Hybrid, edge & VMware · AWS vs Google Cloud
AWS Outposts (racks & servers) vs Google Distributed Cloud connected
AWS Outposts maps partly to Google Distributed Cloud connected: Google-certified hardware installed on your premises that runs GKE clusters for containers and VMs.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Outposts (racks & servers) | Google Distributed Cloud connected |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | AWS-owned and AWS-managed hardware in your data center, as 42U racks or 1U/2U servers, running EC2, EBS, and selected services as an extension of a Region. | Google-certified hardware installed on your premises that runs GKE clusters (containers and VMs), managed from Google Cloud. |
| Pricing model | Outposts racks have 3-year terms (All, Partial, or No upfront) by configuration. Outposts servers have their own 3-year pricing. Hardware is AWS-owned. | Contract pricing for hardware and service; see the Distributed Cloud connected pricing page or contact sales. |
| Docs | AWS Outposts (racks & servers) docs | Google Distributed Cloud connected docs |
| Pricing page | AWS Outposts (racks & servers) pricing | — |
Key differences
- Distributed Cloud connected runs GKE (containers and VMs), not a local copy of Compute Engine and other regional services like Outposts.
- Google also offers air-gapped Distributed Cloud deployments for disconnected sites.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Outposts racks have 3-year terms (All, Partial, or No upfront) by configuration. Outposts servers have their own 3-year pricing. Hardware is AWS-owned. AWS Outposts (racks & servers) pricing →
- GCP
- Contract pricing for hardware and service; see the Distributed Cloud connected pricing page or contact sales.
And on Azure?
Partial match Azure's equivalent is Azure Local (formerly Azure Stack HCI). AWS vs Azure comparison →
Verification notes
- Distributed Cloud connected pricing page did not render readable content on 2026-10-27.
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of AWS Outposts (racks & servers)?
AWS Outposts maps partly to Google Distributed Cloud connected: Google-certified hardware installed on your premises that runs GKE clusters for containers and VMs.
How does pricing compare between AWS Outposts (racks & servers) and Google Distributed Cloud connected?
AWS: Outposts racks have 3-year terms (All, Partial, or No upfront) by configuration. Outposts servers have their own 3-year pricing. Hardware is AWS-owned. Google Cloud: Contract pricing for hardware and service; see the Distributed Cloud connected pricing page or contact sales. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
Azure Local (formerly Azure Stack HCI) (partial match). AWS Outposts maps to Azure Local (formerly Azure Stack HCI).