AWS Directory Service vs Google Cloud Identity comparison

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google are both solutions in the Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) category. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is ranked #18 with an average rating of 8.3, while Google is ranked #8 with an average rating of 7.8. Amazon Web Services (AWS) holds a 1.1% mindshare in IAMS, compared to Google’s 8.6% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of Amazon Web Services (AWS) users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Google users who would recommend it.

AWS Directory Service

Read 16 AWS Directory Service reviews

1,163 Views
1,105 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Google Cloud Identity

Read 26 Google Cloud Identity reviews

6,178 Views
5,375 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

AWS Directory Service

Google Cloud Identity

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 2, 2024

Google Cloud Identity and AWS Directory Service compete in identity management solutions. Google Cloud Identity holds an advantage with its seamless integration with Google's ecosystem, especially for users already utilizing Google services. AWS Directory Service stands out for its comprehensive features, appealing to businesses deeply integrated with AWS.

Features: Google Cloud Identity excels in integrating with Google Workspace, offering effective management of users, devices, and applications. Security features like multi-factor authentication and identity protection are prominent. AWS Directory Service integrates seamlessly with AWS services, supports Windows workloads, and offers diverse directory types for complex use cases.

Room for Improvement: Google Cloud Identity could enhance its security features to match rivals and develop its integration capabilities beyond Google's ecosystem. Providing more customization options for different business needs would be beneficial. AWS Directory Service could simplify its setup process and extend its customer support options to include more detailed guides for complex scenarios.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Google Cloud Identity is easy to deploy, aligning with businesses already using Google tools. Its responsive customer service ensures smooth operations. In contrast, AWS Directory Service provides complex deployment tailored for specific needs, which can be time-intensive. However, AWS offers comprehensive support with extensive troubleshooting resources.

Pricing and ROI: Google Cloud Identity presents a competitive pricing model, recognized for being cost-effective, especially within the Google ecosystem, and offering quick ROI. AWS Directory Service, though considered more expensive, justifies its cost with its extensive directory capabilities, offering substantial returns for businesses with demanding directory needs.

To learn more, read our detailed AWS Directory Service vs. Google Cloud Identity Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

AWS Directory Service vs. Google Cloud Identity

April 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

AWS Directory Service

Ranking in Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)

18th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Google Cloud Identity

Ranking in Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)

8th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) (11th), Cloud Resource Access Management (5th)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) category, the mindshare of AWS Directory Service is 1.1%, down from 1.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Google Cloud Identity is 8.6%, down from 11.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Google Cloud Identity	8.6%
AWS Directory Service	1.1%
Other	90.3%

Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)

Featured Reviews

Akram Zaki

IT Specialist at FlairsTech

Hybrid directory service has streamlined global server access and supported reliable daily operations

Some features in AWS Directory Service are not automated and are not scriptable, so they require manual work. In today's world where everything is pretty much automated and scriptable using AI, this is a downside. The price is another concern. AWS is really expensive. They provide an awesome service in general, but it's still expensive, very expensive. AD Connector is an application which connects my own Active Directory to AWS Directory Service or AWS infrastructure. There is a bit of latency which is bound by the AD Connector availability. If the AD Connector is having issues, there is a bit of latency, but in general, it's way better than Microsoft Azure. Still, it could be better. The migration was a bit challenging and required intensive planning and migration time. That is always a hassle. No matter which cloud environment you're moving into, the migration is sensitive because you're generally moving from on-premise to a cloud environment, so there is downtime and there are unexpected issues and errors. It needs very careful planning before doing the migration itself. AWS Directory Service is lacking a few things which could be better. Single sign-on federation is missing. SCIM provisioning is not available. In my company, we use other services for SSO federation, SCIM provisioning, and authentication because of these gaps. I would like AWS Directory Service to enroll a multi-factor authentication method. I would like to have an SSO federation where users, if we're hosting applications in AWS, would not need to log in to each application. Single sign-on would log in the user to their account and from there they can open all their applications without requiring a login each time. One of the other cons in AWS is that directories cannot span multiple regions because it's a region-bound architecture. This requires several directories for multi-region deployment. This is the case on my end because my company has several branches all over the world, so it requires several deployments.

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Bhushan Ladkhedkar

Head - Work Transformation at Econz

User lifecycle management becomes streamlined with unified access and context-aware policies

If applications support SAML protocols, integration is always an easy task. However, there are difficulties with form-based applications or LDAP-based applications, particularly traditional applications. We need more flexibility not only with SAML but also with LDAP-based and form-based applications. Context-aware access currently only works with SAML-based applications. If other application integrations could support context-aware access, that would be helpful, as companies are in a transition mode with various traditional, form-based, and LDAP-based applications. Mobile device management could be improved. Through Google Cloud Identity, we can manage Android applications and have control over iOS devices, but container functionality is missing. This is particularly important for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) scenarios, especially in India where the market is now split equally between iOS and Android users. Improvements in this area and integration capabilities would be beneficial.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"We like the fact that it's got such great redundancy."

