Cloud pricing FAQ: comparing Azure, AWS and Google Cloud
Short answers to what people ask before they choose a cloud, and how this canvas helps. Prices themselves come from each cloud's own engine when you build a quote: open the canvas to price your workload.
Which cloud is cheapest: Azure, AWS or Google Cloud?
There is no single answer. The cheapest cloud depends on the workload: the services and sizes, the region, how many hours it runs, whether you commit for one or three years, which licences you need, and how much data leaves the cloud. The reliable way to find out is to price your own workload on all three. Describe it once here, pick "All three", and each cloud's own engine prices it side by side. See Azure vs AWS pricing, Azure vs Google Cloud pricing, AWS vs Google Cloud pricing.
Which cloud pricing calculator should I use?
If you already know your cloud, use that cloud's calculator: the Azure Price Calculator for Microsoft Azure, the AWS Price Calculator for Amazon Web Services, or the GCP Price Calculator for Google Cloud. If you have not decided, describe the workload here and price it on all three at once. See All three calculators.
Where do the prices come from?
Each quote is built by that cloud's own engine from its published price list. This site does not price anything itself and never translates one cloud's SKUs into another's. Prices that could not be confirmed live are flagged on every line.
How does "Mirror on" compare the same workload across clouds?
A priced quote is turned into a provider-neutral description of the workload (roles, sizes, region, hours, commitment) and sent to the other cloud's engine, which picks its own services and sizes. The result is a real quote, not an estimate.
What does the Compare lane show?
The Compare lane lines up the quotes of one comparison by role, such as compute, database, storage and network, with each cloud's monthly total and the difference against the cheapest. Open it from the toolbar once a comparison is on the canvas.
Can I compare reserved or committed pricing, not just pay-as-you-go?
Yes. Say it in the request, for example "1-year reserved", "3-year reserved", "savings plan" or "spot", and it goes to each engine as written. Each cloud names its discounts differently: Azure has reservations and a savings plan for compute, AWS has Savings Plans and Reserved Instances, and Google Cloud has committed use discounts and automatic sustained use discounts. Without a commitment, quotes are pay-as-you-go.
Are Windows Server and SQL Server licences included?
Only what you ask for. Say the operating system and database edition in the request, and whether you bring your own licences. Licence-included and bring-your-own-licence prices can differ substantially, and each cloud has its own rules, such as Azure Hybrid Benefit on Azure.
Are data transfer (egress) costs included?
Only if you describe them. All three clouds charge for data leaving the cloud, so add the outbound gigabytes per month to the request, for example "500 GB outbound data per month", so each engine can price it.
Are support plans included?
No. A quote prices the services in the workload. Paid support plans are sold separately by each provider and are priced differently on each cloud, so add them from the provider's support pricing page.
Is it free?
Yes. There is no paid plan. Each visitor has a free daily allowance of builds: 6 without signing in and 60 when signed in, where "All three" counts as three. The allowance resets at 00:00 UTC.
Do I need an account?
No. A canvas is kept in your browser without signing in, and share links last 7 days. Sign in with your email to keep canvases in your account and make links that do not expire.
Can ChatGPT, Claude or another AI assistant build a comparison for me?
Yes. An assistant can write your workload into an AI link, one URL that opens priced quotes on up to three clouds when you open it, with no call to this site. Assistants that can call an API can use the federation API or the MCP server instead. See AI links, For AI agents.
Is this an official Microsoft, Amazon or Google calculator?
No. Cloud Pricing Calculators is an independent tool, not affiliated with Microsoft, Amazon or Google. Prices come from each provider's published price lists, so validate them with the provider or an authorised partner before you buy.
Estimates are informational. Validate prices with the provider or an authorised partner before buying.