Virtual networks, subnets & IP addressing · AWS vs Google Cloud
Amazon VPC vs Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network
Amazon VPC maps to a Google Cloud VPC network.
A VPC network is global, and its subnets are regional.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon VPC | Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Logically isolated virtual network in a Region, with your own IPv4 and IPv6 ranges, subnets, route tables, gateways, and security controls. | A global virtual network with regional subnets, firewall rules, and routes, shared across projects with Shared VPC. |
| Pricing model | The VPC itself is free. You pay for NAT gateways, endpoints, public IPv4 addresses, VPN, Transit Gateway, and data transfer. | No charge for the VPC network itself; you pay for data transfer, IP addresses, and network services. |
| Docs | Amazon VPC docs | Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon VPC pricing | Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network pricing |
Key differences
- One VPC network spans all regions; an AWS VPC is regional.
- Shared VPC lets a host project share its network with service projects, similar to AWS VPC sharing.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- The VPC itself is free. You pay for NAT gateways, endpoints, public IPv4 addresses, VPN, Transit Gateway, and data transfer. Amazon VPC pricing →
- GCP
- No charge for the VPC network itself; you pay for data transfer, IP addresses, and network services. Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network pricing →
And on Azure?
Direct match Azure's equivalent is Azure Virtual Network. AWS vs Azure comparison →
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of Amazon VPC?
Amazon VPC maps to a Google Cloud VPC network. A VPC network is global, and its subnets are regional.
How does pricing compare between Amazon VPC and Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network?
AWS: The VPC itself is free. You pay for NAT gateways, endpoints, public IPv4 addresses, VPN, Transit Gateway, and data transfer. Google Cloud: No charge for the VPC network itself; you pay for data transfer, IP addresses, and network services. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
Azure Virtual Network (direct match). Amazon VPC maps to Azure Virtual Network (VNet).