Scaleway vs Google Cloud: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Scaleway and Google Cloud comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Google Cloud wins this matchup. Our overall Cloud & Infrastructure pick is MongoDB. Our free Cloud & Infrastructure pick is MongoDB. Pick Scaleway if you need its specific feature set.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Scaleway
European cloud infrastructure provider
Best for you if:
- • You want european cloud
- • You want good pricing
Google Cloud
Enterprise cloud with AI/ML strengths and BigQuery
Best for you if:
- • You want excellent for data and AI/ML
- • You want bigQuery is industry-leading
| At a Glance | Scaleway | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $1.83/monthSTARDUST1 | Custom |
Best For | Cloud & Infrastructure | Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | 4.3/5 | 3.9/5 |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose Scaleway or Google Cloud?
Choose Scaleway if
European cloud infrastructure provider
- You want european cloud
- You want good pricing
Choose Google Cloud if
Enterprise cloud with AI/ML strengths and BigQuery
- You want excellent for data and AI/ML
- You want bigQuery is industry-leading
| Feature | Scaleway | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.3/5 132 reviews | ★3.9/5 570 reviews |
| Categories | Cloud & InfrastructureHosting & Deployment | Cloud & InfrastructureData & Databases |
In-Depth Analysis
Scaleway
European cloud infrastructure provider
Scaleway's pricing, particularly with the STARDUST1 at $1.83/month and DEV1-S at $7.99/month, appears very competitive and generous for basic cloud infrastructure.
Watch out
Managed service add-ons
Strengths
- +European cloud
- +Good pricing
- +Good bare metal
- +GDPR compliant
- +Active development
Weaknesses
- -Less features than AWS
- -Smaller ecosystem
- -Documentation gaps
- -Support varies
- -Learning curve
Key features
Google Cloud
Enterprise cloud with AI/ML strengths and BigQuery
Google Cloud is the third-largest cloud provider (12% market share behind AWS at 31% and Azure at 25%) but leads in two areas: data analytics (BigQuery is best-in-class) and serverless containers (Cloud Run).
Watch out
Network egress is the universal cloud tax: $0.12/GB for internet egress (after first 1 GB free in most regions). A service delivering 1 TB/month of data to users costs ~$120/month in egress alone. This matches AWS rates and is significantly more expensive than Cloudflare R2 (free egress) or Hetzner Cloud (~$0.01/GB).
Strengths
- +Excellent for data and AI/ML
- +BigQuery is industry-leading
- +Good Kubernetes support (GKE)
- +Competitive pricing
- +Strong networking
Weaknesses
- -Smaller market share than AWS
- -Support can be difficult
- -Product shutdowns (Google history)
- -Less services than AWS
- -Documentation gaps
Key features
Pricing: Scaleway vs Google Cloud
| Plan | Scaleway | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $1.83 month STARDUST1 | Free Free Tier |
| Tier 2 | $7.99 month DEV1-S | Usage-based Pay-as-you-go |
| Tier 3 | $21 month GP1-XS | Contact Sales Committed Use |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Scaleway pricing and Google Cloud pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are paid. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Google Cloud
Want the highest-rated option?
Scaleway: 4.3/5 (132 reviews). Google Cloud: 3.9/5 (570 reviews).
Go with: Scaleway
Value user reviews?
Scaleway: 132 reviews (4.3/5). Google Cloud: 570 reviews (3.9/5).
Go with: Google Cloud
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are paid. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are cloud & infrastructure tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Scaleway is rated higher: 4.3/5 vs 3.9/5.
Key Takeaways
Google Cloud
- Larger review base (570 reviews)
- Our pick for this comparison
Scaleway
- Higher user rating: 4.3/5 vs 3.9/5
The Bottom Line
Google Cloud wins this matchup. Our overall Cloud & Infrastructure pick is MongoDB. Our free Cloud & Infrastructure pick is MongoDB.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scaleway or Google Cloud better?
Google Cloud is rated in our evaluation. Both are paid.
What are Scaleway and Google Cloud used for?
Scaleway: European cloud infrastructure provider. Google Cloud: Enterprise cloud with AI/ML strengths and BigQuery.
What does Scaleway cost vs Google Cloud?
Scaleway is a paid tool. Google Cloud is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.