"I like the manageability. Activate Connect makes it easier to assign information and to manage the resources in the network."

"The solution integrates well with other tools, particularly through single sign-on, allowing users to connect to various applications using just one password, including email."

"AWS Directory Service is secure."

"The support is very good. I would rate the technical support as a nine out of ten."

"I like the manageability, as Activate Connect makes it easier to assign information and to manage the resources in the network."

"AWS is very helpful and very useful for the infrastructure because that's how you can manage your Microsoft Office 365 user accounts with AWS-managed Microsoft Active Directory Services."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is the security of my customers and my customers' customers."

More AWS Directory Service pros

"The most valuable feature of Google Cloud Identity is group access. You are able to assign policies to groups instead of users individually."

"The Cloud Identity is well advanced in terms of features, applications, and the components that it is offering."

"I think the first thing that is great is that it gives you a lot of features, like login, and then vaulted passwords and secure LDAP. It becomes easier for the end customer to leverage all those features without going to a higher SKU of G Suite."

"The most valuable feature of Google Cloud Identity is its simplicity in deployment."

"It is a stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."

"The main control page and the ability to manage all our users from a web-based portal are the most valuable aspects of the solution."

"The tool provides a free service that you can integrate for laptop authentication. You also don’t need a separate Active Directory."

"The initial setup is easy."

More Google Cloud Identity pros

Cons

"We had a problem with the schema uploading and setting up the directory when we are migrating our users from on-premises to cloud infrastructure."

"Our only complaint is that you cannot integrate your Exchange server. Or, if you are planning to install an Exchange server on your Amazon EC2 instance, then you need to configure Active Directory on EC2 instance."

"The solution lacks certain features."

"The AWS Directory Service should be easier to integrate."

"I would like to grant partial access to a table contained in a database without having to provide full access to the whole database."

"To get CloudWatch to monitor your memory and storage, you have to do some configuration within your server, which sometimes results in errors."

"AWS Directory Service needs to improve processing."

"I would like to grant partial access to a table contained in a database without having to provide full access to the whole database."

More AWS Directory Service cons

"If I were to suggest enhancements, it would mainly revolve around ensuring compatibility and maximizing integration options with various services."

"The solution needs to better integrate with Mac's OS."

"One area where Cloud Identity has room for improvement is monitoring and alerts. If you want to set up some alerts, you don't have much control over the configuration."

"The integration should be made easier."

"The interface could be more user-friendly."

"The customer service and support team is not so good."

"Google Cloud Identity can be improved by having better integration with Active Directory, but since Active Directory is also a Microsoft solution, we don't think it will happen; that's the only disadvantage of Google."

"The solution needs to better integrate with Mac's OS."

More Google Cloud Identity cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is reasonable."

"AWS' pricing is fair, and costs can be cut if you look carefully at when you're using it."

"The pricing depends because with AWS there are two types of directory objects: 30,000 and 500,000. It varies. AWS provides the pricing calculators so we can get an estimate from there as per the company requirement of how many users and objects that we need to create. So we can go to that portal, put in the data, and get the quotation. There are no extra licensing fees. It's all included."

"We pay an annual subscription fee."

"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a three out of ten."

"The product is billed on a monthly basis depending on the number of users."

"When I worked on Cloud Identity, they offered a free or enterprise version. You can synchronize and create up to 100 user identities in the free version. After that, you have to purchase a business or enterprise license. In that model, you'll be charged based on the number of users."

"The fees are paid monthly and there are no additional costs other than the licensing fees."

"The solution is not expensive."

"The pricing is a bit expensive."

"The licensing cost depends on the partners and the relationship between the company and the partners."

"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis."

More Google Cloud Identity pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

13%

Computer Software Company

11%

Performing Arts

10%

Government

10%

Computer Software Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	5

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	11
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	8

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for AWS Directory Service?

The pricing is very good because it is low and there is no management cost. You do not need to hire any system administrator to manage your Active Directory.

See all answers

What needs improvement with AWS Directory Service?

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering AWS Directory Service?

I would like AWS Directory Service to enroll a multi-factor authentication method. I would like to have an SSO federation where users, if we're hosting applications in AWS, would not need to log in...

See all answers

How does Google Cloud Identity compare with Microsoft Intune?

Microsoft Intune offers not only an easy-to-deploy data protection and productivity management solution, but also access to both Microsoft’s user community as well as around-the-clock customer s...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Google Cloud Identity?

It's crucial to monitor costs carefully, as there can be unexpected charges. I have been charged even when there was supposed to be free credit.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Google Cloud Identity?

If you are asking about room for improvement with Google Cloud Identity, whatever is there already, cost is the only problem. If you are comparing with GCP, OCI, the cost will be a little bit highe...

