# Top 10 Amazon EC2 Alternatives & Competitors **Average Rating:** 4.6/5 **Total Number of Reviews:** 1,196 Explore the best alternatives to Amazon EC2 for users who need new software features or want to try different solutions. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Software is a widely used technology, and many people are seeking high quality, powerful software solutions with application deployment, development tools, and development environment. Other important factors to consider when researching alternatives to Amazon EC2 include user interface. The best overall Amazon EC2 alternative is Google Compute Engine. Other similar apps like Amazon EC2 are DigitalOcean, Akamai Cloud Computing, Azure Virtual Machines, and Vultr. Amazon EC2 alternatives can be found in [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) but may also be in [Auto Scaling Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/auto-scaling) or [Shared Hosting Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/shared-hosting). ## Best Paid & Free Alternatives to Amazon EC2 - [Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) - [DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/products/digitalocean/reviews) - [Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/products/akamai-cloud-computing/reviews) - [Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machines/reviews) - [Vultr](https://www.g2.com/products/vultr/reviews) - [OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/products/ovhcloud/reviews) - [Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/products/hostwinds/reviews) - [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-cloud-virtual-servers/reviews) - [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets/reviews) - [OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/products/openstack/reviews) ## Top 10 Alternatives to Amazon EC2 Recently Reviewed By G2 Community Browse options below. Based on reviewer data, you can see how Amazon EC2 stacks up to the competition, check reviews from current & previous users in industries like Information Technology and Services, Financial Services, and Banking, and find the best product for your business. ### 1. [Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) By Google **Average Rating:** 4.5/5 **Total Reviews:** 952 Compute Engine enables you to create and run large-scale workloads on virtual machines hosted on Google Cloud. Get running quickly with pre-built and ready-to-go configurations or create machines of your own with the optimal amount of vCPU and memory required for your workload. Reviewers say compared to Amazon EC2, Google Compute Engine is: - More expensive - Easier to set up - More usable Categories in common with Amazon EC2: [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) **Compare:** [Amazon EC2 vs Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/compare/amazon-ec2-vs-google-compute-engine) **Compare Google Compute Engine with other alternatives:** - [Google Compute Engine vs DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-google-compute-engine) - [Google Compute Engine vs Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-google-compute-engine) - [Google Compute Engine vs Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-google-compute-engine) - [Google Compute Engine vs Vultr](https://www.g2.com/compare/google-compute-engine-vs-vultr) - [Google Compute Engine vs OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/compare/google-compute-engine-vs-ovhcloud) - [Google Compute Engine vs Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/compare/google-compute-engine-vs-hostwinds) - [Google Compute Engine vs IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/compare/google-compute-engine-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [Google Compute Engine vs Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-google-compute-engine) - [Google Compute Engine vs OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/compare/google-compute-engine-vs-openstack) ### 2. [DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/products/digitalocean/reviews) By DigitalOcean **Average Rating:** 4.6/5 **Total Reviews:** 749 DigitalOcean provides the best tools to control your virtual server in the cloud. Learn how we deliver the most intuitive interface and features so you can start building your web infrastructure today. Reviewers say compared to Amazon EC2, DigitalOcean is: - Easier to set up - More usable - Easier to admin Categories in common with Amazon EC2: [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) **Compare:** [Amazon EC2 vs DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/compare/amazon-ec2-vs-digitalocean) **Compare DigitalOcean with other alternatives:** - [DigitalOcean vs Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-google-compute-engine) - [DigitalOcean vs Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-digitalocean) - [DigitalOcean vs Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-digitalocean) - [DigitalOcean vs Vultr](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-vultr) - [DigitalOcean vs OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-ovhcloud) - [DigitalOcean vs Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-hostwinds) - [DigitalOcean vs IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [DigitalOcean vs Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-digitalocean) - [DigitalOcean vs OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-openstack) ### 3. [Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/products/akamai-cloud-computing/reviews) By Akamai Technologies **Average Rating:** 4.6/5 **Total Reviews:** 406 The Developer Cloud Simplified Reviewers say compared to Amazon EC2, Akamai Cloud Computing is: - Easier to set up - More usable - Better at support Categories in common with