Software · head to head
Amazon RDS vs Google Cloud SQL
Amazon RDS
Software
Set up, operate, and scale a relational database in the cloud
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Google Cloud SQL
Software
Fully managed relational database service for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Google Cloud SQL has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Amazon RDS no super-user access or direct host connectivity limits advanced customization; Google Cloud SQL locked into Google Cloud ecosystem with limited cross-cloud portability
- They diverge on capability: Amazon RDS covers Multiple DB Engines, Google Cloud SQL covers High Availability.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Amazon RDS and Google Cloud SQL actually diverge.
| Attribute | Amazon RDS | Google Cloud SQL |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | Unknown | usage-based |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | AWS Cloud, Multi-AZ, Multi-region | Google Cloud Platform |
| Founded | 2006 | 2008 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Amazon RDS
- Multiple DB Engines
- Multi-AZ Deployment
- Performance Insights
- Automatic Scaling
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- MariaDB
- Oracle
Only in Google Cloud SQL
- High Availability
- Point-in-time Recovery
- Regional/Zonal Instances
- Private IP
- BigQuery
- Dataflow
- App Engine
- Cloud Functions
Both cover
- Automated Backups
- Read Replicas
- Encryption
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Amazon RDS
- Transaction processing
- Data storage
- Application backend
- Reporting
- Data analytics
Google Cloud SQL
- Transaction processing
- Data storage
- Application backend
- Reporting
- Data analytics
Both are used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting, data analytics, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Amazon RDS
- No super-user access or direct host connectivity limits advanced customization
- Pricing unpredictable and expensive compared to GCP alternatives with equivalent features
- Limited access to system procedures and tables requiring advanced permissions
- No Oracle RAC (Real Application Clusters) support for high-availability Oracle deployments
Google Cloud SQL
- Locked into Google Cloud ecosystem with limited cross-cloud portability
- Pay-as-you-go pricing can become expensive with unpredictable workloads
- Limited customization options compared to self-managed databases
Pricing, plan by plan
Amazon RDS
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Amazon RDS review.
Google Cloud SQL
Free- Free TierFree
- db-f1-micro instance
- 30GB storage
- Limited usage
- Standard$25/month
- High availability
- Automated backups
- Point-in-time recovery
Which should you pick?
Choose Amazon RDS if
- You need multiple db engines.
- You work on AWS Cloud, Multi-AZ, Multi-region.
- You also want multi-az deployment.
Choose Google Cloud SQL if
- You need high availability.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Google Cloud Platform.
- You also want point-in-time recovery.
Questions people ask
- Is Amazon RDS or Google Cloud SQL better?
- Neither clearly leads. Amazon RDS starts at On request and Google Cloud SQL at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Amazon RDS or Google Cloud SQL?
- Google Cloud SQL has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Amazon RDS and Free for Google Cloud SQL.
- Does Amazon RDS or Google Cloud SQL run on more platforms?
- Amazon RDS runs on AWS Cloud, Multi-AZ, Multi-region. Google Cloud SQL runs on Google Cloud Platform.
- Can I use Google Cloud SQL for free?
- Yes. Google Cloud SQL has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Amazon RDS starts at On request.
- What is Amazon RDS best used for?
- Amazon RDS is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting.
- What can Amazon RDS do that Google Cloud SQL cannot?
- Amazon RDS covers Multiple DB Engines, Multi-AZ Deployment, Performance Insights, Automatic Scaling. Google Cloud SQL covers High Availability, Point-in-time Recovery, Regional/Zonal Instances, Private IP. Both handle Automated Backups, Read Replicas, Encryption, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Amazon RDS: What databases does Amazon RDS support?
Amazon RDS supports Amazon Aurora, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle Database, and Microsoft SQL Server as managed database engines.
SourceGoogle Cloud SQL: What database engines does Google Cloud SQL support?
Google Cloud SQL supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server. Users can choose their preferred engine when provisioning an instance and Google handles automated backups, replication, patching, and scaling.
SourceAmazon RDS: Does Amazon RDS handle backups automatically?
Yes. Amazon RDS automates backup configuration, backing up your database and transaction logs. Blue/Green Deployments allow safer updates by mirroring production in staging before applying changes.
SourceGoogle Cloud SQL: Does Google Cloud SQL have a free tier?
Google Cloud SQL does not have a free tier, though new users receive free trial credits from Google Cloud Platform. Pricing is based on compute resources (CPU and memory) and storage used, with options for committed use discounts.
SourceAmazon RDS: How does Amazon RDS Proxy improve performance?
Amazon RDS Proxy is a managed database proxy that makes applications more scalable by reducing database connection overhead, more resilient to database failures, and more secure through built-in authentication.
SourceGoogle Cloud SQL: Can Google Cloud SQL scale automatically?
Yes. Cloud SQL automatically scales database storage and compute resources to handle increased workloads without manual intervention, and includes automated backups and high availability configurations.
SourceAmazon RDS: Does Amazon RDS provide read replicas?
Yes. Amazon RDS supports read replicas across availability zones and regions, enabling horizontal scaling of read capacity while maintaining a single write primary.
SourceAmazon RDS: Can I access the host directly via SSH or Remote Desktop?
No. Amazon RDS does not allow direct host access via SSH, Telnet, or Windows Remote Desktop Connection. Database access is limited to database clients and management console.
Source