Google Cloud Storage vs IBM SoftLayer comparison

Google and IBM are both solutions in the Public Cloud Storage Services category. Google is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.8, while IBM is ranked #22. Google holds a 8.9% mindshare in PCSS, compared to IBM’s 0.5% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Google users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of IBM users who would recommend it.

Google Cloud Storage

Read 79 Google Cloud Storage reviews

3,091 Views
2,102 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

IBM SoftLayer

Read 2 IBM SoftLayer reviews

215 Views
112 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Google Cloud Storage

IBM SoftLayer

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 1, 2024

IBM SoftLayer and Google Cloud Storage offer robust cloud storage solutions with distinct advantages in networking and integration. Google Cloud Storage seems to have the upper hand because of its scalability, security, and overall better performance.

Features: IBM SoftLayer users value its networking capabilities, dedicated hardware options, and reliable performance. Google Cloud Storage stands out for its scalability, security, and seamless integration with other Google services.

Room for Improvement: IBM SoftLayer could enhance automation capabilities, simplify the management interface, and improve user documentation. Google Cloud Storage could offer better pricing structures, improve customer support response times, and provide more flexible billing options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM SoftLayer is noted for straightforward deployment, simple management, and reliable customer service. Google Cloud Storage offers easier deployment via extensive documentation and automated tools but faces mixed reviews on service quality.

Pricing and ROI: IBM SoftLayer involves lower initial setup costs but experiences slower ROI due to higher management expenses. Google Cloud Storage requires a higher upfront investment, but users realize quicker ROI because of better performance and scalability.

To learn more, read our detailed Google Cloud Storage vs. IBM SoftLayer Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud Storage vs. IBM SoftLayer

July 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 Storage

Ranking in Public Cloud Storage Services

3rd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Cloud Storage (1st)

IBM SoftLayer

Ranking in Public Cloud Storage Services

22nd

Average Rating

8.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Public Cloud Storage Services category, the mindshare of Google Cloud Storage is 8.9%, down from 11.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM SoftLayer is 0.5%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Public Cloud Storage Services

Featured Reviews

Manimaran Tannimalai

Managing Partner at Cloud Analytics Sdn Bhd

User interface consistency facilitates seamless project planning and design for specialized tasks

While Google has made efforts to address SAP loads, the company lacks a product specialist focus. They cover a broad range of products, which might affect their ability to compete well in certain niches. Google's strength lies in their adapted approach to specific tasks, as seen with SAP loads. Generally, their focus is widespread.

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reviewer1032702

Global Principal Cloud Architect at NTT DATA

Stable with excellent speed and agility

The most valuable aspect of the solution is simply to have the ability to host in a cloud form and out of the data center - the IBM big iron solution. It's the speed and the agility that really sell SoftLayer. The ELT versus ETL extract, transform and load versus extract, load, and then transform, the ELT method is what really sells SoftLayer. The ability to extract act from your current location, load into your future location, with limited change, and then be able to take the transfer actions slowly and methodically after you're in your new location is the part that really makes this awesome. The stability and scalability are quite good.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Everything I store in the solution is available on all of my devices."

"The most valuable feature of Google Cloud Storage is the filter option. You can search with some artificial intelligence kinds of features. For example, if I search for a beach, it'll show me all the beach-related pictures, which I took five or ten years before. So this is a cool feature that I've seen. They give as many features as they can to make it better, so I'm happy with this solution."

"Easy to use object storage solution that's scalable and stable. Its technical support team is customer-friendly."

"There is a free-to-use version. This is the version I use."

"From a stability standpoint, the solution is excellent. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."

"The most valuable features are the ease and accessibility of information."

"The most valuable features of Google Cloud Storage are flexibility and sustainability."

"The most valuable features of Google Cloud Storage include easy API integration for querying, downloading, and uploading files."

More Google Cloud Storage pros

"The stability is the solution's most valuable aspect for our organization."

"The ELT versus ETL extract, transform and load versus extract, load, and then transform, the ELT method is what really sells SoftLayer."

Cons

"A lower cost, lower-end solution for a shared file system is missing."

"Here in the Philippines, we don't have direct support from Google. We have self-studied to learn the services."

