AWS and Google Cloud both run credible certification programs, and the right one usually comes down to which platform you actually work on, not which program is “better.” Here is how the paths, formats, and costs actually compare.
Certification Tiers
| Tier | AWS | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational | Cloud Practitioner, AI Practitioner | Cloud Digital Leader, Generative AI Leader |
| Associate | Solutions Architect, Developer, CloudOps Engineer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer | Associate Cloud Engineer, Associate Data Practitioner, Associate Google Workspace Administrator |
| Professional | Solutions Architect Professional, DevOps Engineer Professional, Generative AI Developer Professional | Cloud Architect, Database Engineer, Cloud Developer, Data Engineer, Cloud Network Engineer, Cloud Security Engineer, Cloud DevOps Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Workspace Administrator |
| Specialty | Security, Advanced Networking | — |
AWS has retired several older specialty exams (Data Analytics, Machine Learning, and Alexa Skill Builder among them) as the newer Associate and Professional tracks absorbed those skills. Google Cloud does not run a separate specialty tier; its Professional track covers that same depth directly.
Exam Format and Difficulty
AWS exams run 65–75 questions over 90–170 minutes, straightforward multiple-choice and multiple-response, scored on a scaled 1000-point system with roughly 720 as the pass mark. Google Cloud exams run 50–60 questions over 90–120 minutes, and lean more on case-based scenarios where you pick the best architecture for a given situation rather than recalling a fact, scored as a straight percentage with 70% typically needed to pass.
Neither platform has hard prerequisites, but AWS recommends about six months of real-world work before an Associate exam, and Google Cloud’s Professional-level exams are pitched at a higher bar: officially 3+ years of industry experience, including at least 1 year specifically designing and managing solutions on Google Cloud, though nothing stops you from registering and attempting one without it.
Cost
AWS: Cloud Practitioner $100, Associate exams $150, Professional and Specialty $300. Passing any AWS exam earns a 50%-off voucher toward your next attempt, which matters if you’re chaining several certifications rather than taking one in isolation, the full 12-certification path drops from roughly $2,400 at list price to something closer to $1,350 if you sequence exams to use each voucher. Google Cloud: Cloud Digital Leader $99, Associate Cloud Engineer $125, Professional exams around $200. Instructor-led training runs $600–$3,600 on AWS and averages $200–$500 per course on Google Cloud, though both platforms offer substantial free digital training, AWS Skill Builder and Google Cloud Skill Boosts respectively.
Recertification
AWS certifications are valid for three years; retaking the current exam renews them. Google Cloud’s validity period depends on the specific certification, Foundational and Associate credentials currently run three years, check the exam’s own page for its exact renewal window before assuming a number.
Which One to Pursue
AWS certifications carry the broadest general recognition simply because AWS has the largest install base. Google Cloud credentials tend to matter more specifically in analytics, big data, and ML-focused roles. The more useful question is usually not “which is more valuable” but “which platform does the job I want actually run on”, match your certification path to that, not to a generic ranking. If you’re weighing certifications purely on cost across a multi-exam path, the voucher chaining above is worth planning around before booking exams one at a time. See our detailed pricing breakdown if cost comparisons matter beyond the exams themselves.