Purchase options & licensing · AWS vs Google Cloud
AWS License Manager vs Sole-tenant nodes
Google Cloud has no license-tracking service like AWS License Manager.
Bring-your-own-license with dedicated-hardware terms is done on sole-tenant nodes, and premium OS images include licenses in the price.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS License Manager | Sole-tenant nodes |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Track and enforce software license rules (vCPU, core, socket, instance) across EC2, on-premises servers, and Dedicated Hosts. Also offers license-included options for some Microsoft products. | Physical Compute Engine servers dedicated to your project's VMs, used for isolation and bring-your-own-license needs. |
| Pricing model | License Manager has no extra charge for license tracking. Some license-included and user-based subscription features are billed. | No extra charge for BYOL images; sole-tenant nodes are billed per node plus premium. |
| Docs | AWS License Manager docs | Sole-tenant nodes docs |
| Pricing page | AWS License Manager pricing | Sole-tenant nodes pricing |
Key differences
- Licenses that need dedicated hardware (such as some Windows Server licenses) are imported as BYOL images and run on sole-tenant nodes.
- Track license counts with your own tooling or a third-party asset manager.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- License Manager has no extra charge for license tracking. Some license-included and user-based subscription features are billed. AWS License Manager pricing →
- GCP
- No extra charge for BYOL images; sole-tenant nodes are billed per node plus premium. Sole-tenant nodes pricing →
And on Azure?
Partial match Azure's equivalent is Azure Hybrid Benefit. AWS vs Azure comparison →
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of AWS License Manager?
Google Cloud has no license-tracking service like AWS License Manager. Bring-your-own-license with dedicated-hardware terms is done on sole-tenant nodes, and premium OS images include licenses in the price.
How does pricing compare between AWS License Manager and Sole-tenant nodes?
AWS: License Manager has no extra charge for license tracking. Some license-included and user-based subscription features are billed. Google Cloud: No extra charge for BYOL images; sole-tenant nodes are billed per node plus premium. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
Azure Hybrid Benefit (partial match). AWS License Manager (tracking and enforcement) plus Dedicated Hosts for BYOL map loosely to Azure Hybrid Benefit.