Software · head to head
Google Cloud SQL vs Amazon RDS
Google Cloud SQL
Software
Fully managed relational database service for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Amazon RDS
Software
Set up, operate, and scale a relational database in the cloud
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Google Cloud SQL has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Google Cloud SQL locked into Google Cloud ecosystem with limited cross-cloud portability; Amazon RDS no super-user access or direct host connectivity limits advanced customization
- They diverge on capability: Google Cloud SQL covers High Availability, Amazon RDS covers Multiple DB Engines.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Cloud SQL and Amazon RDS actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Cloud SQL | Amazon RDS |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | usage-based | Unknown |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Google Cloud Platform | AWS Cloud, Multi-AZ, Multi-region |
| Founded | 2008 | 2006 |
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 SQL
- High Availability
- Point-in-time Recovery
- Regional/Zonal Instances
- Private IP
- BigQuery
- Dataflow
- App Engine
- Cloud Functions
Only in Amazon RDS
- Multiple DB Engines
- Multi-AZ Deployment
- Performance Insights
- Automatic Scaling
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- MariaDB
- Oracle
Both cover
- Automated Backups
- Encryption
- Read Replicas
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Google Cloud SQL
- Transaction processing
- Data storage
- Application backend
- Reporting
- Data analytics
Amazon RDS
- 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.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Amazon RDS
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Amazon RDS review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Amazon RDS if
- You need multiple db engines.
- You work on AWS Cloud, Multi-AZ, Multi-region.
- You also want multi-az deployment.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Cloud SQL or Amazon RDS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Cloud SQL starts at Free and Amazon RDS at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Cloud SQL or Amazon RDS?
- Google Cloud SQL has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Cloud SQL and On request for Amazon RDS.
- Does Google Cloud SQL or Amazon RDS run on more platforms?
- Google Cloud SQL runs on Google Cloud Platform. Amazon RDS runs on AWS Cloud, Multi-AZ, Multi-region.
- 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 Google Cloud SQL best used for?
- Google Cloud SQL is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting.
- What can Google Cloud SQL do that Amazon RDS cannot?
- Google Cloud SQL covers High Availability, Point-in-time Recovery, Regional/Zonal Instances, Private IP. Amazon RDS covers Multiple DB Engines, Multi-AZ Deployment, Performance Insights, Automatic Scaling. Both handle Automated Backups, Encryption, Read Replicas, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceAmazon 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.
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