Software · head to head
Google Cloud Platform vs Akamai
The short version
- Only Google Cloud Platform has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Google Cloud Platform the $300 Free Trial credit expires 90 days from signup, whichever comes first with spending it; Akamai only the cloud computing services carry published rates; security and content delivery products require contacting sales for a price
- They diverge on capability: Google Cloud Platform covers Compute Engine, Akamai covers CDN.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Cloud Platform and Akamai actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Cloud Platform | Akamai |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $1000/month |
| Pricing model | usage-based | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Api, Cli | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2008 | 1998 |
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 Google Cloud Platform
- Compute Engine
- App Engine
- Cloud Run
- Cloud Storage
- Cloud SQL
- BigQuery
- Dataflow
- Cloud Pub/Sub
Only in Akamai
- CDN
- DDoS Protection
- Web Application Firewall
- Bot Management
- Image Optimization
- Video Platform
- API Gateway
- Analytics
Both cover
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Google Cloud Platform
- Running compute, storage and managed data services on Google's cloudnot Akamai
- Hosting Kubernetes workloads on GKE alongside BigQuery analyticsnot Akamai
Akamai
- Content delivery and web performance through Ion and adaptive media deliverynot Google Cloud Platform
- DDoS protection, bot management and API securitynot Google Cloud Platform
- Running compute, Kubernetes and managed databases on Akamai's cloudnot Google Cloud Platform
- Edge compute with EdgeWorkersnot Google Cloud Platform
- Zero trust access for enterprise applicationsnot Google Cloud Platform
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Google Cloud Platform
- The $300 Free Trial credit expires 90 days from signup, whichever comes first with spending it
- Free Tier Compute Engine is limited to one non-preemptible e2-micro instance per month and only in the us-west1, us-central1 or us-east1 regions
- Free Tier Compute Engine includes only 30 GB-months of standard persistent disk and 1 GB of outbound North America data transfer per month
- Free Tier Cloud Storage covers 5 GB-months of regional storage in US regions only, 5,000 Class A and 50,000 Class B operations per month
- Free Tier outbound data transfer allowances exclude destinations in China and Australia
- Compute Engine resources are governed by allocation quotas that require a quota increase request to exceed
Akamai
- Only the cloud computing services carry published rates; security and content delivery products require contacting sales for a price
- Cloud pricing varies by region across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific rather than being a single rate
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Cloud Platform
Free- Free TierFree
- Compute Engine 744 hours/month
- Cloud Storage 5GB
- Cloud SQL 250MB storage
Akamai
$1000/month- CDN$1000/month
- Content delivery
- Global edge network
- Real-time analytics
- Security Suite$2000/month
- DDoS protection
- WAF
- Bot management
Which should you pick?
Choose Google Cloud Platform if
- You need compute engine.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api, Cli.
- You also want app engine.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Cloud Platform or Akamai better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Cloud Platform starts at Free and Akamai at $1000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Cloud Platform or Akamai?
- Google Cloud Platform has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Cloud Platform and $1000/month for Akamai.
- Does Google Cloud Platform or Akamai run on more platforms?
- Google Cloud Platform runs on Web, Api, Cli. Akamai runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use Google Cloud Platform for free?
- Yes. Google Cloud Platform has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Akamai starts at $1000/month.
- What is Google Cloud Platform best used for?
- Google Cloud Platform is most often used for running compute, storage and managed data services on google's cloud, hosting kubernetes workloads on gke alongside bigquery analytics. Of those, running compute, storage and managed data services on google's cloud and hosting kubernetes workloads on gke alongside bigquery analytics are not what Akamai is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Cloud Platform do that Akamai cannot?
- Google Cloud Platform covers Compute Engine, App Engine, Cloud Run, Cloud Storage. Akamai covers CDN, DDoS Protection, Web Application Firewall, Bot Management. Both handle Cloud deployment.