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Google Compute Engine
What it is
Google Compute Engine is an infrastructure-as-a-service product for running self-managed virtual machines on Google infrastructure. Users can select predefined machine types or configure custom machines from 1 to 96 vCPUs, with up to 8.0 GB of memory per core. Storage options include Persistent Disk and Local SSD. It supports Linux and Windows VMs, with images including Debian, CentOS Stream, Fedora CoreOS, SUSE, Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, FreeBSD, and Windows Server. Managed instance groups can add VMs for peak load and replace underperforming instances; live migration moves a VM to another host in the same zone if its current host goes down. Confidential VMs encrypt data in use, and Shielded VMs defend against rootkits and bootkits. The service integrates with Cloud Storage, App Engine, and BigQuery, and resources can be controlled through a REST-based API. Docker containers can be run and orchestrated on VMs with Google Kubernetes Engine. Listed single-instance availability SLAs are 99.95% for memory-optimized VMs and 99.9% for other VM families. A free tier has monthly limits, while other usage is billed at the end of each billing cycle; VM resources have a one-minute minimum, then one-second billing increments.
For and against
For
- Custom machine types support up to 96 vCPUs.
- Supports Linux and Windows VM images.
- Managed groups can add or replace VMs.
- Live migration can move VMs within a zone.
- Free tier includes one eligible e2-micro VM monthly.
Against
- Free tier is limited to listed regions and monthly allowances.
- VMs have a one-minute minimum billing period.
- During Free Trial, Windows Server VM images are unavailable.
- VM, storage, networking, and other prices vary by usage.
The verdict
Compute Engine provides configurable self-managed VMs with storage, migration, scaling, and security options. Review the free-tier boundaries and usage-based charges against the configuration you need.
Who it suits
Compute Engine suits users who need to configure and manage virtual machines on Google infrastructure, including Linux or Windows workloads. The free tier may suit limited use within its listed regional, storage, and transfer allowances.
Plans and prices
Compute Engine Free Tier
1 non-preemptible e2-micro VM instance per month in us-west1, us-central1, or us-east1 · 30 GB-months standard persistent disk · 1 GB monthly outbound data transfer from North America to eligible destinations · GPUs and TPUs excluded
Read 5 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Pay-as-you-go Compute Engine
Prices vary by VM configuration and usage · disk, images, networking, sole tenancy, Confidential VM service, and GPUs are priced separately
Read 5 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com
On the record
- Availability
- The product page states single-instance availability SLAs of 99.95% for memory-optimized VMs and 99.9% for other VM families.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Compliance
- Google Cloud lists certifications and attestations including ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27017, ISO/IEC 27018, SOC 1/2/3, and PCI DSS.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Containers
- The product page says Docker containers can be run, managed, and orchestrated on Compute Engine VMs with Google Kubernetes Engine.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Free trial limits
- During a Free Trial, users cannot add GPUs to VMs, use Google Cloud Marketplace, request quota increases, or create VMs based on Windows Server images.docs.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations and control
- Compute Engine integrates with Cloud Storage, App Engine, and BigQuery, and resources can be configured and controlled through a REST-based API.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Machine configurations
- Customers can use predefined machine types or create custom machine types from 1 to 96 vCPUs with up to 8.0 GB of memory per core.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- Compute Engine supports Linux and Windows VMs, and lists Debian, CentOS Stream, Fedora CoreOS, SUSE, Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, FreeBSD, and Windows Server images.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Product
- Compute Engine is an infrastructure-as-a-service product offering self-managed virtual machines hosted on Google infrastructure.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Resilience
- Live migration moves a VM to another host in the same zone when its current VM host goes down.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Scaling
- Managed instance groups can automatically add VMs to handle peak load and replace underperforming instances.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Security
- Compute Engine offers Confidential VMs to encrypt data in use and Shielded VMs to defend against rootkits and bootkits.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Storage
- Compute Engine offers block storage options including Persistent Disk and Local SSD.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- Every Google Cloud customer, including Free Trial users, receives Basic Support with documentation, community forums, billing assistance, and Active Assist.cloud.google.com · read 5 Oct 2026
