Purchase options & licensing · AWS vs Google Cloud
Amazon EC2 Spot Instances vs Spot VMs
EC2 Spot Instances map to Spot VMs, which use excess Compute Engine capacity at a deep discount and can be preempted at any time.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon EC2 Spot Instances | Spot VMs |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Spare EC2 capacity at a steep discount that can be interrupted with a two-minute notice, plus rebalance-recommendation signals. | Deeply discounted excess capacity that Compute Engine can preempt at any time, with no maximum runtime. The successor to preemptible VMs. |
| Pricing model | Spot prices vary by instance type and AZ based on long-term supply and demand. Billing is per second. Savings Plans and RIs don't apply. | Discounted per-second pricing set by Google per machine type and region. |
| Docs | Amazon EC2 Spot Instances docs | Spot VMs docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon EC2 Spot Instances pricing | Spot VMs pricing |
Key differences
- Google's preemption notice is best effort and up to 30 seconds, much shorter than EC2's two-minute interruption notice.
- Spot VMs are the successor to preemptible VMs and have no minimum or maximum runtime.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Spot prices vary by instance type and AZ based on long-term supply and demand. Billing is per second. Savings Plans and RIs don't apply. Amazon EC2 Spot Instances pricing →
- GCP
- Discounted per-second pricing set by Google per machine type and region. Spot VMs pricing →
And on Azure?
Direct match Azure's equivalent is Azure Spot Virtual Machines. AWS vs Azure comparison →
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of Amazon EC2 Spot Instances?
EC2 Spot Instances map to Spot VMs, which use excess Compute Engine capacity at a deep discount and can be preempted at any time.
How does pricing compare between Amazon EC2 Spot Instances and Spot VMs?
AWS: Spot prices vary by instance type and AZ based on long-term supply and demand. Billing is per second. Savings Plans and RIs don't apply. Google Cloud: Discounted per-second pricing set by Google per machine type and region. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
Azure Spot Virtual Machines (direct match). EC2 Spot Instances map to Azure Spot Virtual Machines.