Virtual networks, subnets & IP addressing · AWS vs Google Cloud
VPC subnets vs Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network
VPC subnets map to Google Cloud subnets, but Google Cloud subnets are regional and span every zone in the region; you choose the zone per VM, not per subnet.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | VPC subnets | Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | IP ranges within a VPC. Each subnet lives in exactly one Availability Zone (or Local Zone or Outpost), so multi-AZ designs need one subnet per AZ. | A global virtual network with regional subnets, firewall rules, and routes, shared across projects with Shared VPC. |
| Pricing model | Free. | No charge for subnets. |
| Docs | VPC subnets docs | Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network docs |
| Pricing page | VPC subnets pricing | Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network pricing |
Key differences
- A single subnet serves all zones in its region, unlike AWS subnets, which live in one Availability Zone.
- Subnets can have secondary ranges (used by GKE for Pods and Services).
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Free. VPC subnets pricing →
- GCP
- No charge for subnets. Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network pricing →
And on Azure?
Partial match Azure's equivalent is Azure Virtual Network. AWS vs Azure comparison →
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of VPC subnets?
VPC subnets map to Google Cloud subnets, but Google Cloud subnets are regional and span every zone in the region; you choose the zone per VM, not per subnet.
How does pricing compare between VPC subnets and Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network?
AWS: Free. Google Cloud: No charge for subnets. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
Azure Virtual Network (partial match). VPC subnets map to Azure virtual network subnets, but placement differs.