"User management could be better. It's complicated process to delete users and maintain the structure of documents created by deleted users."

"The solution should have two factor authentication."

"The licensing fees could be reduced."

"I would like the storage to be less expensive."

"The solution could always be more user-friendly."

"While Google has made efforts to address SAP loads, the company lacks a product specialist focus."

More Google Cloud Storage cons

"For us, the versioning was an issue."

"The interface is hard to use for us. It should be simplified."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Approximately 800 to 1,000 USD is paid towards the licensing costs of the solution. The solution is neither expensive nor cheap, meaning it is moderately priced. There are no extra costs apart from the licensing costs of the solution."

"I use the free version and have never paid for any extra storage. I have been able to manage in whatever free spaces are given."

"They know that the pricing is comparable with Azure, AWS, and those other solutions like Amazon are cheaper, but they are not as flexible."

"The solution is free."

"The product pricing is reasonable."

"In general, it's fairly priced."

"It's an inexpensive product."

"It's about nearly $10,000 USD to use the services on GCP, however, Google gave us a good deal which is why we originally went with them."

More Google Cloud Storage pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Google Cloud Storage?

It is flexible and simple to use.

See all answers

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

Google Cloud ( /products/google-cloud-reviews ) was cheaper compared to AWS ( /products/amazon-aws-reviews ) and Azure ( /products/microsoft-azure-reviews ). AWS ( /products/amazon-aws-reviews ) wa...

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What needs improvement with Google Cloud Storage?

It took only five minutes to get everything working with Google Cloud Storage, so it was easy. For Google Cloud Storage, it's actually not with Google Cloud Storage specifically, but with Google Cl...

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Comparisons

AT&T Cloud Storage vs Google Cloud Storage

Compared 19% of the time

Amazon S3 vs Google Cloud Storage

Compared 14% of the time

Amazon S3 Glacier vs Google Cloud Storage

Compared 13% of the time

Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) vs Google Cloud Storage

Compared 9% of the time

hiveDisk vs Google Cloud Storage

Compared 7% of the time

More Google Cloud Storage Competitors

Amazon AWS vs IBM SoftLayer

Compared 50% of the time

Oracle Cloud Software Appliance vs IBM SoftLayer

Compared 50% of the time

More IBM SoftLayer Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud Storage

August 2025

Download Google Cloud Storage product report

Buyer's Guide

Public Cloud Storage Services

August 2025

Download IBM SoftLayer product report

Also Known As

No data available

CloudLayer

Overview

Google Cloud Storage is praised for its fast performance, seamless integration, high security, and scalability. Users store and access large amounts of data easily, backup files, host websites, and collaborate on projects. The platform's reliability and cost-effectiveness make it a top choice for data storage and management.

Google

SoftLayer provides cloud infrastructure as a service from a growing number of data centers and network points of presence around the world. Our customers range from Web startups to global enterprises.

Products and services include bare metal and virtual servers, networking, turnkey big data solutions, private cloud solutions, and more. Our unique advantages include the industry's first Network-Within-a-Network topology for true out-of-band access, and an easy-to-use customer portal and robust API for full remote-access of all product and service management options.

IBM

Sample Customers

1. Adobe 2. Airbnb 3. Amazon 4. Apple 5. AT&T 6. Baidu 7. Cisco 8. Coca-Cola 9. Dell 10. eBay 11. Facebook 12. Ford 13. Google 13. HP 14. IBM 15. Intel 16. JPMorgan Chase 17. LinkedIn 18. Lyft 19. Microsoft 20. Netflix 21. Nike 22. Oracle 23. PayPal 24. Pinterest 25. Qualcomm 26. SAP 27. Spotify 28. Tesla 29. Toyota 30. Twitter 31. Visa 32. Walmart 33. WeWork

Whogohost Ltd., Skypicker, Infinity Computers and Communications Company, Grace Co. Ltd., Keyword, Uvionics Tech, Tennis Australia, immixGroup, Salesbox, Cxense ASA, Avnet Inc., Komsomolskaya Pravda, Seekr

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud Storage vs. IBM SoftLayer

July 2025

Free Report: Google Cloud Storage vs. IBM SoftLayer

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