AWS vs GCP vs Azure: The Ultimate Public Cloud Comparison (2025)

The public cloud market is dominated by giants like AWS (Amazon Web Services), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Together, these three control over 65% of global market share, with Oracle Cloud and IBM Cloud serving niche markets for enterprises with specific needs, like database management or regulatory compliance.

As businesses increasingly adopt multi-cloud strategies, understanding the differences between these providers is essential for making informed decisions. This blog compares AWS vs GCP vs Azure, along with Oracle and IBM Cloud, to help you navigate costs, features, and use cases for each platform.

1. AWS vs GCP vs Azure: Market Leadership

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

• Market Share: ~32% (Industry Leader).

• Strengths:

  • The most extensive global infrastructure, with 32 regions and 102 availability zones.

  • A vast ecosystem of 200+ services for compute, storage, AI, and machine learning.

  • Ideal for startups and enterprises requiring scalable, general-purpose workloads.

Microsoft Azure

• Market Share: ~22%.

• Strengths:

  • Best for hybrid cloud and enterprises leveraging Microsoft tools like Office 365 and Dynamics.

  • Global presence with 62 regions and 120 availability zones.

  • Popular for Windows-based workloads and government agencies due to its compliance options.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

• Market Share: ~11%.

• Strengths:

  • Leader in AI and machine learning with tools like TensorFlow and BigQuery.

  • Cost-effective storage and compute options for data-heavy workloads.

  • Growing global infrastructure with 39 regions and 118 availability zones.

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)

• Market Share: ~3%.

• Strengths:

  • Best for Oracle database users and ERP applications.

  • Highly competitive pricing for compute and storage.

  • Strong hybrid cloud offering through Oracle Cloud@Customer.

IBM Cloud

• Market Share: ~2%.

• Strengths:

  • Tailored for regulated industries like healthcare, finance, and government.

  • Offers AI-powered tools and compliance-focused solutions.

  • Focus on hybrid cloud through IBM Cloud Satellite.

2. Compute Services: AWS vs GCP vs Azure (and Beyond)

Compute resources like virtual machines (VMs), containers, and serverless solutions are the backbone of any cloud provider.

General-Purpose VM Pricing:

• AWS: Starts at $0.0084/hr (t4g.small).

• Azure: Starts at $0.01/hr (B2s).

• GCP: Starts at $0.0076/hr (e2-micro).

• Oracle Cloud: Starts at $0.009/hr (VM.Standard.E2).

• IBM Cloud: Higher pricing at $0.02/hr (bx2-2x8).

🔹 Winner: Google Cloud offers the most affordable compute-optimized instances, while AWS is best for flexible configurations.

Serverless Computing:

• AWS Lambda: Charges based on the number of invocations and execution time.

• Azure Functions: Integrated deeply into the Microsoft ecosystem for workflows.

• GCP Cloud Functions: Focused on event-driven compute, ideal for microservices.

• Oracle Functions: Oracle’s entry in serverless is optimized for enterprise applications.

• IBM Cloud Code Engine: Great for developers building serverless apps in regulated sectors.

3. Storage Costs: AWS vs GCP vs Azure

Cloud storage pricing is a key factor when comparing AWS, Azure, and GCP. Here’s how they compare:

Object Storage (Standard Tier):

• AWS S3: $0.023/GB per month.

• Azure Blob Storage: $0.021/GB per month.

• Google Cloud Storage: $0.020/GB per month.

🔹 Winner: Google Cloud provides the cheapest standard storage, making it ideal for large-scale data storage.

Cold/Archive Storage (Cheapest Tier):

• AWS S3 Glacier Deep Archive: $0.004/GB per month.

• Azure Archive Storage: $0.0018/GB per month.

• Google Cloud Coldline: $0.002/GB per month.

• Oracle Cloud Cold Storage: $0.0035/GB per month.

🔹 Winner: Azure offers the cheapest archive storage for long-term backups.

4. Security and Compliance

Security is a top concern for businesses, especially those in regulated industries like finance, healthcare, and government.

Security Features:

• AWS: Features include AWS Shield for DDoS protection and GuardDuty for threat detection.

• Azure: Integrates with Microsoft Defender for seamless security monitoring.

• GCP: Focused on AI-driven threat detection with Chronicle.

• Oracle Cloud: Offers automated security zone policies for compliance.

• IBM Cloud: Best for highly regulated sectors with advanced encryption and governance tools.

🔹 Winner: IBM Cloud is unparalleled in compliance for industries with strict regulatory needs, but GCP’s AI-driven security analytics stand out.

5. Multi-Cloud & Hybrid Cloud Capabilities

Multi-cloud and hybrid cloud solutions are increasingly popular as businesses look to avoid vendor lock-in.

Best for Multi-Cloud:

• Azure Arc: Best for hybrid IT environments, extending Azure services on-premises.

• Google Anthos: Exceptional for managing workloads across multiple cloud providers.

• Oracle Cloud@Customer: Ideal for Oracle database users requiring on-prem hybrid solutions.

• IBM Cloud Satellite: Secure deployment for sensitive workloads across multiple environments.

🔹 Winner: Azure Arc and Google Anthos provide seamless management across on-premise and cloud environments.

6. Which Cloud Provider Should You Choose?

The best cloud provider depends on your priorities:

✅ Choose AWS if you want the most comprehensive service catalog and global scalability. ✅ Choose Azure if you’re focused on hybrid cloud or use Microsoft enterprise tools. ✅ Choose GCP if you need AI and machine learning tools or cost-effective storage. ✅ Choose Oracle Cloud for enterprise databases and ERP applications. ✅ Choose IBM Cloud for industries requiring high security and regulatory compliance.

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Managing multiple clouds—whether it’s AWS, Azure, or GCP—can be complex. Cross4Cloud provides tools to optimize performance, control costs, and ensure seamless security across all cloud providers.

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