECI instance groups.
Is there a free alternative to Google Cloud autoscaler?
Yes. Alibaba Cloud Auto Scaling, Scaleway Serverless Containers, Kubernetes, Azure CNI and AWS Auto Scaling have a free plan or a free tier (6 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Google Cloud autoscaler alternatives?
Limited to managed instance groups running in Google Cloud; VM resource usage is chargeable even though autoscaling policy setup is not; Support channels are community and documentation.
How do I switch from Google Cloud autoscaler?
Export your data from Google Cloud autoscaler (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Google Cloud autoscaler.
How to Switch from Google Cloud autoscaler
- Export your data from Google Cloud autoscaler (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Google Cloud autoscaler.
Google Cloud autoscaler vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Google Cloud autoscaler | No | 7.9 | |
| 1 | Alibaba Cloud Auto Scaling | Yes | Free | 9.1 |
| 2 | Scaleway Instance Groups | 7.9 | ||
| 3 | Amazon Elastic Container Service | No | 7.9 | |
| 4 | Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service | No | $0.10/unit usage-based | 7.9 |
| 5 | DigitalOcean Kubernetes | No | $12/unit/mo | 7.9 |
| 6 | Scaleway Serverless Containers | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 7 | Kubernetes | Yes | Free | 7.9 |
| 8 | Heroku | No | $5/unit/mo | 7.9 |
| 9 | Azure Monitor | No | 7.9 | |
| 10 | Azure CNI | Yes | Free | 7.9 |
| 11 | Backup for GKE | No | $0.04/GB/mo | 7.9 |
| 12 | AWS Auto Scaling | Yes | Free | 7.9 |
| 13 | KEDA | Yes | Free | 7.8 |
| 14 | CAST AI | 7.1 | ||
| 15 | ScaleOps | No | 7.0 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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