Azure vs GCP vs AWS: Ultimate Cloud Computing Tug of War

Cloud computing is no more a fancy term. Corporations are ruling the world by making it an integral part of their tech stack. and budget too.

This means that we have multiple options for cloud computing to choose from. While Amazon, Microsoft, and Google rule the internet with their variety of disrupted products, cloud computing is no different for them.

Some relevant stats that highlight the importance of cloud computing

• The public cloud computing market will be worth $832.1 billion by 2025.
• Almost two-thirds (65.9%) of spending on application software will be directed toward cloud technologies in 2025, up from 57.7% in 2022. 
• The global platform as a service (PaaS) market is expected to grow from $49.41 billion in 2021 to $57.15 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.7%. 
• 70% of companies use cloud computing, and they plan to increase their budgets in the future. 
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) had an 80% share of the enterprise cloud adoption in 2022.

Before jumping directly to the tug of war among Azure vs GCP vs AWS; let's talk about them individually:

What is Azure?

Azure is a cloud computing service created by Microsoft for building, testing, deploying, and managing applications and services through a global network of Microsoft-managed data centers.  

It is one of the leading public cloud providers and offers comprehensive services, including computing, storage, networking, database, analytics, and more.

What is GCP?

Google Cloud Platform (GCP), offered by Google, is a suite of cloud computing services that runs on the same infrastructure that Google uses internally for its end-user products, such as Google Search and YouTube.

GCP's primary products include

• Compute Engine 
• Cloud Storage 
• BigQuery 
• App Engine 

GCP also offers several other products, including Cloud Datastore, Cloud Functions, Stackdriver, and Container Engine.

What is AWS?

AWS – Amazon Web Services is a cloud service from Amazon, offering a platform for businesses and individuals to build their own websites and applications.

AWS offers a variety of services, including storage, computing power, content delivery, and more. AWS is a pay-as-you-go service, meaning you only pay for your services.

In a nutshell: Azure vs GCP vs AWS

Azure and AWS are the most prominent names in cloud computing, but they're not the only available options. 

Market share

AWS is the clear leader in terms of market share, with over 50% of the total cloud market. However, Azure is proliferating and has a lot to offer to businesses of all sizes.  
GCP is also a viable option, although it doesn't have quite as many features as AWS or Azure.  

Pricing

When it comes to pricing, all three of cloud platforms offer a variety of options.  
AWS is generally more expensive than Azure, yet both are cheaper than GCP.  
However, it's important to remember that price is only one factor to consider when choosing a cloud provider.  

Features 

All three providers offer a wide range of features and services. However, AWS and Azure are both significantly ahead of GCP in this area. 
If you're looking for the most comprehensive set of features and services, then AWS or Azure is the way to go. 

Finally, it's crucial to consider customer support when choosing a cloud provider.  

Customer support

All three providers offer excellent customer support, but AWS and Azure are slightly better than GCP in this area. 

If you need 24/7 customer support, then AWS or Azure is the best choice.

Closing Lines 

There is always a monopolized business in every sector until competitors compete with their full cylinders or an unexpected new player comes in and takes over.  

AWS, GCP, and Azure are the leading cloud platform so far! So, it naturally makes them an expensive service provider. However, we might see more cloud/companies catering to this industry in the coming years!