Kubernetes · AWS vs Google Cloud
Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere vs Google Distributed Cloud (software only) for bare metal / GKE attached clusters
EKS Anywhere and Hybrid Nodes map partly to Google Distributed Cloud (software only) for bare metal or VMware, which runs Google-managed Kubernetes on your servers, and GKE attached clusters, which manage existing clusters from a Google Cloud fleet.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere | Google Distributed Cloud (software only) for bare metal GKE attached clusters |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Formerly Anthos clusters on bare metal / Google Distributed Cloud Virtual. Generally available |
| What it is | Hybrid Nodes attach your on-premises or edge machines to an EKS control plane running in the Region. EKS Anywhere is customer-managed Kubernetes (Cluster API) for vSphere, bare metal, Nutanix, and CloudStack, including air-gapped sites. | Google-managed Kubernetes software you install on your own bare metal servers (a VMware variant also exists), managed from Google Cloud. Registers conformant Kubernetes clusters running elsewhere (for example EKS and AKS) to a Google Cloud fleet for central management. |
| Pricing model | Hybrid Nodes are billed per vCPU-hour on top of the EKS cluster fee. EKS Anywhere is free to use, with optional paid Enterprise Subscriptions for support. | See the GKE pricing page for Distributed Cloud software and attached clusters; some options are contract-priced. |
| Docs | Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere docs | Google Distributed Cloud (software only) for bare metal docs GKE attached clusters docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere pricing | — |
Key differences
- There is no equivalent of EKS Hybrid Nodes (on-premises nodes joining a cloud-hosted control plane).
- Attached clusters can register EKS and AKS clusters, so one fleet can span clouds.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Hybrid Nodes are billed per vCPU-hour on top of the EKS cluster fee. EKS Anywhere is free to use, with optional paid Enterprise Subscriptions for support. Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere pricing →
- GCP
- See the GKE pricing page for Distributed Cloud software and attached clusters; some options are contract-priced.
And on Azure?
Partial match Azure's equivalent is AKS Hybrid and Edge (AKS enabled by Azure Arc). AWS vs Azure comparison →
Verification notes
- Current rates for Distributed Cloud software and GKE attached clusters were not confirmed on 2026-10-27.
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere?
EKS Anywhere and Hybrid Nodes map partly to Google Distributed Cloud (software only) for bare metal or VMware, which runs Google-managed Kubernetes on your servers, and GKE attached clusters, which manage existing clusters from a Google Cloud fleet.
How does pricing compare between Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere and Google Distributed Cloud (software only) for bare metal and GKE attached clusters?
AWS: Hybrid Nodes are billed per vCPU-hour on top of the EKS cluster fee. EKS Anywhere is free to use, with optional paid Enterprise Subscriptions for support. Google Cloud: See the GKE pricing page for Distributed Cloud software and attached clusters; some options are contract-priced. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
AKS Hybrid and Edge (AKS enabled by Azure Arc) (partial match). Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes and EKS Anywhere map to AKS Hybrid and Edge (AKS enabled by Azure Arc).