Amazon EC2: [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) **Compare:** [Amazon EC2 vs Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-amazon-ec2) **Compare Akamai Cloud Computing with other alternatives:** - [Akamai Cloud Computing vs Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-google-compute-engine) - [Akamai Cloud Computing vs DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-digitalocean) - [Akamai Cloud Computing vs Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-azure-virtual-machines) - [Akamai Cloud Computing vs Vultr](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-vultr) - [Akamai Cloud Computing vs OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-ovhcloud) - [Akamai Cloud Computing vs Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-hostwinds) - [Akamai Cloud Computing vs IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [Akamai Cloud Computing vs Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets) - [Akamai Cloud Computing vs OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-openstack) ### 4. [Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machines/reviews) By Microsoft **Average Rating:** 4.4/5 **Total Reviews:** 393 Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) are scalable, on-demand computing resources provided by Microsoft Azure, enabling users to deploy and manage virtualized Windows and Linux servers in the cloud. These VMs support a wide range of workloads, from simple web applications to complex enterprise solutions, offering flexibility and control over computing resources without the need for physical hardware maintenance. Key Features and Functionality: - Diverse VM Series: Azure offers various VM series tailored to specific needs: - General Purpose (D-series, B-series): Balanced CPU-to-memory ratio, suitable for web servers and small to medium databases. - Compute Optimized (F-series): High CPU-to-memory ratio, ideal for CPU-intensive tasks like batch processing. - Memory Optimized (E-series): High memory-to-CPU ratio, designed for in-memory applications and large databases. - Storage Optimized (L-series): High disk throughput and IOPS, perfect for big data and data warehousing. - GPU-enabled (N-series): Equipped with GPUs for graphics-intensive and machine learning workloads. - Operating System Support: Azure VMs support a broad range of operating systems, including various distributions of Linux and all supported versions of Windows Server. - Scalability and Availability: Features like Virtual Machine Scale Sets allow for automatic scaling of applications, and Availability Sets ensure high availability by distributing VMs across multiple physical servers. - Integrated Security: Built-in security features include Azure Security Center for threat detection and response, and compliance with various industry standards. - Cost Management: Options like Azure Reserved Virtual Machine Instances and Azure Hybrid Benefit help optimize costs, while Azure Spot Virtual Machines offer significant discounts for interruptible workloads. Primary Value and Solutions Provided: Azure Virtual Machines offer businesses the ability to quickly deploy and manage scalable computing resources without the overhead of maintaining physical hardware. This flexibility allows organizations to respond rapidly to changing demands, optimize costs through various pricing options, and ensure high availability and security for their applications. By leveraging Azure VMs, users can focus on developing and running their applications while Azure handles the underlying infrastructure, leading to increased operational efficiency and agility. Reviewers say compared to Amazon EC2, Azure Virtual Machines is: - More expensive - Easier to set up - More usable Categories in common with Amazon EC2: [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) **Compare:** [Amazon EC2 vs Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/compare/amazon-ec2-vs-azure-virtual-machines) **Compare Azure Virtual Machines with other alternatives:** - [Azure Virtual Machines vs Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-google-compute-engine) - [Azure Virtual Machines vs DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-digitalocean) - [Azure Virtual Machines vs Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-azure-virtual-machines) - [Azure Virtual Machines vs Vultr](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-vultr) - [Azure Virtual Machines vs OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-ovhcloud) - [Azure Virtual Machines vs Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-hostwinds) - [Azure Virtual Machines vs IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [Azure Virtual Machines vs Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-azure-virtual-machines) - [Azure Virtual Machines vs OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-openstack) ### 5. [Vultr](https://www.g2.com/products/vultr/reviews) By Vultr Holdings LLC **Average Rating:** 4.3/5 **Total Reviews:** 287 Vultr offers a standardized highly reliable high performance cloud compute environment with 14 datacenters around the globe. Reviewers say compared to Amazon EC2, Vultr is: - Easier to set up - More usable - Easier to admin Categories in common with Amazon EC2: [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) **Compare:** [Amazon EC2 vs Vultr](https://www.g2.com/compare/amazon-ec2-vs-vultr) **Compare Vultr with other alternatives:** - [Vultr vs Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/compare/google-compute-engine-vs-vultr) - [Vultr vs DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-vultr) - [Vultr vs Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-vultr) - [Vultr vs Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-vultr) - [Vultr vs OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/compare/ovhcloud-vs-vultr) - [Vultr