c4-standard-2vsc4a-standard-2

c4a-standard-2 is 7% cheaper than c4-standard-2 on demand in Iowa, saving $5.18 a month. They use different processor architectures (x86_64 and arm64), so software built for one may need rebuilding to run on the other.

At a glancec4-standard-2c4a-standard-2
On-demand$0.0969/hr$0.0898/hr7% less
Lowest rate$0.0436/hr3-yr committed use, no upfront$0.0404/hr7% less3-yr committed use, no upfront
Size2 vCPUs, 7 GiB2 vCPUs, 8 GiB
ProcessorIntel Xeon (Granite Rapids) or Intel Xeon (Emerald Rapids)Google Axion
Architecturex86_64arm64

Prices in Iowa

“Off” is the discount against each type’s own on-demand price. Linux, USD per hour.

Optionc4-standard-2c4a-standard-2c4a-standard-2 vs c4-standard-2
On-demandPay by the hour$0.0969$0.0898▼ 7%
SpotCan be interrupted40% off$0.05851% off$0.0443▼ 24%
1-yr committed useNo upfront37% off$0.06134% off$0.0592▼ 3%
3-yr committed useNo upfront55% off$0.043655% off$0.0404▼ 7%

Key differences

The biggest lead each one has.

Where c4-standard-2 leads
Max persistent disks128 vs 16
8× higher
Where c4a-standard-2 leads
On-demand price$0.0898 vs $0.0969 per hour
7% cheaper
Memory (GiB)8 vs 7
14% higher

Specs

6 of 11 specs differ. Those are in bold.

Compute2 of 3 differc4-standard-2c4a-standard-2
vCPUs22
Architecturex86_64arm64
ProcessorIntel Xeon (Granite Rapids) or Intel Xeon (Emerald Rapids)Google Axion
Memory1 of 1 differc4-standard-2c4a-standard-2
Memory (GiB)78
NetworkingAll 1 matchc4-standard-2c4a-standard-2
NetworkUp to 10 GbpsUp to 10 Gbps
Storage1 of 2 differc4-standard-2c4a-standard-2
StorageNetwork disks onlyNetwork disks only
Max persistent disks12816
Instance details1 of 2 differc4-standard-2c4a-standard-2
Familyc4c4a
CategoryGeneral purposeGeneral purpose
Other1 of 2 differc4-standard-2c4a-standard-2
SeriesC4C4A
Specs sourceCompute Engine APICompute Engine API

On-demand prices by region

Cheapest for c4-standard-2 first. Linux, USD per hour.

Regionc4-standard-2c4a-standard-2Difference
Columbusus-east5$0.0969$0.0898▼ 7%
IowaUsed in summaryus-central1$0.0969$0.0898▼ 7%
Northern Virginiaus-east4$0.0969$0.0898▼ 7%
Oregonus-west1$0.0969$0.0898▼ 7%
South Carolinaus-east1$0.0969$0.0898▼ 7%
Mumbaiasia-south1$0.1007$0.0934▼ 7%
Netherlandseurope-west4$0.1017$0.0943▼ 7%
Stockholmeurope-north2$0.1017$0.0943▼ 7%
Mexiconorthamerica-south1$0.1056$0.0979▼ 7%
Belgiumeurope-west1$0.1067$0.0989▼ 7%
Finlandeurope-north1$0.1067$0.0989▼ 7%
Johannesburgafrica-south1$0.1067$0.0989▼ 7%
Montréalnorthamerica-northeast1$0.1067$0.0989▼ 7%
Torontonorthamerica-northeast2$0.1067$0.0989▼ 7%
Las Vegasus-west4$0.1091$0.1011▼ 7%
Londoneurope-west2$0.1104$0.1024▼ 7%
Taiwanasia-east1$0.1122$0.104▼ 7%
Dallasus-south1$0.1143$0.106▼ 7%
Frankfurteurope-west3$0.1143$0.106▼ 7%
Madrideurope-southwest1$0.1143$0.106▼ 7%
Los Angelesus-west2$0.1164$0.1079▼ 7%
Warsaweurope-central2$0.1172$0.1087▼ 7%
Dohame-central1$0.1177$0.1091▼ 7%
Singaporeasia-southeast1$0.1195$0.1108▼ 7%
Sydneyaustralia-southeast1$0.1211$0.1123▼ 7%
Tokyoasia-northeast1$0.1244$0.1153▼ 7%
Melbourneaustralia-southeast2$0.1259$0.1167▼ 7%
Zuricheurope-west6$0.1269$0.1176▼ 7%
Jakartaasia-southeast2$0.1303$0.1208▼ 7%
Santiagosouthamerica-west1$0.1385$0.1284▼ 7%
São Paulosouthamerica-east1$0.1538$0.1426▼ 7%
Dammamme-central2$0.155$0.1437▼ 7%

Keep exploring

Each type’s own page, and how it compares with others.

c4-standard-2General purpose, c4 family
c4-standard-2 prices and specsEvery size in the c4 family

Compare c4-standard-2 with

c4d-standard-2c4n-standard-2
c4a-standard-2General purpose, c4a family
c4a-standard-2 prices and specsEvery size in the c4a family

Compare c4a-standard-2 with

c4d-standard-2

Pay the committed rate, with commitment protection

The best committed rate on these two is 55% below on-demand. Connect your cloud accounts to unlock greater savings with commitment protection.

Connect Google Cloud account

GCP Compute Engine Linux prices in USD. Monthly figures use 730 hours. Prices last updated 12 Nov 2026.