Google Cloud SQL vs IBM Db2 on Cloud comparison

Google and IBM are both solutions in the Database as a Service (DBaaS) category. Google is ranked #6 with an average rating of 7.8, while IBM is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.0. Google holds a 8.5% mindshare in DS, compared to IBM’s 2.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Google users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of IBM users who would recommend it.

Google Cloud SQL

Read 23 Google Cloud SQL reviews

1,988 Views
1,968 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Db2 on Cloud

Read 2 IBM Db2 on Cloud reviews

359 Views
359 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Google Cloud SQL

IBM Db2 on Cloud

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 12, 2024

Google Cloud SQL and IBM Db2 on Cloud are popular database services that compete in the cloud database market. While Google Cloud SQL has competitive pricing and excellent support, IBM Db2 on Cloud's advanced features make it worth the investment.

Features: Google Cloud SQL users value its automated backups, seamless integration with other Google services, and robust security. On the other hand, IBM Db2 on Cloud is noted for advanced analytics, scalable architecture, and high performance.

Room for Improvement: Google Cloud SQL could improve its performance during high-load scenarios and offer more customization options. IBM Db2 on Cloud users seek a more intuitive management console and better documentation.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Google Cloud SQL deployment is often described as straightforward and fast, with strong customer support. IBM Db2 on Cloud, while also relatively easy to deploy, can present challenges for users unfamiliar with its environment. IBM's customer service is praised for being proactive and knowledgeable.

Pricing and ROI: Google Cloud SQL offers competitive pricing models and solid ROI due to its efficiency. IBM Db2 on Cloud, although more expensive, delivers substantial value through its advanced features and performance, resulting in a strong ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Google Cloud SQL vs. IBM Db2 on Cloud Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud SQL vs. IBM Db2 on Cloud

December 2025

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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

Google Cloud SQL

Ranking in Database as a Service (DBaaS)

6th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Relational Databases Tools (19th), Database Management Systems (DBMS) (6th)

IBM Db2 on Cloud

Ranking in Database as a Service (DBaaS)

13th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Database as a Service (DBaaS) category, the mindshare of Google Cloud SQL is 8.5%, down from 16.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Db2 on Cloud is 2.1%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Database as a Service (DBaaS) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Google Cloud SQL	8.5%
IBM Db2 on Cloud	2.1%
Other	89.4%

Database as a Service (DBaaS)

Featured Reviews

Victor Danso

Database Engineer at Springer Nature

Migration to cloud eases management but needs better support for high I/O operations

Google Cloud SQL needs to improve its support for high-end I/O operations. On-prem systems with high I/O capabilities perform better, as Google Cloud SQL takes more time to handle the same tasks. There is also difficulty in changing the time zone after the database is set up. Moreover, some features available in MSSQL on-prem are missing on Google Cloud SQL, affecting migration potential.

Read full review

FarhanFarhan

Database Engineer at Meezan Bank

Multi-node architecture and it is good from a security point of view

I would rate the stability a seven out of ten. Most of the issues we faced during troubleshooting were due to specific bugs in the environment, and the only solution was to upgrade the database environment or services. But it is not easy to upgrade the database level when third-party applications are involved, as they are not always comfortable with upgrading. There should be some cumulative solution provided by IBM for their customers, just like other vendors. Upgrading to a certain version doesn't always resolve the issue. It might get resolved at the database level, but what about the other applications integrated with that database that are only compatible with older versions?

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

"It is not the cool features that I find valuable, it is the stability of Google Cloud Platform."

"I found its storage and security to be the most valuable. It was a good experience. It is also very stable and scalable, and its support is perfect."

"The most valuable features are that it's easy to use, simple, and user-friendly."

"This is a stable solution and offers good performance."

"The setup was straightforward. Just a couple of clicks, and we were done."

"Google Cloud SQL is very easy to use and easy to set up; it brings the benefits of being simple to perform queries, store data that I needed to store, and extract data when I needed to extract it quite quickly, without having to set up a full database and queries around it."

"The valuable feature of Google Cloud SQL is its high availability option. The product is stable."

"Google Cloud SQL is highly scalable."

