Bare Metal GCP vs AWS. Which One Delivers Real Performance?

Google Cloud’s bare metal servers provide dedicated physical hardware without virtualization layers, offering direct access to CPU, memory, and storage resources for high-performance workloads that require maximum control and minimal latency.

Amazon’s bare metal instances deliver dedicated physical servers within EC2, combining the performance and isolation of on-premises hardware with the scalability and services of AWS cloud infrastructure.

Cloud fatigue is real. After years of scaling in virtualized environments, CTOs are starting to question what they’re paying for and what they’re getting in return.

In this guide, we’ll break down how bare metal on AWS vs GCP stacks up in 2025, from hardware access and provisioning models to costs, limitations, and real-world fit. 

Whether you’re deploying mission-critical apps, running AI models, or migrating legacy systems, understanding how these two giants deliver bare metal will help you build smarter.

What Is a Bare Metal Server on AWS?

AWS offers bare metal through its EC2 .metal instances, designed for users who need full access to physical hardware without giving up elasticity or cloud services.

These instances bypass the hypervisor and run directly on the hardware. AWS uses its Nitro System to deliver this safely and efficiently. Nitro offloads networking, storage, and security to dedicated hardware, leaving the CPU fully available for your workloads.

Popular instance types include:

• i3.metal for storage-optimized workloads
• c5.metal for compute-intensive use cases
• p5.metal for GPU-heavy machine learning
• i7ie.metal for memory performance
  

Pros:

• Full hardware access with elastic scale
• Seamless integration with AWS cloud tools
• Massive ecosystem (EBS, VPC, IAM, CloudWatch)
  

Cons:

• Unpredictable pricing under burst conditions
• Limited control over deeper hardware customization
• Enterprise support tied to AWS support tiers

What Is a Bare Metal Server on GCP?

Google Cloud offers bare metal through its Bare Metal Solution (BMS), designed for customers who require hardware-level performance while remaining closely integrated with GCP services.

BMS isn’t part of the standard GCE. It’s a managed colocation setup where Google partners with vendors like HPE to deliver dedicated servers physically hosted near GCP zones. These servers are directly connected to Google’s network fabric for low-latency performance.

Hardware includes 2nd-gen Intel Xeons, options for 1–10 Gbps networking, and large memory and storage configurations. The solution is aimed at lift-and-shift projects, especially SAP HANA, Oracle DB, and other enterprise software that doesn’t run well in virtual machines.

Pros:

• Dedicated performance for enterprise databases
• Built-in reliability from colocation + Google backbone
• Low-latency access to GCP services
  

Cons:

• No GPU offerings available
• Sales-gated provisioning, not self-service
• Available only in select regions

Side-by-Side Comparison: Bare Metal on AWS vs GCP

Both AWS and GCP offer bare metal. But they take different routes.

AWS treats bare metal as part of its EC2 ecosystem. You get self-service provisioning, multiple instance families, and GPU options.

GCP offers a separate product called Bare Metal Solution (BMS). It’s built for specific enterprise workloads like Oracle or SAP.

Here’s how they compare:

Performance & Hardware Access

• CPU/GPU Options: 
  • AWS offers the latest hardware across multiple instance types:
    • i3.metal, i7ie.metal, c5n.metal, m5.metal, and GPU-powered p5.metal.

• GCP uses fixed configurations with HPE servers and 2nd Gen Intel Xeons.
  No GPU support. No AMD or ARM.
  

• Throughput: 
  • AWS bare metal supports up to 25 Gbps networking via C5n, I7ie, and C7gn.metal.
  • GCP BMS maxes out at 10 Gbps via a dedicated interconnect.
  • If you need bandwidth-intensive workloads (streaming, AI), GCP falls short. 
• Virtualization Overhead: 
  • Neither uses virtualization. You get full access to the underlying hardware.
  • AWS achieves this through the Nitro System.
  • GCP does it through dedicated bare metal nodes colocated next to its cloud regions.
    

Deployment & Availability

• Region Coverage: 
  • AWS has bare metal servers in every major region worldwide.
  • GCP is limited to select cities:
    • Frankfurt, London, Singapore, Tokyo, Ashburn, Sydney, and a few others. 
  • If you want flexibility, GCP may force compromises on location. 
• Self-Serve vs Contact-to-Deploy: 
  • On AWS, you spin up a bare metal server just like any EC2 instance.
  • On GCP, you fill out a form, talk to sales, and wait for provisioning.
  • GCP’s process isn’t built for speed or DevOps teams. 
• Speed to Provision: 
  • AWS bare metal is ready in minutes via API or Console.
  • GCP BMS can take days or weeks to deploy depending on region and hardware needs.

