**itâÃÂÃÂs common for many to accidentally overpay for Google Cloud, simply due to its sheer complexity ThatâÃÂÃÂs why I decided to work all this out. I tested Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs services and researched overall costs, comparing them with the competition. **I found that Google Cloud is actually pretty competitively priced âÃÂàbut only if youâÃÂÃÂre careful and take full advantage of its various discounts Read on to learn everything you need to know
Short on Time? These Are Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs Best Cloud Instances in December 2022:
e2-small ($12.23/mo)âÃÂàCheap starting point for a low-traffic site with enough resources toand develop
- e2-standard-2 ($48.91/mo) âÃÂàCustomizability and scalability at an affordable price
- n2-standard-8 ($226.87/mo) âÃÂàImpressively fast processors suited to enterprise traffic
See My Recommendations | Top Vendor Alternatives | FAQ
## Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs Features and Pricing Overview
Complex Pricing, but Cheaper Than the AverageGoogle Cloud tends to offer better prices than the competition, especially if you take advantage of its discount plans. As a cloud computing service, it offers over 100 products. For web hosting, Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs Compute Engine virtual machines (VMs) are the best fit
**YouâÃÂÃÂre charged by the second, which offers the benefit of only ever paying for what you use That said, it certainly makes things more confusing if youâÃÂÃÂre not used to this method of billing. Furthermore, each VM may be eligible for certain discounts. **For the best deal, youâÃÂÃÂll be expected toto a one- or three-year term This will get you a heavy discount over paying on-demand, but be forewarned âÃÂàyou *cannot*cancel a commitment. On-demand instances can easily be cancelled at any time. Google Cloud accepts major credit or debit cards, PayPal, bank account transfers, and even checks. You can also sign up for a free trial of Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs services for 90 days with $300 credit. Keep in mind that Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs platform is not suited to beginners. Technical support is expensive, and youâÃÂÃÂll need significant know-how to run an unmanaged cloud instance
## Shared-Core Virtual Machines
|
|e2-micro |
|e2-small |
|e2-medium
|
|Initial term starting price |
|Free as part of the free tier, otherwise $6.11/mo ($0.008 hourly) |
|$12.23/mo ($0.016 hourly) |
|$24.46 ($0.033 hourly)
|
|Price on renewal |Same as above||Same as above||Same as above|
|
|vCPU cores |0.25 cores, can be bursted to 2 cores for 30s||0.5 cores, can be bursted to 2 cores for 60s||1 core, can be bursted up to 2 cores for 120s|
|
|RAM |1GB||2GB||4GB|
|
|Storage |30GB HDD persistent disk included with free tier||None included||None included|
|
|Bandwidth |1gbp/s (1GB free network egress per month to all regions besides China and Australia1gbp/s, network egress is charged per GB||2gbp/s, network egress is charged per GB|
|
|Static IPs |Costs a small hourly fee||Costs a small hourly fee||Costs a small hourly fee|
|
|Data center locations |69 data centers covering all major continents and a total of 200+ countries and territories|
|
|Support |Only billing support is available for free. Available through chat and tickets from Sunday, 5PM, to Friday, 5PMGoogle CloudâÃÂÃÂs shared-core VMs are the cheapest on offerWith these instances, youâÃÂÃÂll be sharing CPU power with other customers. While this may result in less robust performance at times, you can enjoy budget prices. DonâÃÂÃÂt get me wrong âÃÂàperformance is strong compared to similar virtual servers from many other hosts, but the limited resources mean these instances are best for small projects
**the e2-micro is available completely free**as part of Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs free tier. This is because Google Cloud offers free usage for the e2-micro equal to the total hours in the current month âÃÂàmeaning if you run only a single instance of this type, youâÃÂÃÂll *never*have to pay for it. With multiple instances, you can exceed this limit, so be aware. YouâÃÂÃÂll only be getting 1GB of RAM, which might not be enough to run a content management system (CMSs) such as WordPress reliably if you get a lot of traffic. Additionally, youâÃÂÃÂll only get 0.25 vCPU cores to work with. While you can burst up to 2vCPUs periodically for free, this isnâÃÂÃÂt guaranteed and only lasts a short time. **Also included in the free tier is a persistent 30GB HDD disk, 5GB snapshot storage, and 1GB free network egressoutbound traffic) to all regions besides China and Australia. While I wouldnâÃÂÃÂt recommend putting a mission-critical project on this instance, it can work for prototypes, static sites, or even to try out a WordPress blog until it starts generating traffic
e2-small
**A three-year commitment will net you a discount of more than 50%, without the need to pay upfront you can just pay monthly as usual. Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs shared-core machines offer stronger baseline CPU performance than similarly-priced Amazon Lightsail instances, while offering a lower price if you. That said, Kamatera offers burstable instances for a similar on-demand price without the need to share CPU power. If you need to meet surges in traffic, youâÃÂÃÂll get those resources guaranteed
e2-medium
