Google Cloud vs Selectel Comparison
Compare Google Cloud vs Selectel features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Google Cloud
7.3/10
Google's public cloud platform providing pay-as-you-go virtual machines, Kubernetes, serverless, databases, storage, networking, data analytics and AI services for businesses of every size.
Selectel
6.6/10
Russian infrastructure provider offering dedicated servers, cloud servers, VDS, managed Kubernetes, managed databases, S3 storage, CDN and GPU/ML services for businesses.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 7.3/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Analytics | 9/10 | 5/10 |
| Cost | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Customization | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | RUB 200/mo VDS small |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Always Free | RUB 200/mo VDS small |
| Features | ||
| Managed Databases | ||
| Multiple Regions | ||
| DDoS Protection | ||
| Object Storage | ||
| Uptime SLA | ||
| Serverless Functions | Not listed | |
| Managed Kubernetes | ||
| Cloud Compute | ||
| Content Delivery Network | ||
| API and CLI | Not listed | |
| Dedicated Servers | Not listed | |
| VPS Hosting | Not listed | |
| Automatic Backups | Not listed | |
Google Cloud vs Selectel cost by team size
| Team size | Google Cloud | Selectel |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeAlways Free | RUB 200/moVDS small |
| 5 users | FreeAlways Free | RUB 200/moVDS small |
| 10 users | FreeAlways Free | RUB 200/moVDS small |
| 25 users | FreeAlways Free | RUB 200/moVDS small |
| 50 users | FreeAlways Free | RUB 200/moVDS small |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Google Cloud
- Has a free plan (Selectel does not)
- Higher Analytics score (9/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Scalability score (10/10 vs 7/10)
- Better fit for developers (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Better fit for enterprise (9/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose Selectel
- Higher Cost score (7/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (6/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
Google Cloud
Pros
- Very broad managed catalogue that spans VMs, GKE, serverless, several database engines, a CDN and Cloud Armor, so most infrastructure can come from one vendor.
- Global footprint, which Wikipedia put at 40 regions and 121 zones in early 2024, helps teams deploy close to users and across zones.
- A 300 USD, 90-day credit plus a permanent Always Free tier, including a small VM, lets developers prototype at no cost.
- Capterra reviewers credit its scalability with helping them adapt quickly to changing client demand.
Cons
- Capterra reviewers repeatedly say the billing is complex, hard to audit and sometimes produces unexpected charges.
- Technical support requires a paid plan priced as a percentage of spend, and Premium starts at 15,000 USD a month.
- Reviewers report a steep learning curve and inconsistent documentation.
- The free e2-micro VM is limited to three US regions, so other regions incur standard charges.
Selectel
Pros
- Very broad catalogue from one vendor: bare metal, VDS, cloud, Kubernetes, DBaaS, S3, CDN, VMware and GPU/ML.
- Certified for Russian personal data law (152-FZ) and holds FSTEC/FSB licences, plus PCI DSS, ISO 27001 and SOC 2.
- Low entry prices, with VDS from about 200 RUB a month and desktop-CPU dedicated servers from 800 RUB.
- Infrastructure can be automated through the API and Terraform.
Cons
- Capacity is concentrated in Russia, with only a few sites in Central Asia and Kenya.
- Prices are in rubles and services are aimed at the Russian market, so sanctions and payment issues may apply for foreign buyers.
- No serverless functions product appears in the catalogue.
- Little independent English-language review coverage.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Google Cloud scores higher on our AI Software criteria: 7.3/10 against 6.6/10 for Selectel. The largest gap is in Analytics: 9/10 for Google Cloud and 5/10 for Selectel.
Google Cloud has a free plan; Selectel does not list one.
Google Cloud is the better fit for developers: we rate it 9/10 for them, against 7/10 for Selectel.
