Managed relational engines · AWS vs Google Cloud
Amazon RDS Custom (Oracle and SQL Server) vs SQL Server on Compute Engine
Amazon RDS Custom has no Google Cloud counterpart.
For OS-level control, run SQL Server on Compute Engine with license-included images or your own licenses.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon RDS Custom (Oracle and SQL Server) | SQL Server on Compute Engine |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | RDS with access to the database host's operating system and database configuration, for apps that need customization, while AWS still automates backups and other management tasks. | Compute Engine VMs with license-included SQL Server images (or your own licenses), giving full OS and instance control. |
| Pricing model | Per instance-hour (license-included for SQL Server, or bring your own media), plus storage. | Compute Engine VM pricing plus per-vCPU SQL Server license fees for license-included images. |
| Docs | Amazon RDS Custom (Oracle and SQL Server) docs | SQL Server on Compute Engine docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon RDS Custom (Oracle and SQL Server) pricing | SQL Server on Compute Engine pricing |
Key differences
- You manage HA, backups, and patching yourself (Backup and DR can protect SQL Server on VMs).
- There is no managed-but-customizable middle ground like RDS Custom.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per instance-hour (license-included for SQL Server, or bring your own media), plus storage. Amazon RDS Custom (Oracle and SQL Server) pricing →
- GCP
- Compute Engine VM pricing plus per-vCPU SQL Server license fees for license-included images. SQL Server on Compute Engine pricing →
And on Azure?
Partial match Azure's equivalent is SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines. AWS vs Azure comparison →
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of Amazon RDS Custom (Oracle and SQL Server)?
Amazon RDS Custom has no Google Cloud counterpart. For OS-level control, run SQL Server on Compute Engine with license-included images or your own licenses.
How does pricing compare between Amazon RDS Custom (Oracle and SQL Server) and SQL Server on Compute Engine?
AWS: Per instance-hour (license-included for SQL Server, or bring your own media), plus storage. Google Cloud: Compute Engine VM pricing plus per-vCPU SQL Server license fees for license-included images. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (partial match). Amazon RDS Custom maps most closely to SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines with the SQL IaaS Agent extension, which adds automated backup, patching, and license management to a VM you fully control.