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Software · head to head

Oracle Cloud vs IBM Cloud

Oracle Cloud logo

Oracle Cloud

Software

Enterprise cloud computing services

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IBM Cloud logo

IBM Cloud

Software

Enterprise cloud solutions from a trusted partner

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Oracle Cloud the free trial gives US$300 of credit that expires when consumed or after 30 days, whichever comes first; IBM Cloud the USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only
  • They diverge on capability: Oracle Cloud covers Autonomous Database, IBM Cloud covers Virtual Servers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Oracle Cloud and IBM Cloud actually diverge.

Attributes where Oracle Cloud and IBM Cloud differ
AttributeOracle CloudIBM Cloud
Founded20192013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), free tier (Yes), platforms (Linux, Windows, Api, Cli), 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 Oracle Cloud

  • Autonomous Database
  • Compute Instances
  • MySQL Database Service
  • Object Storage
  • Block Volume
  • Load Balancers
  • Virtual Cloud Network
  • PCI-DSS

Only in IBM Cloud

  • Virtual Servers
  • Bare Metal
  • Cloud Foundry
  • Watson AI
  • Blockchain
  • Databases
  • Jenkins
  • FedRAMP

Both cover

  • API Gateway
  • Terraform
  • Ansible
  • Kubernetes
  • Docker
  • SOC2
  • ISO27001
  • HIPAA
  • Cloud deployment
  • Hybrid deployment

What people use each for

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

Oracle Cloud

  • Running virtual machines, databases and storage on Oracle's cloud infrastructurenot IBM Cloud
  • Hosting Oracle Database workloads on infrastructure from the same vendornot IBM Cloud

IBM Cloud

  • Running containerized and VM workloads on IBM's public cloudnot Oracle Cloud
  • Building on Watson APIs and IBM middleware as managed servicesnot Oracle Cloud

Where each one falls short

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

Oracle Cloud

  • The free trial gives US$300 of credit that expires when consumed or after 30 days, whichever comes first
  • The US$300 cloud credit is available only in select countries
  • Only one Oracle Cloud Free Trial or Always Free account is permitted per person
  • Accounts left idle for 30 days or more are eligible for suspension or termination as abandoned
  • Always Free NoSQL Database is restricted to the Phoenix region
  • Free Tier availability is subject to capacity limits, and the published per-service capacity figures are estimates that assume the entire credit is spent on that one service

IBM Cloud

  • The USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only
  • The larger promotional credits are time boxed: USD 1,000 for Bare Metal Servers for VPC over 120 days, USD 2,500 for Power Virtual Server over 90 days, and USD 5,000 for Backup and Recovery over 90 days
  • The USD 5,000 Backup and Recovery promotion is valid for new clients only and requires a checkout promo code
  • The listed promotions carry an expiry date of 31 December 2026
  • Beyond the free tier the account is pay as you go, so cost tracks usage with no published cap

Pricing, plan by plan

Oracle Cloud

Free
  • Always FreeFree
    • Oracle Autonomous Database
    • 2 compute instances
    • 100 GB storage
  • Pay-as-You-GoFree
    • Flexible pricing
    • No long-term commitment
    • Enterprise support

IBM Cloud

Free
  • Lite PlanFree
    • Free services
    • Limited resources
    • 30-day trial
  • Standard PlanFree
    • Pay-as-you-go
    • Enterprise support
    • Advanced services

Which should you pick?

Choose Oracle Cloud if

  • You need autonomous database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
  • You also want compute instances.
Oracle Cloud review

Choose IBM Cloud if

  • You need virtual servers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
  • You also want bare metal.
IBM Cloud review

Questions people ask

Is Oracle Cloud or IBM Cloud better?
Neither clearly leads. Oracle Cloud starts at Free and IBM Cloud at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Oracle Cloud or IBM Cloud?
Oracle Cloud starts at Free and IBM Cloud at Free.
Does Oracle Cloud or IBM Cloud run on more platforms?
Both run on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Oracle Cloud for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Oracle Cloud best used for?
Oracle Cloud is most often used for running virtual machines, databases and storage on oracle's cloud infrastructure, hosting oracle database workloads on infrastructure from the same vendor. Of those, running virtual machines, databases and storage on oracle's cloud infrastructure and hosting oracle database workloads on infrastructure from the same vendor are not what IBM Cloud is typically brought in for.
What can Oracle Cloud do that IBM Cloud cannot?
Oracle Cloud covers Autonomous Database, Compute Instances, MySQL Database Service, Object Storage. IBM Cloud covers Virtual Servers, Bare Metal, Cloud Foundry, Watson AI. Both handle API Gateway, Terraform, Ansible, Kubernetes.
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