vs Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/compare/hostwinds-vs-vultr) - [Vultr vs IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/compare/ibm-cloud-virtual-servers-vs-vultr) - [Vultr vs Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-vultr) - [Vultr vs OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/compare/openstack-vs-vultr) ### 6. [OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/products/ovhcloud/reviews) By OVH SAS **Average Rating:** 3.2/5 **Total Reviews:** 74 OVHcloud offers a wide range of solutions from VPS (Virtual Private Servers), dedicated servers (including storage servers, game servers, enterprise servers and others), public cloud instances, web hosting plans & domain names and many more. Our solutions are scalable to your business needs whether it is a small project, medium-scale project or big/large project that requires customized servers or cloud computing infrastructures. Categories in common with Amazon EC2: [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) **Compare:** [Amazon EC2 vs OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/compare/amazon-ec2-vs-ovhcloud) **Compare OVHcloud with other alternatives:** - [OVHcloud vs Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/compare/google-compute-engine-vs-ovhcloud) - [OVHcloud vs DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-ovhcloud) - [OVHcloud vs Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-ovhcloud) - [OVHcloud vs Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-ovhcloud) - [OVHcloud vs Vultr](https://www.g2.com/compare/ovhcloud-vs-vultr) - [OVHcloud vs Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/compare/hostwinds-vs-ovhcloud) - [OVHcloud vs IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/compare/ibm-cloud-virtual-servers-vs-ovhcloud) - [OVHcloud vs Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-ovhcloud) - [OVHcloud vs OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/compare/ovhcloud-vs-openstack) ### 7. [Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/products/hostwinds/reviews) By Hostwinds **Average Rating:** 4.9/5 **Total Reviews:** 438 Hostwinds offers website hosting for individuals and businesses of all sizes, with 24/7/365 support and nightly backups. Reviewers say compared to Amazon EC2, Hostwinds is: - Slower to reach roi - Easier to set up - More usable Categories in common with Amazon EC2: [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) **Compare:** [Amazon EC2 vs Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/compare/amazon-ec2-vs-hostwinds) **Compare Hostwinds with other alternatives:** - [Hostwinds vs Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/compare/google-compute-engine-vs-hostwinds) - [Hostwinds vs DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-hostwinds) - [Hostwinds vs Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-hostwinds) - [Hostwinds vs Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-hostwinds) - [Hostwinds vs Vultr](https://www.g2.com/compare/hostwinds-vs-vultr) - [Hostwinds vs OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/compare/hostwinds-vs-ovhcloud) - [Hostwinds vs IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/compare/hostwinds-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [Hostwinds vs Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-hostwinds) - [Hostwinds vs OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/compare/hostwinds-vs-openstack) ### 8. [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-cloud-virtual-servers/reviews) By IBM **Average Rating:** 3.8/5 **Total Reviews:** 55 IBM's platform-as-a-service (IBM SmartCloud Application Services) delivers a secure, collaborative cloud-based environment that supports a full lifecycle of accelerated application development, deployment and delivery. Reviewers say compared to Amazon EC2, IBM Cloud Virtual Servers is: - Slower to reach roi - More expensive Categories in common with Amazon EC2: [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) **Compare:** [Amazon EC2 vs IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/compare/amazon-ec2-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) **Compare IBM Cloud Virtual Servers with other alternatives:** - [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers vs Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/compare/google-compute-engine-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers vs DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers vs Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers vs Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers vs Vultr](https://www.g2.com/compare/ibm-cloud-virtual-servers-vs-vultr) - [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers vs OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/compare/ibm-cloud-virtual-servers-vs-ovhcloud) - [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers vs Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/compare/hostwinds-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers vs Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers vs OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/compare/ibm-cloud-virtual-servers-vs-openstack) ### 9. [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets/reviews) By Microsoft **Average Rating:** 4.5/5 **Total Reviews:** 30 Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets (VMSS) enable the creation and management of a group of load-balanced virtual machines (VMs) that can automatically scale in response to demand or a defined schedule. This service is designed to support large-scale applications, such as batch processing, big data, and container workloads, by allowing users to efficiently deploy and manage thousands of VMs with uniform configurations. Key Features and Functionality: - Automatic