Microsoft Azure vs Google Cloud
Microsoft Azure rates 4.4/5 and starts at Custom. Google Cloud rates 4.5/5 and starts at Custom. Google Cloud is the higher rated.
Google Cloud rates higher (4.5/5 vs 4.4/5). Microsoft Azure suits Microsoft-centric enterprises, while Google Cloud is aimed at Data & AI-focused teams.
Microsoft Azure vs Google Cloud at a glance
| Measure | Microsoft Azure | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Reviews | 11,400 | 9,200 |
| Starting price | Custom | Custom |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations listed here | 5 | 5 |
Feature & pricing comparison
| Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| Starting price | Custom | Custom |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| API available | ||
| Best for | Microsoft-centric enterprises | Data & AI-focused teams |
| Hybrid cloud (Azure Arc) | ||
| Active Directory integration | ||
| Virtual machines | ||
| Azure OpenAI | ||
| Enterprise agreements | ||
| BigQuery analytics | ||
| GKE (Kubernetes) | ||
| Vertex AI | ||
| Sustained-use discounts | ||
| Global network | ||
| Visit | Visit |
Pricing side by side
Microsoft Azure
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free Account | Free | — |
| Pay-as-you-go | Custom | — |
Google Cloud
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Free | — |
| Pay-as-you-go | Custom | — |
Which should you choose?
Choose Microsoft Azure if…
- Best for Microsoft shops matters to you.
- Strong hybrid story matters to you.
- Enterprise deals matters to you.
- Smaller service catalog than AWS would be a problem.
Choose Google Cloud if…
- Excellent data/AI tools matters to you.
- Strong Kubernetes matters to you.
- Good network matters to you.
- Portal can be complex would be a problem.
Microsoft Azure
Pros
- Best for Microsoft shops
- Strong hybrid story
- Enterprise deals
Cons
- Portal can be complex
- Pricing hard to predict
Google Cloud
Pros
- Excellent data/AI tools
- Strong Kubernetes
- Good network
Cons
- Smaller service catalog than AWS
- Enterprise support cost
Frequently asked questions
Is Microsoft Azure better than Google Cloud?+
Google Cloud rates higher (4.5/5 vs 4.4/5). Microsoft Azure suits Microsoft-centric enterprises, while Google Cloud is aimed at Data & AI-focused teams.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud?+
Microsoft Azure starts at Custom and Google Cloud starts at Custom.
Do Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud have a free plan?+
Both offer a free tier, so you can trial either without paying.
Which is better rated, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud?+
Google Cloud, at 4.5/5 across 9,200 reviews, versus 4.4/5 for Microsoft Azure.
What is Microsoft Azure best for, and what is Google Cloud best for?+
Microsoft Azure is aimed at Microsoft-centric enterprises (enterprise IT, hybrid cloud). Google Cloud is aimed at Data & AI-focused teams (data analytics, ai/ml).