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Developer Tools · head to head

Depot vs Google Cloud SQL

Depot logo

Depot

Developer Tools

Cloud-based builds and CI runs 55x faster with less cost

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit DepotFull review
Google Cloud SQL logo

Google Cloud SQL

Databases

Fully managed relational database service for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Google Cloud SQLFull review

The short version

  • Depot is a cloud-based CI/CD platform.
  • Free plans on both; paid from $20/mo and $25/mo.
  • Only Depot lists Depot CI; only Google Cloud SQL lists high Availability.
  • Where Depot falls short: developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development.
  • Where Google Cloud SQL falls short: locked into Google Cloud ecosystem with limited cross-cloud portability.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Depot and Google Cloud SQL actually diverge.

Attributes where Depot and Google Cloud SQL differ
AttributeDepotGoogle Cloud SQL
PlatformsWeb, GitHub, APIWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDatabases
Founded20222008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Depot.

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 Depot

  • Depot CI
  • Container builds
  • GitHub Actions runners
  • Distributed caching
  • Build API
  • Depot Registry
  • Cross-platform builds
  • SSH debugging

Only in Google Cloud SQL

  • High Availability
  • Automated Backups
  • Point-in-time Recovery
  • Encryption
  • Regional/Zonal Instances
  • Read Replicas
  • Private IP
  • BigQuery

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Depot

  • Accelerating Docker builds for container-based developmentnot Google Cloud SQL
  • Replacing GitHub Actions runners with faster infrastructurenot Google Cloud SQL
  • Distributing cache across Monorepo buildsnot Google Cloud SQL
  • Debugging failed CI builds interactively with SSHnot Google Cloud SQL

Google Cloud SQL

  • Transaction processingnot Depot
  • Data storagenot Depot
  • Application backendnot Depot
  • Reportingnot Depot
  • Data analyticsnot Depot

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Depot

  • Developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development
  • Startup plan at $200/mo is expensive for smaller teams
  • Business plan requires custom pricing consultation
  • macOS M2 runners not available on Developer plan

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

Depot

Free
  • Developer$20/mo
    • 1 user
    • 500 Docker build minutes per month
    • 2,000 Depot CI minutes per month
  • Startup$200/mo
    • Unlimited users
    • 5,000 Docker build minutes per month
    • 20,000 Depot CI minutes per month
  • BusinessOn request
    • Custom pricing
    • Unlimited users
    • Custom monthly compute

Google Cloud SQL

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • db-f1-micro instance
    • 30GB storage
    • Limited usage
  • Standard$25/mo
    • High availability
    • Automated backups
    • Point-in-time recovery

Which should you pick?

Choose Depot if

  • You need depot ci.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, GitHub, API.
  • You also want container builds.
Depot review

Choose Google Cloud SQL if

  • You need high availability.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want automated backups.
Google Cloud SQL review

Questions people ask

Is Depot or Google Cloud SQL better?
Neither clearly leads. Depot starts at Free and Google Cloud SQL at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Depot or Google Cloud SQL?
Depot starts at Free and Google Cloud SQL at Free.
Does Depot or Google Cloud SQL run on more platforms?
Depot runs on Web, GitHub, API. Google Cloud SQL runs on Web.
Can I use Depot for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Depot best used for?
Depot is most often used for accelerating docker builds for container-based development, replacing github actions runners with faster infrastructure, distributing cache across monorepo builds, debugging failed ci builds interactively with ssh. Of those, accelerating docker builds for container-based development and replacing github actions runners with faster infrastructure are not what Google Cloud SQL is typically brought in for.
What can Depot do that Google Cloud SQL cannot?
Depot covers Depot CI, Container builds, GitHub Actions runners, Distributed caching. Google Cloud SQL covers High Availability, Automated Backups, Point-in-time Recovery, Encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Depot: How much faster are Depot runners compared to GitHub Actions?

Depot runners offer 30% faster CPUs and 10x faster networking than standard GitHub-hosted runners, enabling builds to complete significantly faster.

Source
Google 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.

Source
Depot: What is included in the Developer plan?

Developer plan ($20/month) includes 500 Docker build minutes, 2,000 Depot CI minutes, 2,000 GitHub Actions minutes, 25 GB storage, unlimited concurrency, and community support.

Source
Google 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.

Source
Depot: Can I use Depot with my own AWS account?

Yes, Depot Managed allows deployment within customer AWS accounts. This is available to interested customers; contact sales for details.

Source
Google 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.

Source
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