Cloud Cost Comparison
Azure vs GCP: Which Cloud is Cheaper in 2025?
Different Discount Models
GCP auto-applies Sustained Use Discounts (up to 30%) for always-on instances. Azure requires manual reservation purchases.
Compute — 8 vCPU General Purpose
| Cloud | Instance | On-Demand/hr | 3yr/hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure | D8s v5 | $0.384 | $0.142 |
| GCP | n2-standard-8 | $0.388 | $0.175 |
| GCP+SUD | n2-standard-8 | $0.272 (auto) | — |
Kubernetes Control Plane
Azure AKS: FREE. GCP GKE Standard: $73/cluster/month. For 5 clusters, AKS saves $365/month. However GKE Autopilot (per-pod billing) often beats AKS for variable workloads.
Decision Guide
- Microsoft stack / .NET / Windows: Azure with Hybrid Benefit
- BigQuery analytics: GCP
- Kubernetes-heavy variable workloads: GKE Autopilot
- AI/ML with Google models: GCP Vertex AI
The choice between Azure and GCP often comes down to existing Microsoft licences and team expertise. Model your specific workload in TCOIQ.
Calculate Your Real Cloud Costs
Compare AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI and Alibaba Cloud pricing for your exact workload.