Routing & internet access · AWS vs Google Cloud
Internet gateway (and egress-only internet gateway) vs Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network / Static external IP addresses and BYOIP
There is no internet gateway resource.
Every VPC network has a default route to the default internet gateway; VMs with external IP addresses use it directly, and private VMs use Cloud NAT.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Internet gateway (and egress-only internet gateway) | Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network Static external IP addresses and BYOIP |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available Generally available |
| What it is | Horizontally scaled VPC component that allows internet traffic to and from resources with public IPs. The egress-only variant allows outbound-only IPv6. | A global virtual network with regional subnets, firewall rules, and routes, shared across projects with Shared VPC. Reserved regional or global external IP addresses, including bring-your-own IP ranges. |
| Pricing model | Internet gateways are free. You pay for public IPv4 addresses and data transfer. | Internet egress is billed per GiB by network tier and destination. |
| Docs | Internet gateway (and egress-only internet gateway) docs | Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network docs Static external IP addresses and BYOIP docs |
| Pricing page | Internet gateway (and egress-only internet gateway) pricing | Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network pricing Static external IP addresses and BYOIP pricing |
Key differences
- Internet access is controlled by routes, firewall rules, and whether a VM has an external IP.
- IPv6 egress uses the same default route; there is no egress-only gateway resource.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Internet gateways are free. You pay for public IPv4 addresses and data transfer. Internet gateway (and egress-only internet gateway) pricing →
- GCP
- Internet egress is billed per GiB by network tier and destination. Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network pricing → Static external IP addresses and BYOIP pricing →
And on Azure?
Partial match Azure's equivalent is Public IP addresses and prefixes, Private subnets (default outbound access off). AWS vs Azure comparison →
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of Internet gateway (and egress-only internet gateway)?
There is no internet gateway resource. Every VPC network has a default route to the default internet gateway; VMs with external IP addresses use it directly, and private VMs use Cloud NAT.
How does pricing compare between Internet gateway (and egress-only internet gateway) and Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network and Static external IP addresses and BYOIP?
AWS: Internet gateways are free. You pay for public IPv4 addresses and data transfer. Google Cloud: Internet egress is billed per GiB by network tier and destination. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
Public IP addresses and prefixes and Private subnets (default outbound access off) (partial match). Azure has no internet gateway resource.