GCP (GKE) vs Aruba Cloud: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Aruba Cloud is 77% cheaper than GCP (GKE) for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€38 vs €166/mo)
Aruba Cloud costs 77% less — a saving of ~€128/mo on a standard 3-node cluster. Storage IOPS differ by ~5×, with GCP (GKE) ahead — relevant if your workload relies on persistent volumes. Data sovereignty matters here: Aruba Cloud is EU-based and not a CLOUD Act subject as a US-owned entity; GCP (GKE) operates under US law. Choose Aruba Cloud for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose GCP (GKE) for IOPS-intensive stateful applications.
Moving off GCP (GKE) could save ~€128/mo on a 3-node cluster.
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 GCP (GKE) |  Aruba Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | United States | Italy |
| Managed Kubernetes | Yes | No (DIY) |
| Control Plane Cost | €73/mo | Self-managed |
| Cheapest Node | €34.37/mo 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM | €6.29/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€165.95/mo | ~€37.74/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€269.06/mo | ~€56.61/mo |
| Egress | €0.103/GB | 2 TB free |
| S3 Storage | €0.017/GB | €0.030/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001, SOC2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS | ISO27001, ISO9001 |
| CLOUD Act Exposure | Yes (US-owned) | No |
* Estimated using cheapest available node. DIY providers include 3 additional control plane nodes. Use the calculator for exact pricing with your specs.
Data freshness: GCP (GKE) as of May 2026, Aruba Cloud as of May 2026.
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