Routing & internet access · AWS vs Google Cloud
NAT gateway (zonal and regional) vs Cloud NAT
NAT gateway maps to Cloud NAT, a software-defined managed NAT that doesn't use proxy VMs.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | NAT gateway (zonal and regional) | Cloud NAT |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Managed NAT that lets private subnets reach the internet or other networks. Zonal NAT gateways live in one AZ; regional NAT gateways expand across AZs automatically. | Software-defined managed NAT for outbound traffic from resources without external IP addresses; no proxy VMs. |
| Pricing model | Per NAT gateway-hour plus per GB processed. | Hourly charge per NAT gateway, plus per-GiB data processed and the external IP addresses it uses. |
| Docs | NAT gateway (zonal and regional) docs | Cloud NAT docs |
| Pricing page | NAT gateway (zonal and regional) pricing | Cloud NAT pricing |
Key differences
- Cloud Router provides the control plane for Cloud NAT; each gateway is regional.
- Private NAT also translates between VPC networks or with on-premises networks.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per NAT gateway-hour plus per GB processed. NAT gateway (zonal and regional) pricing →
- GCP
- Hourly charge per NAT gateway, plus per-GiB data processed and the external IP addresses it uses. Cloud NAT pricing →
And on Azure?
Direct match Azure's equivalent is Azure NAT Gateway. AWS vs Azure comparison →
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of NAT gateway (zonal and regional)?
NAT gateway maps to Cloud NAT, a software-defined managed NAT that doesn't use proxy VMs.
How does pricing compare between NAT gateway (zonal and regional) and Cloud NAT?
AWS: Per NAT gateway-hour plus per GB processed. Google Cloud: Hourly charge per NAT gateway, plus per-GiB data processed and the external IP addresses it uses. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
Azure NAT Gateway (direct match). AWS NAT gateway maps to Azure NAT Gateway.