**the e2-medium can burst at 100% CPU for a total of 120s, which is twice as long as the e2-small This may not sound like much time, but keep in mind this only applies to 100% CPU usage âÃÂàscaling requiring less CPU can sustain longer. Again, this server offers pretty good value. While youâÃÂÃÂll never have top-end performance on a shared-core VM, the guaranteed CPU core helps immensely. Not many of Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs competitors offer a comparable set of resources at this price
Are Shared-Core Virtual Machines Right For You?The shared-core instances are best for basic websites or apps with low traffic âÃÂàyou can save plenty of money if this is all youâÃÂÃÂre looking to host. If you wish to build a static HTML site, or perhaps a very simple WordPress blog, you could even use the e2-micro for free. However, IâÃÂÃÂd recommend the e2-small
especially if you wish to use a CMS ItâÃÂÃÂs a good price compared to the competition, and delivers enough resources to support a new site finding its feet. However, if youâÃÂÃÂre seeing a consistently high volume of traffic, you may require the dedicated resources offered by Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs general-purpose VMs
## General-Purpose Virtual Machines
|
|e2-standard-2 |
|e2-standard-4 |
|n2-standard-8 |
|n2-standard-16
|
|Initial term starting price |
|$48.91/mo ($0.067 hourly) |
|$97.83/mo ($0.134 hourly) |
|$226.87/mo ($0.388 hourly) |
|$453.74/mo ($0.776 hourly)
|
|Price on renewal |Same as above||Same as above||Same as above||Same as above|
|
|vCPU cores |2 cores||4 cores||8 cores||16 cores|
|
|RAM |8GB||16GB||32GB||64GB|
|
|Storage |None included||None included||None included||None included|
|
|Bandwidth |4gbp/s, network egress is charged per GB||8gbp/s, network egress is charged per GB||16gbp/s, network egress is charged per GB||32gbp/s, network egress is charged per GB|
|
|Static IPs |Costs a small hourly fee||Costs a small hourly fee||Costs a small hourly fee||Costs a small hourly fee|
|
|Data center locations |69 data centers covering all major continents and a total of 200+ countries and territories|
|
|Support |Only billing support is available for free. Available through chat and tickets from Sunday, 5PM, to Friday, 5PMGoogle CloudâÃÂÃÂs general-purpose VMs offer dedicated vCPU cores you wonâÃÂÃÂt have to share them with anyone else. This should offer more reliable performance than shared cores. These VMs are also more customizable than the shared-core instances. The dedicated CPU power allows you to take advantage of Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs top-notch infrastructure
e2-standard-2
**you can upgrade or downgrade any resource independent of the others If you just need an extra 4 gigabytes of RAM, for example, you can easily add this without resizing the entire instance. These servers are outside the realm of budget pricing, but Google Cloud still has an edge over its competitorsâÃÂàsimilar products
e2-standard-4
**the e2-standard-4 manages to strike a nice balance between value and computing power**
n2-standard-8
**the n2 line offers Cascade Lake processors for better performance per CPU core However, to get the best value out of the n2 line, youâÃÂÃÂll need to attain 100% usage each month. These instances are subject to a sustained-use discount âÃÂàthe more usage per month, the better the discount. **With 100% usage, youâÃÂÃÂll get a 20% discount overall**
n2-standard-16
**This server is less expensive than the competitionâÃÂÃÂs, if you anticipate near-100% CPU usage per month If not, you may actually get a better price from Kamatera, which offers the same powerful Cascade Lake processors without the need to fulfill any conditions
Are General-Purpose Virtual Machines Right For You?If youâÃÂÃÂre dealing with a high volume of traffic and require a highly customizable environment, the general-purpose instances will likely be a good fit for you. These instances can handle large workloads at a lower price than competing providers. If youâÃÂÃÂre unsure about which instance to choose,
**It offers a comfortable amount of resources at an affordable price. You can always scale up as necessary **IâÃÂÃÂd recommend starting with the e2-standard-2**
## Recommended Google Cloud Alternatives
While Google Cloud offers many advantages, it may not be for you. IâÃÂÃÂd recommend taking a look through our top-rated alternatives below to see if they may prove a better fit
|
|Starting Price |
|Main Pro |
|Main Con
|
|Google Cloud |$6.11||Competitive pricing with discount options and impressive global performance||Lack of reasonably-priced tech support|
|
|Kamatera |$4.00||Very high customizability||More expensive as there are no term discounts|
|
|Liquid Web |$15.00||Managed service available for a low price, guaranteed rapid response times from support||Few data centers, no coverage in Asia-Pacific, Africa|
|
|Cloudways |$10.00||Management and technical support for Google Cloud instances||No root access, and many server configuration changes must go through support|
|
|Render |$7.00||Extensive Git integration, flexible environment to build a static site for free||No uptime guarantee, fewer options than Google Cloud|
|
|Amazon Web Services |$3.50||Beginner-friendly Amazon Lightsail service for entry-level instances||Not as cost-effective as Google Cloud|
KamateraâÃÂÃÂs entry-level instances offer better value. While Google Cloud is limited to just three burstable entry-level instances, Kamatera allows you to custom-build your own. These instances also do not share a CPU core with other customers âÃÂàtraffic surges will thus be served more reliably
**Kamatera** **All Kamatera instances benefit from Cascade Lake processors offering stronger performance per core than Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs entire e2 line. Additionally, Kamatera doesnâÃÂÃÂt require you to fulfill multiple restrictive conditions for the best prices
Save 100 % OFF Kamatera for 30 Days!
