Amazon Aurora vs Azure SQL Database vs Google Cloud SQL
Amazon Aurora, Azure SQL Database, and Google Cloud SQL are leading managed relational database services (DBaaS), offering scalable, high-performance, and secure database solutions in the cloud.
Though they may appear similar, each platform brings its own architectural advantages, use cases, and optimization options. Here's an expert-level, L500 deep dive.
Architecture & Core Engine
| Feature | Amazon Aurora | Azure SQL Database | Google Cloud SQL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underlying Engine | Custom MySQL/PostgreSQL-compatible engine | Microsoft SQL Server engine (T-SQL) | Native MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server |
| Architecture | Distributed storage & compute separation | Single-tenant compute with elastic pools | Single-node primary with replicas |
| Serverless Option | Aurora Serverless v2 | Azure SQL Serverless | Autoscaling supported, but not true serverless |
Performance & Scaling
| Capability | Amazon Aurora | Azure SQL Database | Google Cloud SQL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read Replicas | Up to 15 Aurora Replicas, global support | Geo-replication, auto-scale read pools | Read replicas within region |
| Max Storage | 128 TB (auto-expand) | 100 TB | 64 TB |
| IOPS | Up to 256K | ~100K | ~80K |
| Scaling Mechanism | Auto-storage, compute scaling with Serverless | Compute vCores + elastic pools | Manual scaling or autoscaling |
High Availability & DR
| Feature | Amazon Aurora | Azure SQL Database | Google Cloud SQL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-region | Yes (Aurora Global Database) | Active geo-replication | Regional availability zones |
| Auto Failover | Yes (milliseconds to seconds) | Yes (transparent failover) | Yes (instance-level failover) |
| Backup | Continuous, point-in-time (35 days) | Automated + PITR + long-term retention | Automated daily + PITR |
Ecosystem & Integrations
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Amazon Aurora: Tight AWS ecosystem integration (Lambda, CloudWatch, EventBridge), Aurora Global Database for low-latency multi-region apps.
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Azure SQL Database: Seamless with Azure AD, Power BI, Azure Data Factory, Synapse Analytics.
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Google Cloud SQL: Native GKE, Dataflow, Looker, and BigQuery connectors.
Use Case Scenario: Multi-Region SaaS Application
A financial SaaS company with global customers requires:
✅ High write throughput
✅ Low read latency in all major regions
✅ Seamless scaling
✅ Automated HA/DR
Recommendation:
-
Amazon Aurora Global Database for globally distributed writes and sub-100ms cross-region read latency.
-
Azure SQL Database where enterprise customers demand SQL Server compatibility, compliance, and deep Power BI integration.
-
Google Cloud SQL where Kubernetes-native apps are used and cost-optimized read scaling is sufficient.
Security & Compliance
| Feature | Amazon Aurora | Azure SQL Database | Google Cloud SQL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encryption | At rest + in transit + KMS | At rest + in transit + Azure Key Vault | At rest + in transit + CMEK |
| IAM Integration | Fine-grained with AWS IAM | Azure Active Directory support | IAM roles and privileges |
| Auditing | CloudTrail integration | Advanced Threat Protection, auditing | Cloud Audit Logs |
Pricing Models
| Model | Amazon Aurora | Azure SQL Database | Google Cloud SQL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute Pricing | On-demand per vCPU per sec | DTU or vCore model | Pay-per-second vCPU/RAM |
| Storage Pricing | Pay per GB per month | Pay per GB per month | Pay per GB per month |
| Licensing | Open source engines (Aurora MySQL/PostgreSQL) | Microsoft licensing included (SQL Server) | BYOL for SQL Server; others free |
Summary
| Area | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Global low-latency apps | Amazon Aurora Global Database |
| Enterprise SQL workloads | Azure SQL Database |
| Kubernetes-first apps | Google Cloud SQL |
Real-World Example: Global E-Commerce Platform
Problem:
An e-commerce company needs:
-
Global customer database
-
Rapid regional expansion
-
Compliance with regional data laws
-
Hybrid analytical workloads
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Disclaimer
This article is independently developed and not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP). All service names, prices, and descriptions are based on publicly available sources as of June 2025 and may change.
