EKS vs GKE vs AKS

Three managed K8s offerings.

EKS

EKS, GKE, and AKS are the managed Kubernetes services from AWS, GCP, and Azure. Each integrates tightly with its parent cloud's ecosystem; the choice is usually determined by which cloud the team is on. Multi-cloud Kubernetes is theoretically possible but operationally complex.

What EKS provides:

• AWS native.: EKS is AWS's managed Kubernetes. The integration with AWS is comprehensive; ecosystem alignment is the primary value.
• Tight IAM.: IRSA (IAM Roles for Service Accounts) provides workload identity through AWS IAM. The pattern is well-supported; the integration is seamless.
• VPC.: EKS integrates with VPC at the pod level. Pods get VPC IPs; security groups apply; the network model matches AWS-native patterns.
• Best for AWS-heavy.: Teams whose other infrastructure is on AWS benefit most. The integration produces fewer impedance mismatches; operational consistency is achievable.
• Per-cluster fee.: EKS has a per-cluster hourly fee. The fee is real but typically small relative to the value; only at very large cluster counts does the fee become meaningful.

EKS is the right choice for AWS-centric teams. The integration value justifies the per-cluster fee.

GKE

GKE is GCP's managed Kubernetes. GCP often leads on Kubernetes features; GKE has typically been ahead of EKS and AKS on new capabilities.

• GCP native.: GKE is the most-Kubernetes-native of the three. Google created Kubernetes; the GKE integration is correspondingly tight.
• More opinionated.: GKE has more opinions about how clusters should be configured. The opinions are usually good; the team accepts them in exchange for less configuration work.
• Anthos for hybrid.: Anthos extends GKE patterns to other clouds and on-prem. Teams that want consistent management across environments benefit.
• Best for GCP-heavy.: Teams on GCP for other workloads benefit from GKE's tight integration. Workload Identity, Cloud SQL connections, Cloud Storage access all integrate naturally.
• Autopilot mode.: GKE Autopilot offers a node-management-free option. The team focuses on workloads; GKE handles capacity. The pattern is operationally simple but limits some control.

GKE is the right choice for GCP-centric teams. The Kubernetes leadership and tight integration combine well.

AKS

AKS is Azure's managed Kubernetes. The integration with Azure-specific services is the primary value; teams already in the Microsoft ecosystem benefit most.

• Azure native.: AKS integrates with Azure services. Azure AD, Azure Monitor, Azure Key Vault all integrate; the ecosystem alignment is comprehensive.
• Active Directory tight integration.: Authentication and authorization use Azure AD. Teams with Azure AD as their identity provider benefit most; the integration is first-class.
• Best for Microsoft-heavy.: Teams using Azure for other workloads, .NET workloads, or Microsoft-stack applications benefit from AKS's natural integration.
• Hybrid via Azure Arc.: Azure Arc extends AKS-style management to other clouds and on-prem. The hybrid story is similar to Anthos; teams choose based on their cloud's fit.
• Cost characteristics.: AKS does not charge a per-cluster fee (control plane is free in some configurations). The cost story differs from EKS and GKE; teams should check current pricing.

EKS vs GKE vs AKS is usually determined by which cloud the team is on. Nova AI Ops integrates with all three managed Kubernetes services, surfaces operational patterns, and produces the cross-cloud visibility that multi-cloud teams need.