Get one month FREE for your server configuration and take advantage of Kamatera's high-performance cloud infrastructure today
Liquid WebIf youâÃÂÃÂre looking for quality managed service and support, Liquid Web offers a better deal. While Google Cloud charges a huge fee for rapid technical support and some minor management services, Liquid Web offers managed hosting as part of the package. Additionally,
**Liquid WebâÃÂÃÂs technical support aims to reply in under a minute to any queries, or you can request compensation**
Save up to 75 % on your Liquid Web plan!
Limited-time offer - Don't miss it!
CloudwaysRather than offer its own web hosting services, Cloudways acts as a third-party management service on third-party cloud infrastructure. This includes Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, DigitalOcean, and others
**Cloudways simplifies use of Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs hosting service with its own hosting software stack and affordable technical support Your server is configured and managed via CloudwaysâÃÂàproprietary platform
Save up to 30 % on your Cloudways plan!
Limited-time offer - Don't miss it!
RenderRender is a developer-oriented cloud service that aims to keep your workflow streamlined. Developers can take advantage of efficient Git integration to rapidly push new code straight into production. ItâÃÂÃÂs particularly good for static sites âÃÂÃÂ
**you can host a static site for free and still take advantage of access to RenderâÃÂÃÂs global CDN and 100GB free monthly bandwidth This is a much better offer than Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs free tier
Amazon Web ServicesWhile AWS tends to be the more expensive option, itâÃÂÃÂs still worth considering. The user-friendly Amazon Lightsail service offers predefined cloud instances with simple monthly billing, with networking and security managed for you. ItâÃÂÃÂs an easier starting point for those new to cloud hosting
## Is Google Cloud a Good Deal?
**All in all, Google Cloud offers competitive prices across the board And its discount plans will save you a significant amount of money over competing hosts. However, if youâÃÂÃÂre looking for managed service and technical support, you can get a much better deal elsewhere. And to take full advantage of Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs low prices, youâÃÂÃÂll need technical know-how, or the budget to hire someone who can fulfill this requirement. If youâÃÂÃÂre still unsure which instance is best for you, hereâÃÂÃÂs my recommendations. **For a prototype or a simple static site, IâÃÂÃÂd recommend Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs e2-micro ItâÃÂÃÂs free, and while resources are limited, it could still work for lightweight projects. **If youâÃÂÃÂre looking to host a dynamic, low-traffic site, IâÃÂÃÂd instead recommend Kamatera** Unlike Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs e2-small, youâÃÂÃÂre not forced to share CPU power. Extra resources will be more reliably available during traffic surges âÃÂàand it doesnâÃÂÃÂt cost much more. **For more serious projects, IâÃÂÃÂd choose the e2-standard-2 It offers dedicated CPU performance with a lower starting price than GoogleâÃÂÃÂs competition
## FAQ
Is Google Cloud free?Google Cloud offers limited access to some basic services as part of its free tier. This includes Compute Engine virtual machines: every user gets access to one e2-micro instance for free
How much does Google Cloud cost per month?It depends on the level of computing power, your bandwidth and storage consumption, and whether youâÃÂÃÂve enabled any other active services. Have a look at our pricing breakdown to get a sense of Google CloudâÃÂÃÂs prices for a range of requirements
Is Google Cloud cheaper than AWS?Google Cloud tends to offer lower base prices for both shared-core and general-purpose instances, despite both hosts offering similar discount plans. If youâÃÂÃÂre new to web hosting, you should have a look at our step-by-step guide to
**building and launching a website**
How does Google Cloud pricing work?Google Cloud charges by the second, so you only pay for what you use âÃÂàif you add or remove a service, or resize your server, this will be reflected in the price instantly. If youâÃÂÃÂre looking for a more straightforward billing structure for web hosting, check out
**our list of the top-rated web hosts**in 2022.