AWS vs Google Cloud: Complete Comparison Guide
Compare AWS and Google Cloud Platform on services, scalability, AI/ML capabilities, and cost. Discover which cloud platform is the best fit for your infrastructure needs.
AWS
Amazon Web Services is the market leader in cloud computing with approximately 32% market share. AWS offers over 200 services ranging from basic compute and storage to advanced AI, IoT, and satellite services. The platform holds the most compliance certifications and the largest partner ecosystem in the world, making it the default choice for enterprise organizations.
Google Cloud
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is Google's public cloud solution built on the same infrastructure that powers Search, YouTube, and Gmail internally. GCP is known for its strong AI/ML services (Vertex AI, TPUs), powerful data analytics tools (BigQuery), and Kubernetes-native approach via Google Kubernetes Engine — the service that invented Kubernetes.
Comparison table
| Feature | AWS | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Market share | Market leader at ~32% — largest ecosystem and partner network | Third position at ~12% — fastest growing in AI/data segments |
| Number of services | 200+ services with the broadest coverage in the industry | 100+ services with focus on quality over quantity |
| AI & Machine Learning | SageMaker, Bedrock, Rekognition — mature but more complex | Vertex AI, Gemini, TPU hardware — deeply integrated AI stack |
| Data analytics | Redshift, Athena, EMR — powerful but separate services | BigQuery serverless data warehouse — market-leading in analytics |
| Kubernetes | EKS — managed Kubernetes with AWS integrations | GKE — Kubernetes-native, invented and managed by Google |
| Pricing model | On-demand, Reserved Instances, and Savings Plans | On-demand with automatic Sustained Use Discounts |
Verdict
AWS and Google Cloud are both tier-1 cloud platforms, but serve different strengths. AWS offers the broadest service portfolio and the largest ecosystem — if a service exists, AWS likely has it. Google Cloud excels in data analytics with BigQuery, AI/ML with Vertex AI, and Kubernetes with GKE. For most enterprise workloads, AWS is the safe choice; for data- and AI-driven projects, GCP provides a technically superior experience. The best choice depends on your primary workload and existing expertise.
Our recommendation
At MG Software, we work with both platforms but make deliberate choices for specific projects. For clients with complex enterprise architectures and compliance requirements, we recommend AWS for its broader ecosystem. For data-driven applications and AI integrations, we recommend Google Cloud for BigQuery and Vertex AI. Our own stack primarily runs on Vercel and Supabase, but for clients with heavy infrastructure needs, we design architectures on both platforms using Infrastructure as Code via Terraform.
Frequently asked questions
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