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Google Cloud Spanner vs Oracle Database as a Service comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 12, 2024

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 Spanner
Ranking in Database as a Service (DBaaS)
9th
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.8
Number of Reviews
5
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Oracle Database as a Service
Ranking in Database as a Service (DBaaS)
5th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
68
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Database as a Service (DBaaS) category, the mindshare of Google Cloud Spanner is 5.1%, up from 3.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Database as a Service is 9.1%, up from 8.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Database as a Service (DBaaS)
 

Featured Reviews

Ethan Lo - PeerSpot reviewer
A stable and scalable relational database that ensures a return on investment for its users
The most valuable feature of the solution is its scalability. Scalability comes with two options, among which Google Cloud Spanner can scale horizontally, compared to other relational databases that scale vertically. You can change Google Cloud Spanner's resource configuration, which is done through processing units. Suppose you set up Google Cloud Spanner initially with a hundred processing units, and then you run out of resources since your database used too much CPU. In the aforementioned scenario, you can scale up or down and face no downtime in the production phase. The solution's features are important when running a company twenty-four hours, seven days a week.
Duy AnhMai - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers security and good performance
Price-wise, the tool is expensive, and I feel it is an area where improvements are needed. Oracle Database as a Service is not as popular as other tools because we use AWS and GCP. Oracle is okay in terms of performance for banking businesses and some big companies. As I use the tool in Heineken, I know Oracle is an okay security solution. We use and deploy some applications and features from Oracle that are better than what others offer. The data in the tool is actually stored in the production part, so it is always kept a secret. I don't think that AI has been integrated into the tool. The AI used by Oracle is not as strong as that used by AWS. I recommend the tool to others, especially banking, finance, and insurance companies where the security needs to be better. There is maintenance for the tool required, but I don't know which company does it for our organization. I rate the tool a ten out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Google Cloud Spanner is stable."
"The application deployment in the cloud is the best feature of the infrastructure."
"We can scale the solution if we need to."
"It is a very scalable solution."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is its scalability. Scalability comes with two options, among which Google Cloud Spanner can scale horizontally, compared to other relational databases that scale vertically."
"You can be up and running the same day."
"Data Guard is the best solution for Disaster Recovery."
"It is very easy to use."
"Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten...Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."
"It's a scalable product."
"Scalability is very easy. If you want to, you can make it onto two or three servers, racks, or whatever you want. It's easy."
"We are using Oracle Database as a Service mainly for pulling out audit reports."
"The Oracle Multitenant feature of 12c is awesome. This feature enables us to consolidate disparate databases under one container database and eases manageability of the databases. It also allows us to scale."
 

Cons

"Google came up with something called Cloud Spanner Emulator, which fails to work like the real product if I want to develop some code and run a database locally on my machine."
"I want to improve the deployment of cameras and surveillance infrastructure."
"The tool needs to improve horizontal scaling."
"The cost can be a bit high."
"The tool lacks to offer AI features."
"Oracle Database as a Service could improve the provisioning. You have to recreate on-premise hardware environments in the cloud, it was not very intuitive."
"Oracle Database as a Service could improve by having ETL for larger data."
"The product is very expensive."
"The solution’s pricing could be improved."
"There is room for improvement in terms of flexibility."
"The licensing model is complicated and should be simplified."
"The product must improve its performance."
"The tool needs to improve its pricing and stability."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Price-wise, I heard that Google Cloud Spanner is on the higher side."
"The solution is expensive."
"It is expensive."
"Google Cloud Spanner is an expensive solution."
"The solution's price is reasonable but depends upon the negotiation."
"It is a very expensive tool."
"It is notably expensive when compared to the features offered by other alternatives."
"I do not know firsthand about the price of Oracle Database as a Service, but it is known that Oracle solutions tend to be priced higher than competitors."
"The licensing is a nightmare. Tons of options which need to be licensed individually, and no real offering for VMware or other Hypervisors."
"This is an expensive solution."
"Customers need to pay extra costs for the solution based on their scope and business."
"The pricing may seem expensive, but the value corresponds to the quality of the product."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
22%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Retailer
8%
Financial Services Firm
22%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Retailer
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What is your primary use case for Google Cloud Spanner?
Google Cloud Spanner has all the features of a traditional relational database, including schemas, SQL queries, ACID transactions, and provides excellent integration and monitoring tools as well as...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Google Cloud Spanner?
Price-wise, I heard that Google Cloud Spanner is on the higher side. I am not sure if this is a rumor or if it's fake news, but I believe that having BigQuery and GCP together could be a little cos...
What do you like most about Oracle Database as a Service?
It has significantly enhanced our application development process by introducing substantial time savings and streamlining routine tasks.
What needs improvement with Oracle Database as a Service?
With the advent of generative AI, adding functionality where current administrative activities could be automated would be beneficial. This would help accelerate processes.If we are able to add thi...
 

Also Known As

Google Spanner
Oracle DBaaS, Oracle Database Cloud
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Streak, Optiva, Mixpanel
Solution-Soft, DX Marketing, Suredell and Partners, Frontiers, SettleOurEstate.com, Demand Analysis Ltd, endlich IT & Projekt Service OHG
Find out what your peers are saying about Google Cloud Spanner vs. Oracle Database as a Service and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
865,295 professionals have used our research since 2012.