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Google Cloud Platform

Cloud Infrastructure / IaaS

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★★★★☆ 4.5 / 5 on G2 · 4.6 on Capterra (1,300+ G2 reviews)
4.5 / 5
G2 rating [source]
2008
Launched [source]
Data + AI
Strengths [source]
Free
$300 credit [source]

Quick facts

CategoryCloud infrastructure (IaaS)
VendorGoogle
Launched2008
Starts atPay as you go; free tier + credit
Best forData and AI
DeploymentGlobal cloud, 40+ regions
Free planFree tier + $300 credit
IntegrationsBigQuery, Vertex AI, Kubernetes
G2 rating4.5 / 5
Capterra rating4.6 / 5

What is Google Cloud Platform?

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is Google's cloud, strong in data analytics, AI and machine learning, Kubernetes and networking. Launched in 2008, it offers compute (Compute Engine), storage, databases, networking, containers and serverless, with standout strengths in data analytics (BigQuery), AI and machine learning (Vertex AI, and Google's AI research), Kubernetes (which Google created and runs as GKE), and a fast global network. Favoured by data and AI driven teams, cloud native and Kubernetes users, and those wanting Google's engineering strengths, GCP is the third hyperscaler and a leader where data and AI matter most. For data and AI, Google Cloud is a leading choice.

Google Cloud's distinction is leadership in data, AI and Kubernetes, backed by Google's engineering. BigQuery is a benchmark for cloud analytics, Vertex AI and Google's AI capabilities are strong, and Kubernetes, which Google originated, runs natively as GKE, with a fast global network. That focus and excellence in data, AI and cloud native, rather than sheer service breadth, set GCP apart for teams whose workloads centre on data and AI.

Google Cloud at a glanceGoogle Cloud Platform is Google's cloud, strong in data analytics, AI and Kubernetes [Google Cloud]. It holds about a 4.5 out of 5 rating on G2 and 4.6 on Capterra, favoured by data and AI driven teams.

Who Google Cloud is best for

Google Cloud is best for data and AI driven teams, cloud native and Kubernetes users, and organisations that want strong analytics (BigQuery), AI and machine learning (Vertex AI), and Google's engineering and network. It suits data and AI first workloads. It is a weaker fit for Microsoft centric enterprises (Azure), those wanting the absolute broadest services and ecosystem (AWS), the simplest cheap cloud (DigitalOcean), or the lowest egress at scale (Oracle).

Key features

The core strengths are data analytics (BigQuery), AI and machine learning (Vertex AI and Google's models), Kubernetes (GKE), and a fast global network, plus compute, storage, databases and serverless. Google Cloud offers strong data and AI tooling, sustainability, and developer friendly services. Its leadership in data, AI and Kubernetes, backed by Google engineering, are its defining advantages.

Google Cloud pricing

Google Cloud is pay as you go by usage, with a free tier plus a generous credit (around 300 US dollars) for new customers, always free service limits, and automatic and committed use discounts, including sustained use discounts. Pricing is complex like other hyperscalers, with egress a notable cost. Model total cost for your workloads. Confirm current figures on the Google Cloud pricing page.

Integrations and ecosystem

Google Cloud integrates with the data and AI ecosystem, Kubernetes and cloud native tools, Google Workspace, and a marketplace and partner network, plus strong open source and multi cloud support (Anthos). Its data, AI and Kubernetes ecosystem, which suits analytics and cloud native workloads and connects to open source, supports its strengths, though its overall ecosystem is smaller than AWS's.

Google Cloud and data and AI

Data and AI leadership is the signature strength: BigQuery is a leading cloud data warehouse, Vertex AI and Google's AI models and research are strong, and Kubernetes runs natively as GKE, so teams building data platforms, analytics and AI get best in class tools. For data and AI driven and cloud native teams, this leadership is the main reason to choose Google Cloud.

Ease of use and support

Google Cloud is well regarded for data and AI tooling, Kubernetes and a clean developer experience, with good support, though like other hyperscalers it is complex and has egress and pricing considerations. Its G2 reviews praise BigQuery, AI, Kubernetes and network, with complexity and smaller ecosystem than AWS the main considerations.

Is Google Cloud worth it?

For data and AI driven teams, cloud native and Kubernetes users that want strong analytics, AI and Google's engineering, Google Cloud is a leading, well rated choice. The main caution is a smaller ecosystem than AWS and hyperscaler complexity and egress, so Microsoft shops may prefer Azure, breadth seekers AWS, simplest cheap cloud DigitalOcean, but for data and AI Google Cloud leads.

Pricing

Free

$0
+ $300 credit
  • Free tier services
  • New customer credit
  • Always free limits

Pay as you go

Usage
per second / GB
  • Compute, storage, egress
  • Data and AI services
  • Sustained use discounts

Committed use

Discounted
commitment
  • 1 or 3 year commit
  • Lower rates
  • Predictable cost

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Leading data analytics (BigQuery)
  • Strong AI and ML (Vertex AI)
  • Kubernetes native (GKE)
  • Fast global network
  • Generous new customer credit

Cons

  • Smaller ecosystem than AWS
  • Complex like other hyperscalers
  • Egress and pricing considerations
  • Fewer services than AWS

Google Cloud Platform alternatives

These cloud infrastructure / iaas tools come up most often against Google Cloud Platform.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Market-leading IaaS with EC2, S3, global compute

Microsoft Azure

Enterprise cloud with deep Microsoft ecosystem integration

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)

High-performance IaaS strong for enterprise databases

Google Cloud Platform FAQ

What is Google Cloud used for?
Google Cloud is used to run cloud workloads with strengths in data and AI: compute, storage, databases, networking, containers (GKE) and serverless, plus leading analytics (BigQuery) and AI and machine learning (Vertex AI), favoured for data platforms and AI.
How much does Google Cloud cost?
Google Cloud is pay as you go by usage, with a free tier plus a generous credit (around 300 US dollars) for new customers, always free limits, and sustained and committed use discounts. See the Google Cloud pricing page.
Is Google Cloud good for AI and data?
Yes. Google Cloud is a leader in data and AI, with BigQuery for analytics, Vertex AI and Google's models for machine learning, and Kubernetes (which Google created) running as GKE, making it a top choice for data and AI driven teams.
Google Cloud vs AWS, which is better?
Google Cloud leads in data, AI and Kubernetes with Google's engineering, while AWS has the broadest services and biggest ecosystem. Google Cloud suits data and AI first teams; AWS suits breadth and maturity across any workload.
What is BigQuery?
BigQuery is Google Cloud's serverless, highly scalable data warehouse for fast analytics on large datasets, a benchmark cloud analytics service and one of the main reasons data driven teams choose Google Cloud.
Does Google Cloud give free credits?
Yes. Google Cloud offers new customers a free tier plus a generous credit (around 300 US dollars) to use across services, along with always free usage limits, letting teams try and run workloads before paying as they go.

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