IaaS Comparison: AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud vs DigitalOcean

Need to choose an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provider but not sure which one to go with? We’ve got you covered! In this article, we will be comparing four popular IaaS providers: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean. We will be providing a factual and unbiased comparison of each provider’s features and pricing, so you can make an informed decision about which provider is best for your business needs.

Pricing

When it comes to pricing, all of the providers offer a pay-as-you-go model, where you only pay for the resources you use. However, rates can vary depending on the features you need, and some providers offer discounts if you commit to a longer term.

Here is a breakdown of the pricing for each provider’s most popular services based on their respective pricing calculators (as of August 2021):

Note: These prices are subject to change and may vary based on your specific requirements.

Looking at the above chart, DigitalOcean seems to have the highest prices while Azure appears to be the cheapest, and AWS and Google Cloud somewhere in the middle. However, keep in mind that pricing should not be the only factor to consider when selecting an IaaS provider.

Features

All of the providers offer a wide range of features and services, including virtual machines, storage, networking, security, and more. Here is a brief overview of each provider’s unique features:

AWS

With the largest number of products and services, AWS is often considered the most comprehensive IaaS provider. AWS has a global network of data centers and offers an extensive range of tools for infrastructure monitoring, management, and automation, including Auto Scaling and CloudFormation. AWS also has features to help with application development, such as Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), Route 53 for DNS management, and Elastic Container Service (ECS) for container orchestration.

Azure

Microsoft’s Azure is a popular choice for Windows-based environments, boasting seamless integration with Microsoft tools and services including Visual Studio and PowerShell. Azure provides various unique services, including Azure Active Directory (AD) for identity management, Azure DevOps for pipeline automation and management, and Azure Site Recovery for disaster recovery.

Google Cloud

Google Cloud is an excellent choice if you are already using Google services, such as Gmail or Google Drive. Google Cloud offers cutting-edge technology, including Kubernetes for container orchestration and Anthos for hybrid cloud management. Google also provides BigQuery, a fully-managed data warehouse, and Cloud AutoML, a suite of machine learning services.

DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean is known for its simplicity, ease of use, and user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for developers or small businesses with limited IT resources. Alongside virtual machines and other traditional IaaS features, DigitalOcean also offers a managed databases service, load balancers, and firewalls.

References

• AWS pricing calculator: https://calculator.aws/
• Azure pricing calculator: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/calculator/
• Google Cloud pricing calculator: https://cloud.google.com/products/calculator/
• DigitalOcean pricing calculator: https://www.digitalocean.com/pricing/

Conclusion

Choosing an IaaS provider can be overwhelming, but it ultimately comes down to your business’ specific needs. Each provider has a unique approach to pricing, features, and services, so it’s crucial to assess which aspects are most essential for your business. We hope this comparison has given you a starting point in your journey towards finding your perfect IaaS provider.

So until we meet again, may your cloud be stable, your services scalable, and your costs reasonable!