Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 19, 2025
Splunk Observability Cloud and Google Kubernetes Engine compete in the cloud management and observability space. Splunk Observability Cloud has the upper hand in comprehensive data insights and customization, while Google Kubernetes Engine excels in container management and integration with diverse cloud platforms.
Features: Splunk Observability Cloud offers robust data gathering, efficient log analysis, and customizable dashboards, allowing for detailed reports and extensive integrations. It supports multiple environments, making it suitable for diverse monitoring needs. Google Kubernetes Engine focuses on container deployment ease, automatic scaling, and seamless integration with the Google ecosystem, providing strong capabilities in managing microservices and multi-cloud environments. GKE is noted for its auto-scaling abilities and integration with native Google services like BigQuery and Vertex AI.
Room for Improvement: Users of Splunk Observability Cloud seek improvement in integration with other solutions, pricing, and support for innovative features like AI. They also suggest enhancements in interface navigation and customization. Google Kubernetes Engine users point to documentation and cost management as areas needing attention, along with an enhanced monitoring console and security features. GKE's backup system and user interface could benefit from improvements.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Splunk Observability Cloud supports public, private, and hybrid cloud deployments, offering flexibility but requiring more expertise. Users find its technical support responsive, though not always consistent. Google Kubernetes Engine offers ease of use in cluster deployment and is primarily based in public and hybrid cloud environments. While its customer service is streamlined, users experience challenges similar to those of Splunk when dealing with complex issues.
Pricing and ROI: Splunk Observability Cloud is often considered expensive due to data volume-based pricing, which can increase costs for larger deployments. Despite cost concerns, users report seeing a return on investment through efficiencies and reduced downtime. Google Kubernetes Engine's pricing, based on cloud resource usage, is considered flexible, appealing to cost-sensitive deployments. Users appreciate its balance of cost and functionality, noting significant ROI through streamlined and cost-effective operations.