Scaling: VMSS can dynamically adjust the number of VM instances based on real-time demand or predefined schedules, ensuring optimal performance and cost efficiency. - Load Balancing: Integrated with Azure Load Balancer and Azure Application Gateway, VMSS distributes incoming traffic across multiple VM instances, enhancing application availability and responsiveness. - High Availability: By distributing VM instances across availability zones or fault domains, VMSS increases application resiliency and uptime, offering service-level agreements (SLAs) of up to 99.99%. - Consistent Configuration: All VMs within a scale set are created from the same base OS image and configuration, ensuring uniformity and simplifying management tasks. - Flexible Orchestration: VMSS supports both uniform and flexible orchestration modes, allowing for greater control over individual VMs, including the ability to mix VM types and integrate Azure Spot Virtual Machines for cost optimization. Primary Value and Problem Solving: Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets address the challenges of managing large-scale applications by automating VM deployment, scaling, and management processes. This automation reduces the operational overhead associated with manual scaling and configuration, allowing organizations to respond swiftly to changing workloads. By ensuring high availability and distributing workloads effectively, VMSS enhances application performance and reliability. Additionally, the service's integration with Azure's networking and security features provides a comprehensive solution for deploying and managing scalable applications in the cloud. Reviewers say compared to Amazon EC2, Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets is: - Easier to admin - Easier to set up - More expensive Categories in common with Amazon EC2: [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) **Compare:** [Amazon EC2 vs Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/compare/amazon-ec2-vs-azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets) **Compare Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets with other alternatives:** - [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets vs Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-google-compute-engine) - [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets vs DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-digitalocean) - [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets vs Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets) - [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets vs Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-azure-virtual-machines) - [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets vs Vultr](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-vultr) - [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets vs OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-ovhcloud) - [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets vs Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-hostwinds) - [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets vs IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-ibm-cloud-virtual-servers) - [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets vs OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-openstack) ### 10. [OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/products/openstack/reviews) By OpenStack **Average Rating:** 4.2/5 **Total Reviews:** 53 OpenStack is an open-source cloud operating system that enables the management and orchestration of large pools of compute, storage, and networking resources throughout a data center. It provides a unified platform for deploying both public and private clouds, offering users and administrators a comprehensive suite of tools to control and provision resources efficiently. With its modular architecture, OpenStack supports a wide range of workloads, from traditional virtual machines to containerized applications, making it a versatile solution for organizations seeking scalable and flexible cloud infrastructure. Key Features and Functionality: - Compute Management: OpenStack's Nova component allows for the provisioning and management of large networks of virtual machines, supporting various hypervisors and container technologies. - Networking: Through the Neutron module, OpenStack offers pluggable, scalable, and API-driven network and IP management, facilitating complex networking configurations and services. - Storage Solutions: OpenStack provides both object storage (Swift) and block storage (Cinder) services, catering to diverse storage needs and ensuring data availability and redundancy. - Dashboard Interface: The Horizon dashboard offers a web-based interface for administrators and users to manage and provision cloud resources, enhancing usability and accessibility. - Orchestration and Automation: With components like Heat and Mistral, OpenStack enables orchestration of cloud applications and workflows, automating resource management and deployment processes. Primary Value and Solutions Provided: OpenStack addresses the need for a flexible and scalable cloud infrastructure by offering an open-source platform that integrates seamlessly with existing IT environments. It empowers organizations to accelerate innovation by providing self-service portals and API-driven platforms for developing cloud-aware applications. By supporting a wide range of technologies and offering a modular design, OpenStack allows enterprises to customize their cloud solutions to meet specific requirements, ensuring high availability and performance of applications. Additionally, OpenStack's commitment to open standards and interoperability provides businesses with the freedom to choose from a diverse ecosystem of vendors and avoid vendor lock-in, ultimately leading to cost savings and