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At a glance
- Storage and data transfer are billed separately from compute.
- Commitment discounts trade flexibility for lower rates.
- Existing Microsoft licenses may carry benefits on Azure; confirm eligibility.
AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud: comparable building blocks
Swipe or scroll sideways to compare all options.
| Requirement | AWS | Microsoft Azure | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage price trap | EBS and related services are not simply the EC2 compute rate | Managed disks have their own provisioned-cost basis | Provisioned disks can remain billable even if not fully used |
| Traffic price trap | Data-transfer direction, region and service affect charges | Egress and network services need separate costing | Egress and network services need separate costing |
| Virtual machine service | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | Compute Engine |
| Persistent VM storage | Amazon EBS | Azure Managed Disks | Hyperdisk or supported Persistent Disk |
| Object storage | Amazon S3 | Azure Blob Storage | Cloud Storage |
| Cost-estimation tool | AWS Pricing Calculator | Azure Pricing Calculator | Google Cloud Pricing Calculator |
| Commitment approach | Savings Plans / applicable reservations | Savings plan / reservations; eligible license benefits may matter | Applicable committed-use discounts; some machine families have sustained-use discounts |
| Main limitation / extra cost | EC2 compute alone excludes EBS, data transfer and other services | A VM rate excludes managed disks, networking and other resources | A VM rate excludes provisioned disks and network charges; idle storage can still bill |
| Best fit (Sigma assessment) | The workload needs AWS services and the team can operate them | Microsoft integration or eligible licensing benefits improve the complete estimate | Required Google services or existing skills favor the tested design |
| Official sources | Amazon Web Services: EC2 on-demand pricing and cost components Amazon Web Services: AWS Pricing Calculator documentation |
Microsoft: Azure pricing calculator Microsoft: Azure managed-disk types |
Google: Google Cloud pricing calculator Google Cloud: Compute disk and image pricing |
Sources: the providers’ pricing calculators and compute/storage pricing documentation. No claim is made that one provider is always cheapest or fastest.
A VM price is not an application price
Specify operating system, CPU architecture, memory, region and expected running hours. Then add disk capacity/performance, backups, public addresses, load balancing, logs, outbound data and support as applicable. A stopped VM can still leave chargeable storage or other resources behind.
For a managed database or application service, compare the outcome it provides rather than forcing it into a raw-VM price comparison. A higher service charge may replace some administration, but that saving needs to match work the business would otherwise perform.
Discounts have a tradeoff
Longer commitments can lower unit prices, but they exchange flexibility for a spending or usage obligation. Model the workload at its expected use before committing. A large advertised percentage is less useful if the company pays for capacity it no longer needs.
Microsoft license benefits also depend on eligibility. Do not assume every existing Windows or SQL license can be reused on any cloud under the same conditions. Have the proposed licensing basis checked as part of the order.
How to decide
Build a dated calculator estimate for each shortlisted architecture using the same assumptions, then run a small application pilot. Measure response time and operational effort from the locations where employees work. For a Hawaiʻi business, test response times from your offices to each shortlisted region. AWS has operated a Local Zone in Honolulu since April 2024, which runs selected services closer to local users; full cloud regions for all three providers are on the mainland.
Choose the complete architecture that meets the application and recovery requirements at an acceptable operating cost. The vendor’s cheapest small VM is not a useful proxy for that result.
Questions to ask before you buy
- What does the application need: compute, storage, database, backup and traffic?
- Which region gives acceptable response times from our Hawaiʻi offices?
- Should we commit to one or three years, or stay flexible?
- Who will manage and monitor the environment?
Frequently asked questions
Can Sigma estimate our monthly cloud cost?
Yes. Share the workload, region, storage, traffic and availability requirement; those inputs make a defensible estimate possible.
Considering cloud changes? Explore cloud and IT options through our partner network, then discuss your requirements with Sigma.
Sources and pricing notes
Prices and specifications checked September 27, 2026 against the providers’ published sources below. Prices are US list or published rates before taxes, fees and equipment unless stated; offers change, so confirm the current terms before you buy.
- Amazon Web Services. AWS Pricing Calculator documentation
- Microsoft. Azure pricing calculator
- Google. Google Cloud pricing calculator
- Amazon Web Services. EC2 on-demand pricing and cost components
- Microsoft. Azure managed-disk types
- Google Cloud. Compute disk and image pricing
- AWS. Announcing the general availability of AWS Local Zones in Honolulu, Hawaii (April 2024)
How Sigma is paid. Sigma is a Hawaiʻi technology advisor. Provider or reseller partners compensate Sigma; product and service prices may include a margin. No procurement fee applies. Standalone consulting is quoted separately.