The topic of Google Cloud vs Amazon Web Services (AWS) always comes up when deciding which cloud computing service is right for you. Businesses and individuals rely on cloud computing to store and manage data through services backed by powerful capabilities.
Cloud technology allows always online, on-demand storage, and management of data. Cloud services can help you store data in data centers located around the globe. Services available are paid as you go through various subscription models for corporations and individuals alike. So whether you are learning DevOps, cloud computing, cloud architecture, cloud engineering, or are part of a business, these services are crucial to your success.
There are many options available for you, but for this article let’s look at whether Google Cloud or AWS is right for you.
What Is Google Cloud?
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is an increasingly popular service for cloud computing, coming in third place after AWS and Microsoft Azure. It offers individuals services like access to Google Docs and can provide large businesses with cloud infrastructure through Google Cloud Storage and other online services.
Google Cloud is relatively new compared to AWS and Azure. The service started in just 2018. However, due to the popularity of other Google services like Google Search, YouTube, and Google Docs, Google Cloud is slowly becoming sought after.
Google Cloud is renowned for its high-speed access in downloading instances and in its usage of Google Cloud Storage.
GCP has Google grade for data security and is billed by the second rather than the minute, offering affordable next-gen big data storage.
What Is AWS?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is also a suite of cloud computing services aimed at large enterprises. It is the most widely used service as it began back in 2006. It has successfully met the on-demand needs of businesses ever since, making it the most popular open-source cloud service.
Amazon’s cloud service has the highest market share and is available in more countries than Google Cloud or any other platform. Additionally, it offers a whopping 175+ services compared to GCP’s mere 90+, making AWS seem like an obvious choice for many.
AWS is still highly popular in the United States, as it offers an excellent track record, many features, and a flexible and secure cloud computing environment, but it’s cost and speed are not as good as GCP.
Google Cloud vs AWS: The Most Important Differences and Similarities
The critical similarity between Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services is the general service they provide. The most important difference between GCP and AWS being the price and power. Let us go over the three main differences and similarities further.
Difference: Computing
AWS, compared to Google, has a simple storage service, elastic block service, and elastic file system, meaning it can store object-oriented data, persistent blocks, and company files.
However, in terms of computing power, Google Cloud has far more virtual machines on offer. You can add 160 CPUs of Google Compute Engine instances, compared to AWS which can only have 120 CPUs.
Difference: Interface & Design
Both systems have intuitive interfaces, but GCP’s ease of use comes out on top because its design is easy to understand, making for an efficient user experience. Meanwhile, AWS has interesting names for their features that can make searching for what you need a complex task.
Difference: Pricing
Google Cloud is roughly 25 percent cheaper than AWS, with more applied discounts the longer you use it. This discounted service allows smaller businesses and individuals to afford cloud computing services. Pricing is one reason why GCP users are growing.
Similarity: Open Source
Google Cloud and AWS are open source systems. This means people can modify the software and run them in the cloud without restrictions. Both can also modify open-source projects in Linux, Java, SAP, and SQL.
Similarity: Service
Google Cloud and AWS provide SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), and IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) to provide handy software, frameworks for developers, hardware, and networking. The two offer Load Balancers which is a software-defined, fully distributed, managed service for your traffic.
Similarity: Security
Both services provide quality security through data centers and an architected network. They protect information, identities, applications, and devices from network intruders.
Google Cloud vs AWS: Pros and Cons of the Cloud Vendors
Google Cloud vs AWS looking at their pros and cons, the key components seem to be speed, cost, global reach, and features. Let’s look at these comparisons to get a better idea of which one lands on top.
Google Cloud Pros
- Artificial Intelligence (AI). Google Cloud has more advanced AI features such as Tensor Flow, a key to machine learning systems.
- Customizable Virtual Machines. This great GCP feature allows you to tailor your CPUs and memory needs. You pay for precisely what you need as your company grows.
- Cost-Effective. There is no doubt the prices of GCP subscriptions are a big plus side. GCP may have less features when compared with AWS, but you get more CPU for your money.
- Speed. GCP is the Road Runner of cloud services. Nobody rivals its speed for downloading instances, which could save you time in the long run.
Google Cloud Cons
- Job Market. There are not as many DevOps or engineering jobs available when compared with AWS. Think carefully of where you want your career to be in years to come if you are considering entering the cloud technology job market.
- Reach. GCP is only available in 67 zones across 16 countries. It is not as available as AWS, yet. In comparison, AWS servers are in more than 190 countries.
- Few Features. Google Cloud has 90 features in its services. It can host everything a start-up business might need, but when compared to AWS, it seems far less capable.
AWS Pros
- Most Popular. AWS has exceeded over a million users worldwide, the majority of which are mid-sized companies.
- Far Reach. AWS is on a global scale with services in 190 countries and operations in over 77 availability zones.
- Amount of Features. AWS has over 175 features on offer. It, therefore, provides countless possibilities if you decide to go for AWS.
AWS Cons
- Speed. AWS has a slower speed rate when downloading instances and when using some of its features when compared with GCP. A minute or two may seem like a small amount; however, over time, this can end up costing more money.
- CPU. AWS has 120 CPUs but is a con when we compare it with Google Cloud’s 160 CPUs.
- Cost. Many professionals are confused by the cost metrics on AWS, often reporting charges they were unaware of. If you add this to the fact it is already more costly than GCP, does not offer the same loyalty discounts, and takes more time to use, the cost of using AWS is its biggest con.
Should You use Google Cloud or AWS?
You cannot go wrong for choosing either AWS or Google Cloud. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so what you decide depends on your needs, what your career requires, and what you ultimately prefer.
Companies looking to switch to one of these two systems should first learn how to use each of the systems before enlisting their services. If you are new to cloud computing, research what your specific career would prefer. Here are some final benefits of both of these cloud platforms to help you decide, in case you are still confused.
Career Advantages of Choosing Google Cloud
Google Cloud jobs are fewer on the market at the moment when compared with AWS. Google Cloud’s lack of features, but its shortcomings are its greatest benefit. AWS has been in use for years, so competing for job positions against people with experience will be difficult.
Many people are studying AWS to one day secure an AWS job — supply and demand has led to lower pay grades. GCP jobs pay more due to a lack of professionals available to them. Google Cloud is also exceptionally innovative, focusing on fewer features that are easy to use through its state-of-the-art AI.
Career Advantages of Choosing AWS
AWS is the cloud market leader and has been since its inception in 2006. It is ahead of both Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. AWS has a vast global reach and offers more jobs than GCP. There is no doubt that AWS will have the goods you need if you need a lot of features for the work you do.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
