CDN, edge compute & global acceleration · AWS vs Google Cloud
AWS Global Accelerator vs Application Load Balancer / Network Load Balancer
AWS Global Accelerator maps to global external load balancers, which use a single anycast IP address and enter Google's network at the edge on Premium Tier.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Global Accelerator | Application Load Balancer Network Load Balancer |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available Generally available |
| What it is | Static anycast IP addresses that route TCP and UDP traffic over the AWS global network to the best healthy regional endpoint. | Layer 7 proxy load balancer, global (single anycast IP) or regional, external or internal. Layer 4 load balancers in proxy and passthrough modes. |
| Pricing model | Fixed fee per accelerator-hour plus a data transfer premium per GB. | Load balancer forwarding rule and data processing charges, plus Premium Tier egress. |
| Docs | AWS Global Accelerator docs | Application Load Balancer docs Network Load Balancer docs |
| Pricing page | AWS Global Accelerator pricing | Application Load Balancer pricing Network Load Balancer pricing |
Key differences
- No separate accelerator resource; anycast comes with the global proxy load balancers.
- Global proxy Network Load Balancers handle TCP; UDP needs regional passthrough load balancers.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Fixed fee per accelerator-hour plus a data transfer premium per GB. AWS Global Accelerator pricing →
- GCP
- Load balancer forwarding rule and data processing charges, plus Premium Tier egress. Application Load Balancer pricing → Network Load Balancer pricing →
And on Azure?
Partial match Azure's equivalent is Azure global (cross-region) load balancer. AWS vs Azure comparison →
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of AWS Global Accelerator?
AWS Global Accelerator maps to global external load balancers, which use a single anycast IP address and enter Google's network at the edge on Premium Tier.
How does pricing compare between AWS Global Accelerator and Application Load Balancer and Network Load Balancer?
AWS: Fixed fee per accelerator-hour plus a data transfer premium per GB. Google Cloud: Load balancer forwarding rule and data processing charges, plus Premium Tier egress. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
Azure global (cross-region) load balancer (partial match). AWS Global Accelerator maps to the Azure global (cross-region) load balancer for layer 4, or Front Door for HTTP(S).