Pricing & Cost Predictability

AWS EC2 Pricing Tiers

AWS gives you three options to buy compute time for a bare metal server on AWS:

• On-demand: No commitment. You pay hourly. Good for testing or burst workloads.
• Reserved: Commit for 1 or 3 years. Pay less, but you’re locked in.
• Spot: Use spare capacity. Lowest price, but AWS can take the instance back any time.
  

For example, the i3.metal instance starts at around $6.28 per hour.
The newer i7ie.metal gives better performance but costs more.

You get flexibility, but if you don’t manage it well, your bill will balloon fast.

GCP Subscription Model

GCP takes a different approach. The Bare Metal Solution is not part of its standard console.
You can’t spin it up yourself. You have to contact sales.

They give you a fixed package:

• Physical server
• Power, cooling
• Dedicated 1–10 Gbps network
• Managed hardware
  

You pay monthly. There are no hourly options, no spot pricing, and no autoscaling.
Once you commit, you’re locked into that contract for a set term.

Hidden Costs

Bare metal sounds clean. But cloud pricing never is.

Here’s where the hidden charges show up:

• Egress fees: 
  • AWS: ~$0.09/GB outbound
  • GCP: ~$0.12/GB outbound 
  • Moving 10TB of data per month? That’s $900–1,200 extra. 
• Storage and snapshots: 
  • AWS charges for every snapshot and every GB.
  • GCP bundles some storage, but upgrades cost more. 
• Support: 
  • AWS has tiered support pricing.
  • GCP support is extra unless negotiated in your BMS deal. 

You’re never paying just for the server.

Cost Modeling Example

Let’s say you want a single bare metal server AWS or GCP with:

• 32 cores
• 1TB SSD
• 10TB data transfer/month
• 24/7 uptime
  

AWS i3.metal (on-demand)

• ~$6.28/hour = ~$4,500/month
• 10TB egress = ~$900
• Snapshots and storage = ~$100
• Total: ~$5,500/month
  

GCP Bare Metal Solution

• Estimated monthly pricing: $6,500–$7,000
• Egress: ~$1,200
• Support: Varies
• Total: ~$7,700/month
  

AWS can be cheaper short term. GCP includes more hardware support, but lacks transparency.

Note: The prices mentioned are based on the original source at the time of publication and may be subject to change.

Security, Compliance & Isolation

Shared Responsibility

Security works differently on both platforms.

• AWS: You manage the OS, data, firewall, and everything on the machine.
• GCP BMS: Google manages the hardware, networking, and power. You handle the software layer.
  

AWS gives you full control. GCP takes over infrastructure management.

Bare Metal in Regulated Industries

Need HIPAA or PCI? Both platforms are certified. But the fit depends on your workload.

• AWS supports regulated workloads, but you must configure the environment.
• GCP BMS is built for big enterprise use, banks, hospitals, government clients. 
  • Oracle RAC
  • SAP HANA
  • Data Guard
    

You’re buying peace of mind, not flexibility.

Management & Flexibility

Console Access, APIs, and Automation

AWS:

• Everything is accessible through the AWS Console, CLI, and SDK.
• You can use tools like CloudFormation, Terraform, and Ansible.
• Full support for DevOps and IaaS workflows.
  

GCP BMS:

• No console access.
• Limited automation tools.
• You manage your OS, but Google manages the box.
  

If you need speed and self-service, AWS wins.
If you want Google to handle setup and hardware, GCP BMS fits better.

Infrastructure Control 

According to Sysadmins, AWS gives control, but at a price.

You’ll spend time managing:

• DNS
• Firewall rules
• Snapshots
• Storage tuning
• Networking
  

It works great if you have a DevOps team. If not, you’ll burn time you didn’t plan for.

GCP is slower to deploy, but easier to hand off to vendors or consultants.

Licensing Compatibility

Both platforms support custom software licensing:

• AWS:
  • BYOL (Bring Your Own License) for Oracle, SQL Server, Windows Server
  • Good for flexible deployment and app testing 
• GCP BMS:
  • Pre-certified for Oracle RAC, SAP HANA, and enterprise workloads
  • Better suited for strict licensing environments where re-certification isn’t an option
    

If you’re tied to specific vendors, GCP’s BMS checks the boxes.