increased agility in responding to market demands. Categories in common with Amazon EC2: [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) **Compare:** [Amazon EC2 vs OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/compare/amazon-ec2-vs-openstack) **Compare OpenStack with other alternatives:** - [OpenStack vs Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/compare/google-compute-engine-vs-openstack) - [OpenStack vs DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/compare/digitalocean-vs-openstack) - [OpenStack vs Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/compare/akamai-cloud-computing-vs-openstack) - [OpenStack vs Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machines-vs-openstack) - [OpenStack vs Vultr](https://www.g2.com/compare/openstack-vs-vultr) - [OpenStack vs OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/compare/ovhcloud-vs-openstack) - [OpenStack vs Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/compare/hostwinds-vs-openstack) - [OpenStack vs IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/compare/ibm-cloud-virtual-servers-vs-openstack) - [OpenStack vs Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets-vs-openstack) --- ## Amazon EC2 Alternatives FAQs ### Why do users choose Google Compute Engine over Amazon EC2? Users choose [Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) over Amazon EC2 primarily for its ease of use and simpler initial setup, as reflected by 65 mentions of ease of use and 8.6 average ease of setup score compared to Amazon EC2's 8.5. The platform's seamless integration with other Google Cloud services like BigQuery, Kubernetes Engine, and Cloud Storage enhances workflow efficiency and reduces management overhead. Google Compute Engine's live migration feature, allowing virtual machines to remain operational during maintenance with minimal downtime, is highly valued for production stability. Users also appreciate its customizable VM configurations, enabling precise resource allocation that optimizes performance and cost. The per-second billing model and automatic sustained-use discounts contribute to cost-effectiveness for sustained workloads. Additionally, Google Compute Engine's user interface is regarded as more intuitive and modern by many users, facilitating faster onboarding and management. These factors combined with competitive pricing options and strong networking performance make Google Compute Engine a preferred choice for organizations seeking a flexible, reliable, and engineer-friendly cloud compute platform integrated within the Google ecosystem. ### What are the best alternatives to Amazon EC2? According to G2 data, the best alternatives to Amazon EC2 include [Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) (4.5/5 stars, 952 reviews), [DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/products/digitalocean/reviews) (4.6/5 stars, 749 reviews), and [Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/products/akamai-cloud-computing/reviews) (4.6/5 stars, 406 reviews). These platforms are highly rated and offer strong performance, ease of use, and scalability. Google Compute Engine is praised for its customizable machine types, live migration, and integration with Google Cloud services. DigitalOcean is favored for its simplicity, transparent pricing, and developer-friendly interface. Akamai Cloud Computing stands out with its global edge network, low latency, and straightforward pricing model. ### Which Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) tools do reviewers recommend instead of Amazon EC2? Reviewers recommend Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) tools such as [Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews), [DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/products/digitalocean/reviews), and [Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/products/akamai-cloud-computing/reviews) as alternatives to Amazon EC2. These tools are noted for easier administration, better usability, and more straightforward setup processes. Google Compute Engine is recommended for its flexibility and integration with AI/ML services. DigitalOcean is preferred for its ease of use and cost-effectiveness, especially for smaller teams and startups. Akamai Cloud Computing is suggested for workloads requiring ultra-low latency and predictable pricing, benefiting from its extensive global edge network. ### How does Amazon EC2 compare to Google Compute Engine? According to G2 data, [Amazon EC2](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-ec2/reviews) holds a slight advantage over [Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) in meeting requirements (9.2 vs 9.0) and ease of doing business with (9.0 vs 8.8). Conversely, Google Compute Engine leads marginally in usability (8.7 vs 8.6) and ease of setup (8.6 vs 8.5). Amazon EC2 scores higher in support (8.7 vs 8.4) and ease of administration (8.7 vs 8.6) by 0.3 and 0.1 points respectively. Both platforms have strong user sentiment around ease of use, scalability, and flexibility, with Google Compute Engine receiving 65 mentions for ease of use and 60 for scalability, while Amazon EC2 has 54 and 36 mentions respectively. Amazon EC2 users highlight its extensive instance variety, integration with AWS ecosystem, and reliability, whereas Google Compute Engine users emphasize its straightforward setup, integration with Google Cloud services, and live migration capabilities. Pricing complexity and cost management are common challenges for both, with Google Compute Engine having 42 mentions of pricing issues and 38 of expense, compared to Amazon EC2's 25 mentions of expense and 18 of cost issues. Both platforms have a steep learning curve noted by users, with Google Compute Engine slightly more criticized for complexity and documentation. 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