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Azure SQL Database vs Google Cloud SQL

Azure SQL Database: Microsoft's always-current managed SQL Server engine, from free serverless databases to 128 TB Hyperscale. Google Cloud SQL: Google Cloud's managed MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQL Server, with an Enterprise Plus tier for fast failover.

key differences

  • Azure SQL Database is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Google Cloud SQL (≤ 10 TB).
  • Horizontal scaling is manual in Azure SQL Database and none in Google Cloud SQL.
  • Only Azure SQL Database has columnar storage, in-memory, compression, time travel, online schema changes.
  • Azure SQL Database has a serverless option; Google Cloud SQL does not.

choose azure-sql-database for

  • +Lift-and-modernize of SQL Server applications
  • +.NET SaaS backends with elastic pools per tenant
  • +Large OLTP databases on Hyperscale
  • +Intermittent dev/test workloads on serverless auto-pause

best at · OLTP, HTAP, Content

choose google-cloud-sql for

  • +Standard web and mobile backends on Google Cloud
  • +Migrating on-prem MySQL, Postgres or SQL Server to GCP
  • +Cloud Run and GKE application databases
  • +WordPress and CMS hosting

best at · OLTP, Content, Metadata

Azure SQL DatabaseMicrosoft's always-current managed SQL Server engine, from free serverless databases to 128 TB Hyperscale.
Google Cloud SQLGoogle Cloud's managed MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQL Server, with an Enterprise Plus tier for fast failover.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Relational
Also supports
Document, Spatial, Graph, Vector, Ledger
Document, Spatial, Vector
Type
Managed service
Managed service
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Microsoft
Google
First release
2010
2011
Latest version
–
–
License
ProprietaryProprietary (Azure service)
ProprietaryProprietary (Google Cloud service)
Free tier
✓
—
popularity
WhichDB Score
33.9
10.9
Rank
#61
#292
GitHub stars
–
–
Stack Overflow questions
10.1K
3.9K
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Large (≤ 1 PB)
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Horizontal scaling
Manual
None
Multi-region
Read replicas
Read replicas
ACID
Full
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong, Eventual
Schema
Strict
Strict
Architecture
Primary replica, Shared storage, Serverless
Primary replica, Client server
deployment
Self-hosted
—
—
Vendor-managed cloud
✓
✓
Serverless
✓
—
Embedded
—
—
Edge
—
—
Clouds
Azure
Google Cloud
capabilities
Transactions
✓
✓
Joins
✓
✓
Secondary indexes
✓
✓
Full-text search
✓
✓
Vector search
✓
✓
Geospatial
✓
✓
JSON
✓
✓
Change data capture
✓
✓
Triggers
✓
✓
Stored procedures
✓
✓
Materialized views
✓
✓
TTL / expiry
—
—
Pub/Sub
—
—
Columnar storage
✓
—
In-memory
✓
—
Durable persistence
✓
✓
Compression
✓
—
Encryption at rest
✓
✓
Role-based access
✓
✓
Time travel
✓
—
Branching
—
—
Online schema changes
✓
—
Streaming ingest
—
—
Offline sync
—
—
Runs in WebAssembly
—
—
interfaces
Query languages
T-SQL
SQL, PL/pgSQL, T-SQL
Client languages
C#, Java, Python, JavaScript, Go, PHP, Ruby, C++
Java, Python, Go, JavaScript, C#, PHP, Ruby
Best for
OLTP, HTAP, Content, Ledger
OLTP, Content, Metadata, Vector search
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

Azure SQL Database vs Google Cloud SQL: FAQ

What is the difference between Azure SQL Database and Google Cloud SQL?

Azure SQL Database: Microsoft's always-current managed SQL Server engine, from free serverless databases to 128 TB Hyperscale. Google Cloud SQL: Google Cloud's managed MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQL Server, with an Enterprise Plus tier for fast failover. Azure SQL Database is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Google Cloud SQL (≤ 10 TB). Horizontal scaling is manual in Azure SQL Database and none in Google Cloud SQL. Only Azure SQL Database has columnar storage, in-memory, compression, time travel, online schema changes.

When should I choose Azure SQL Database over Google Cloud SQL?

Choose Azure SQL Database for lift-and-modernize of SQL Server applications, .NET SaaS backends with elastic pools per tenant and large OLTP databases on Hyperscale. Choose Google Cloud SQL for standard web and mobile backends on Google Cloud; migrating on-prem MySQL, Postgres or SQL Server to GCP; and cloud Run and GKE application databases.

Is Azure SQL Database or Google Cloud SQL more popular?

Azure SQL Database ranks #61 on the WhichDB Score (33.9/100) and Google Cloud SQL ranks #292 (10.9/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are Azure SQL Database and Google Cloud SQL open source?

No. Azure SQL Database is proprietary, closed-source software. No. Google Cloud SQL is proprietary, closed-source software.