web presence. Part of the reason we are using blogger to publish these articles, but from an infrastructure point of view, what has been the cheapest in terms of technology. When it comes to cost optimisation choosing a public cloud provider based on the price is a common consideration.
While all three major players in the market, Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), offer similar services and features, they can vary significantly in price. So let's take a closer look at the pricing models of Azure, AWS, and GCP, and compare the costs of similar services across the different platforms to help you determine which one is the cheapest option for your use case.
First, let's take a look at the basic pricing models of each platform.
Azure
Azure's pricing model is based on a pay-as-you-go model, with costs varying based on the type and amount of resources used. Azure also offers a number of different pricing options, including a free tier, pay-per-use, and reserved instances.
AWS
Like Azure, AWS also uses a pay-as-you-go model, with costs varying based on the type and amount of resources used. AWS also offers a number of different pricing options, including a free tier, on-demand instances, and reserved instances.
GCP uses a similar pay-as-you-go model to Azure and AWS, with costs varying based on the type and amount of resources used. GCP also offers a number of different pricing options, including a free tier, on-demand instances, and committed use discounts.
Comparison
When it comes to specific services, the prices can vary widely between the different platforms, so it's important to compare the costs of similar services across the different platforms. Below are some examples of popular services and the costs associated with each platform.
Compute
All three platforms offer similar compute services, such as virtual machines and container services. In general, AWS tends to be the most expensive option, while GCP is generally the cheapest option. Azure falls somewhere in between.
Storage
All three platforms also offer similar storage services, such as object storage and block storage. In general, AWS is the most expensive option, while GCP is generally the cheapest option. Azure falls somewhere in between.
What about Regions?
When it comes to specific regions, the prices can vary depending on the platform. Generally, prices tend to be lower in regions that have less demand for resources.
Azure
the cheapest regions tend to be US Gov Virginia, US Gov Iowa, and US DoD Central.
AWS
the cheapest regions tend to be Ohio, N. Virginia, and Oregon.
GCP
the cheapest regions tend to be Iowa, South Carolina, and Belgium.
Overall
It's worth noting that these prices may vary depending on factors such as the time of year and changes to the platform's pricing. This guide is intended to give you an idea of what to expect when comparing the costs of similar services across the different platforms, but it's always a good idea to double-check the pricing for your specific use case before making a decision.
Wrap Up!
While all three major public cloud providers offer similar services, they can vary significantly in price. When it comes to cost, GCP tends to be the most affordable option, followed by Azure, and then AWS. However, the cheapest provider for a particular use case will also vary depending on the services and regions. As such it's always a good idea to compare the pricing for your specific use case before making a decision.