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Entra ID vs AWS Directory Service

Compared 28% of the time

Okta Platform vs AWS Directory Service

Compared 24% of the time

Omada Identity vs AWS Directory Service

Compared 12% of the time

SailPoint Identity Security Cloud vs AWS Directory Service

Compared 10% of the time

Microsoft Entra External ID vs AWS Directory Service

Compared 9% of the time

More AWS Directory Service Competitors

Microsoft Entra ID vs Google Cloud Identity

Compared 73% of the time

Okta Platform vs Google Cloud Identity

Compared 4% of the time

Microsoft Intune vs Google Cloud Identity

Compared 3% of the time

SailPoint Identity Security Cloud vs Google Cloud Identity

Compared 3% of the time

OneLogin vs Google Cloud Identity

Compared 2% of the time

More Google Cloud Identity Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

AWS Directory Service

May 2026

Download AWS Directory Service product report

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud Identity

May 2026

Download Google Cloud Identity product report

Also Known As

AWS Managed Microsoft AD

Cloud Identity, Cloud Identity Premium

Overview

AWS Directory Service offers a cloud-based infrastructure for managing secure access, allowing seamless integration with other services and reducing hardware costs. It enhances reliability and access management for enterprises.

AWS Directory Service is integrated with Amazon services such as EC2 and RDS, providing high availability, quick replication, and seamless disaster recovery. Its cloud-based nature eliminates the need for hardware management, delivering cost efficiency and robust secure access management. Users benefit from its role-based mechanisms, redundancy, scalability, and low downtime, addressing diverse access and management needs. Despite its strengths, difficulties with integration, automation, and user interface have been noted. The lack of single sign-on and multi-factor authentication, along with challenges in migration and configuration, highlight areas for improvement. Users also desire expanded regional coverage and better integration with CloudWatch.

What are the key features of AWS Directory Service?

Cloud Infrastructure: Provides a cloud-based directory eliminating the need for physical hardware.
Secure Access Management: Ensures managed access and hybrid operations across networks.
Integration with EC2 and RDS: Supports seamless integration with Amazon EC2 and RDS.
High Availability: Offers robust and reliable directory service with minimal downtime.
Role-Based Mechanisms: Allows precise control over permissions and access levels.

What benefits and ROI should users consider?

Cost Efficiency: Saves expenses related to hardware and its maintenance.
Scalability: Adapts to increasing company needs effortlessly.
Performance: Delivers consistent directory performance without disruptions.
Redundancy: Provides exceptional backup solutions to prevent data loss.

AWS Directory Service is predominantly leveraged in industries requiring secure data management and integration with Microsoft Active Directory. It's widely used for domain authentication and policy implementation in sectors such as banking, where centralized data processing and enhanced security layers are crucial. Its role in managing ACL permissions and IAM for special access is critical, especially in environments handling sensitive information.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Google Cloud Identity provides a robust platform for managing user and group access across cloud resources, enhancing security with multi-factor authentication and unifying identities with seamless single sign-on.

Offering a comprehensive range of features, Google Cloud Identity presents a web-based user management portal, group access control, and context-aware access, which significantly improves security and simplifies application-level policies. Seamless integration with Google Workspace and straightforward setup processes enhance usability, while organizational unit management supports efficient policy handling. This makes cloud-based user management both straightforward and impactful. Areas for enhancement include password management and integration with third-party applications and systems like Mac and Active Directory. The interface could also be more user-friendly, while pricing adjustments could improve competitiveness. Monitoring capabilities require better customization, and mobile device management needs refinement for wider compatibility. Strengthening customer support access and robustness would encourage smoother user experiences.

What are the key features of Google Cloud Identity?

Group Access Control: Enables management of access to resources by defining groups.
Single Sign-On: Streamlines access across applications through single sign-on.
Unified Identity Access: Provides a single view for identity management.
Endpoint Management: Manages devices accessing cloud resources efficiently.
Multi-Factor Authentication: Enhances security with additional authentication steps.

What benefits should users look for when evaluating Google Cloud Identity?

Enhanced Security: Robust security is provided through multi-factor authentication and context-aware access.
Streamlined Access Management: Simplified user and access management cuts down administrative tasks.
Integration Capabilities: Ease of integration with tools like Google Workspace enhances functionality.
Simplified Policy Management: Intuitive organizational unit management makes handling policies efficient.

Numerous industries implement Google Cloud Identity for its single sign-on and access management capabilities, which enable fine-tuned cloud resource control, multi-device authentication, and effective user administration. By integrating with systems for user authentication and identity synchronization from Active Directory, companies utilize it for enhanced collaboration and mobile device management. A unified account experience augments security with multi-factor authentication, applicable across platforms without necessitating Google Workspace.

Google

Sample Customers

Expedia, Intuit, Royal Dutch Shell, Brooks Brothers

ExtraHop Networks, HealthChannels

Buyer's Guide

AWS Directory Service vs. Google Cloud Identity

April 2026

Free Report: AWS Directory Service vs. Google Cloud Identity

Find out what your peers are saying about AWS Directory Service vs. Google Cloud Identity and other solutions. Updated: April 2026.

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