Software Alternatives & Startups

Google Compute Engine VS Apache CloudStack

Compare Google Compute Engine VS Apache CloudStack and see what are their differences

Google Compute Engine

Google Compute Engine is not just fast. It’s Google fast.

Rating
0 reviews
Apache CloudStack

CloudStack is an open source cloud computing software for creating, managing, and deploying infrastructure cloud services.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Google Compute Engine should be more popular than Apache CloudStack. It has been mentioned 17 times since March 2021.

social mentions
17 vs 6
Cloud Computing popularity
77% vs 23%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 92

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Google Compute Engine
Apache CloudStack
Website cloud.google.com cloudstack.apache.org
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Google Compute Engine 6 features
Apache CloudStack 5 features
  • Scalability
    Google Compute Engine offers robust scalability, allowing users to easily increase or decrease resources to match the workload demands. This ensures that businesses can handle growing traffic and data without unnecessary delays.
  • Performance
    GCE provides high-performance virtual machines with the ability to customize CPU, memory, and persistent disk configurations. The underlying infrastructure is optimized for high-speed operations.
  • Global Reach
    With data centers located around the world, GCE provides global reach and redundancy. This ensures low-latency access and high availability for applications and services.
  • Integration
    GCE integrates seamlessly with other Google Cloud services, such as Google Kubernetes Engine, BigQuery, and Cloud Storage. This ecosystem facilitates streamlined workflows and enhanced functionality.
  • Security
    GCE features multiple layers of security including encryption, identity management, and regular compliance audits. These measures ensure that data and applications are well-protected.
  • Cost-Effective
    With per-second billing and various pricing plans, GCE offers cost-effective solutions. Users only pay for what they use, which can lead to significant savings.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    For new users, the wide range of services and options within GCE can be overwhelming. It may require a steep learning curve to fully understand and leverage all available features.
  • Support Costs
    While GCE offers various support plans, premium support options can be expensive. Smaller businesses might find the cost prohibitive compared to their budget.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Once services are deeply integrated with GCE, it may be difficult to migrate to another cloud provider. This could result in vendor lock-in and reduced flexibility for organizations.
  • Regional Availability
    Even though GCE has a broad global presence, not all services are available in every region. This can be a limitation for businesses that require specific features in certain geographic locations.
  • Network Egress Charges
    GCE charges for outbound data transfer, which can add up for applications serving large amounts of data across regions or the internet. Users need to monitor and manage egress costs carefully.
  • Open Source
    Apache CloudStack is open source, meaning there is no licensing cost and the community can contribute to its development, which fosters innovation and adaptation.
  • Hybrid Cloud Capability
    It supports hybrid cloud environments, allowing for integration with public cloud providers and providing flexibility in managing diverse resources.
  • Scalable
    CloudStack is designed to handle large deployments, making it suitable for scaling from small to very large cloud deployments.
  • Multi-Hypervisor Support
    Supports multiple hypervisors like VMware, KVM, and XenServer, providing freedom to choose the underlying virtualization technology.
  • Robust API
    Offers a comprehensive and robust API, which facilitates automation and integration with other systems and tools.

Possible disadvantages

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its vast array of features and complex architecture, it can be challenging for newcomers to grasp and configure efficiently.
  • Community Support
    While there is a community for support, it might not be as extensive or responsive as commercial solutions with dedicated support.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some commercial cloud platforms, Apache CloudStack may lack certain advanced features or cutting-edge integrations.
  • Upgrading Complexity
    Upgrading existing deployments can be complex and may require significant planning to ensure smooth transitions without downtime.
  • Customization Challenges
    Although highly configurable, customizing CloudStack for specific needs might require deep expertise and can be resource-intensive.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Google Compute Engine
Apache CloudStack

Overall verdict

  • Google Compute Engine is a strong choice for cloud computing needs, particularly if you're already using other Google Cloud services or require a scalable and reliable infrastructure.

Why this product is good

  • Google Compute Engine (GCE) is known for its robust infrastructure, scalability, and strong support for a variety of workloads. It offers customizable virtual machines with reliable security features and seamless integration with other Google Cloud services. Additionally, GCE benefits from Google's global network, providing high-performance and low-latency connectivity for users worldwide. Advanced features like Preemptible VMs and various machine types allow for cost-effective and flexible computing solutions.

Recommended for

  • Businesses looking for scalable and cost-effective cloud solutions.
  • Organizations utilizing other Google Cloud Platform services.
  • Developers who need a variety of machine types and advanced configuration options.
  • Enterprises requiring global reach and low-latency network performance.
  • Teams focusing on data-intensive applications or machine learning tasks.

No analysis of Apache CloudStack yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Google Compute Engine 1 video + Add
Apache CloudStack 3 videos + Add

Getting Started with Google Compute Engine

Apache CloudStack - Storage - Snapshots - Code Review

More videos

  • - #14 | #ACSarchives: Apache CloudStack | Storage, Snapshots & Code Review
  • - Apache Cloudstack Tutorial: What is Apache Cloudstack Part - 2

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Google Compute Engine
Apache CloudStack
77% 77%
23% 23%
90% 90%
10% 10%
74% 74%
VPS
26% 26%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Google Compute Engine and Apache CloudStack. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Google Compute Engine no reviews yet
Apache CloudStack no reviews yet

We have no reviews of Apache CloudStack yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Google Compute Engine 17 mentions
Apache CloudStack 6 mentions
  • Decoding high-bandwidth memory: A practical guide to GPU memory for fine-tuning AI models
    For maximum control: Spin up a Compute Engine instance with the latest NVIDIA H100 or A100 Tensor Core GPUs and take full control of your environment. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • AWS Free Tier Changes on July 15, 2025
    Https://cloud.google.com/products/compute ? You get one e2-micro VM instance free per month. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Please bring neon db to GCP
    Surely you can run your own instances on some sort of "Compute" in GCP? https://cloud.google.com/products/compute. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago

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  • Linux from the user's perspective - Part1: Installing Linux
    Xen + CloudStack - you'll know if you need it. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Continuing the Search: Open-Source Alternatives to AWS Services
    You can try https://cloudstack.apache.org which has a great UI, CLI, APIs, tooling (Ansible, Terraform etc.) and support for CloudStack Kubernetes Service and CAPC (https://cluster-api-cloudstack.sigs.k8s.io/). CloudStack is also... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Common OpenSource Cloud OS
    CloudStack is cloud computing software for creating, managing, and deploying public as well as private IaaS clouds. It uses several hypervisors such as KVM, vSphere, and XenServer/XCP for virtualization. It supports some key features... Source: over 3 years ago

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Alternatives to Google Compute Engine and Apache CloudStack

When comparing Google Compute Engine and Apache CloudStack, you can also consider the following products.