More Google Cloud SQL pros

"The reliability is the most valuable feature. It is also user-friendly."

"Multiple business departments rely on reports and predictive analysis to make decisions for future business based on their data warehouse and Db2 network analytics tool. It helps our business department make decisions."

Cons

"The monitoring part could be better."

"I would appreciate more flexibility with specific extensions applicable to engines like PostgreSQL."

"I would like to see better integration with all the different tools on the platform."

"Google Cloud SQL still needs better connectivity to outside, existing data sources."

"The customer support should be improved."

"When discussing media files, such as images and audio files, stored in Google Cloud, concerns about handling large amounts of data arise."

"It is hard to do logging with the solution."

"In the case of Google, they need to work on a more easy interface for users."

More Google Cloud SQL cons

"In other environments like Oracle or Teradata, they provide their own solutions for troubleshooting issues. They provide built-in AI services or autonomous databases, which I don't see in the Db2 environment."

"I would give their support a ten if they had more tutorials available."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It's really cheap. It wouldn't be more than, I believe it's around 50 euro per month for running a cloud SQL."

"The solution is affordable."

"You need to pay extra costs for backup and replication."

"The pricing is very much an important factor as to why we use this solution."

"It is not expensive, especially considering the significant reduction in database management time."

"From a financial perspective, Google Cloud SQL is on the cheaper side."

"While the platform’s pricing may be higher, it aligns with industry standards, considering the quality of service and features provided."

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

14%

Computer Software Company

13%

University

Educational Organization

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	9

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Google Cloud SQL?

The implementation part of the product was easy.

See all answers

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

We have set up automated patch management for Google Cloud SQL, and it does on a daily basis what needs to be done, so it is pretty good overall for maintaining our database security.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Google Cloud SQL?

Sometimes the sharing with third parties or configuring that in Google Cloud SQL is not the most intuitive. From a user perspective, if Google Cloud SQL integrated AI directly into the query so tha...

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What needs improvement with IBM Db2 on Cloud?

In other environments like Oracle or Teradata, they provide their own solutions for troubleshooting issues. They provide built-in AI services or autonomous databases, which I don't see in the Db2 e...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering IBM Db2 on Cloud?

Since I have worked with almost every product, including IBM, Teradata is far better than any other data warehouse product. It's a separate database with its own features, architecture, and working...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM Db2 on Cloud?

It's a multi-node logical database clustered in three physical nodes. We use a lot of services already provided in our private cloud environment. It's a multi-node architecture.

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Azure SQL Database vs Google Cloud SQL

Compared 31% of the time

Amazon RDS vs Google Cloud SQL

Compared 28% of the time

MongoDB Atlas vs Google Cloud SQL

Compared 15% of the time

Oracle Database as a Service vs Google Cloud SQL

Compared 6% of the time

Oracle Exadata Express Cloud Service vs Google Cloud SQL

Compared 3% of the time

More Google Cloud SQL Competitors

Amazon RDS vs IBM Db2 on Cloud

Compared 42% of the time

Microsoft Azure SQL Database vs IBM Db2 on Cloud

Compared 32% of the time

More IBM Db2 on Cloud Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud SQL

January 2026

Download Google Cloud SQL product report

Buyer's Guide

Database as a Service (DBaaS)

January 2026

Download IBM Db2 on Cloud product report

Overview

Google Cloud SQL is a fully-managed database service that makes it easy to set up, maintain, manage, and administer your relational PostgreSQL and MySQL databases in the cloud. Google Cloud SQL offers high performance, scalability, and convenience. Hosted on Google Cloud Platform, Cloud SQL provides a database infrastructure for applications running anywhere.

Google

A fully-managed cloud SQL database. Powered by a turbo-charged Db2 engine.

IBM

Sample Customers

BeDataDriven, CodeFutures, Daffodil, GenieConnect, KiSSFLOW, LiveHive, SulAm_rica, Zync

Owens-Illinois, KONE Corp., Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue, Canon Europe, Delhaize America, Wimbledon

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud SQL vs. IBM Db2 on Cloud

December 2025

Free Report: Google Cloud SQL vs. IBM Db2 on Cloud

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