Use Case Fit

Choose AWS if:

• You want global reach
• You need GPU for AI/ML
• You run cloud-native apps
• You build and deploy fast
• You need flexible pricing
  

Perfect for:

• Web apps
• Game servers
• AI training
• Data science
• CI/CD pipelines
  

Choose GCP if:

• You run Oracle, SAP, or similar systems
• You’re migrating from on-prem
• You want managed infra
• You need long-term compliance
  

Best for:

• ERP systems
• Government data
• Banking and insurance workloads
• Large database clusters
  

Hybrid and Migration Paths

• AWS is better for hybrid cloud. You can mix virtual and bare metal. 
• GCP BMS is built for lift-and-shift. You move the entire app as-is, no refactoring.
  

If you’re planning long-term modernization, AWS gives you more options.

If you just need to run legacy software in the cloud, GCP is a better fit.

A Third Option with Bare Metal Power

AWS and GCP both offer bare metal. However, their approach is centered around their cloud ecosystems, rather than simplicity or speed. That’s where RedSwitches stands out.

You don’t need to talk to sales. You don’t need to sign a long-term contract. You just pick your config and go live, in minutes.

RedSwitches gives you:

• Instant provisioning across 20+ global locations
• Transparent pricing, no billing shocks
• Unmetered bandwidth, starting at 10 Gbps and scaling to 100 Gbps
• Hardware-level customization, including GPU, RAM, storage, and CPU core options

You don’t get locked into predefined instance types. You get a server that matches your workload exactly.

Who It’s For

RedSwitches works best for teams that want raw performance and zero cloud complexity. It’s a fit for:

• Streaming platforms that need constant high throughput
• CDN providers moving large volumes of edge content
• Web3 and blockchain nodes that require dedicated compute
• AI/ML teams running inference or training workloads on powerful GPUs
• SMBs tired of cloud overages and under-delivered support

If you want control without cloud bloat, RedSwitches is built for you.

When to Choose AWS, GCP, or RedSwitches for Bare Metal

Choose AWS if your priority is global scalability and deep integration with a wide set of cloud-native tools. You need fast provisioning, access to multiple instance families, GPU support, and the ability to combine bare metal with virtual machines (VMs) and managed services. AWS provides reach and flexibility, provided you have the team to manage it.

Choose GCP if you’re migrating legacy enterprise applications, such as Oracle or SAP, and you need them to run in a certified, tightly controlled environment. You want your infrastructure handled for you, power, cooling, hardware, while you focus on software and data. GCP’s Bare Metal Solution is ideal when compliance, rather than speed, is the top priority.

Choose RedSwitches bare metal if you want full control of your server, flat pricing, and no surprise bills. You need high-performance computing with unmetered bandwidth, available instantly, with no meetings, no forms, and no wait. You’re not looking to build around a cloud ecosystem. You just want a reliable, high-speed server that works out of the box.

If that sounds like you, it’s worth seeing what we can offer.

FAQs

Q. How does Google Cloud’s Bare Metal Solution compare to AWS in performance?

AWS offers better performance flexibility. You can choose from multiple instance types (I3, I7ie, C5n, etc.) with higher throughput, up to 25 Gbps. GCP’s Bare Metal Solution is limited to fixed hardware (mostly 2nd Gen Intel Xeon) and maxes out at 10 Gbps. If you need raw performance and modern hardware, bare metal server on AWS is more capable.

Q. How flexible is Google Cloud’s Bare Metal Solution for Oracle workloads compared to AWS?

GCP’s Bare Metal is pre-certified for Oracle RAC, Data Guard, and other enterprise setups. It’s built for those use cases. AWS supports Oracle too, but you’ll need to manage licensing and infrastructure on your own. For large, legacy Oracle environments, GCP is more plug-and-play. AWS gives you more control, but more responsibility.

Q. Is GCP better than AWS?

It depends on your needs. If you’re migrating legacy enterprise apps and need vendor-managed hardware, GCP is safer. If you want flexibility, fast provisioning, global scale, and broader workload support, including support for GPUs and high-throughput instances, AWS is the winner. Look at your use case before deciding in the GCP vs AWS debate.

Q. Does Netflix use GCP or AWS?

Netflix runs on AWS. It’s one of AWS’s biggest cloud customers. Netflix uses a combination of EC2, Lambda, S3, and other AWS services to stream content globally. It doesn’t use bare metal server AWS instances directly, but its backend relies on AWS’s cloud-native infrastructure.

Q. What is bare metal vs public cloud?

Bare metal means you get full access to a physical server, with no virtualization or shared resources. It’s yours alone.
Public cloud means your apps run on virtual machines shared across physical hosts. You trade control for flexibility.
If you want performance, isolation, and hardware-level access, go bare metal. If you need instant scalability with less setup, public cloud works.