Which is cheaper, Azure SQL Database or Google Cloud SQL?

Azure is cheaper in 2 of 4 comparable categories, with an average price difference of 31.7%.

How do Azure SQL Database and Google Cloud SQL compare for general purpose workloads?

Both providers offer competitive pricing for general purpose workloads.

Updated Apr 6, 2026AzureGCP

Overall Winner

Azure

Azure Wins

GCP Wins

Ties

Azure wins 2 of 4 price comparisons, averaging 31.7% lower prices in categories where it leads.

Prices range from $0.0250/hr to $35.13/hr across comparable tiers.

Choose Azure

Best for Databases workloads

Comparing Azure SQL Database and Google Cloud SQL across 4 equivalent tiers. On-demand hourly rates are shown in USD for the default region.

Sort by:

Category	Azure Azure SQL Database	GCP Google Cloud SQL	Diff	Cheapest
Databases - Backup LRS - Backup LRS Data Stored	$0.0250/hr Backup LRS - Backup LRS Data Stored ($18.25/mo)	$0.0350/hr 0196-43DA-CE10 ($25.55/mo)	+28.6%	Azure
Databases - Premium - Data Stored	$0.3400/hr Premium - Data Stored ($248.20/mo)	$0.1900/hr 094A-C58C-9FD6 ($138.70/mo)	+44.1%	GCP
Databases - SQLDB_GP_Compute_Gen5_32 - Zone Redundancy vCore	$2.9226/hr SQLDB_GP_Compute_Gen5_32 - Zone Redundancy vCore ($2,133.47/mo)	$2.2400/hr 02A7-A44D-B75B ($1,635.20/mo)	+23.4%	GCP
Databases - SQLDB_BC_Compute_Gen5_80 - vCore	$24.3548/hr SQLDB_BC_Compute_Gen5_80 - vCore ($17,779.00/mo)	$35.1300/hr 033D-C284-BFDF ($25,644.90/mo)	+30.7%	Azure

✓Databases - Backup LRS - Backup LRS Data Stored - saves $7.30/mo (28.6% cheaper)
✓Databases - SQLDB_BC_Compute_Gen5_80 - vCore - saves $7,865.90/mo (30.7% cheaper)

✓Databases - Premium - Data Stored - saves $109.50/mo (44.1% cheaper)
✓Databases - SQLDB_GP_Compute_Gen5_32 - Zone Redundancy vCore - saves $498.30/mo (23.4% cheaper)