Akeyless vs Google Cloud Secret Manager -- Secrets Management Compared

Akeyless vs Google Cloud Secret Manager

Google Cloud Secret Manager offers the simplest API and most generous free tier among cloud-native options. Akeyless provides multi-cloud support and additional features like secure remote access that GCP Secret Manager doesn't offer.

The Verdict

Choose GCP Secret Manager if you're running on Google Cloud and want the simplest, most cost-effective secrets management. Choose Akeyless if you need multi-cloud support or advanced features beyond basic secret storage.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureGoogle Cloud Secret ManagerAkeyless
Cloud IntegrationDeep GCP-nativeMulti-cloud via gateways
PricingFree tier + $0.06/10k opsCustom pricing
Secret VersioningAutomatic, built-inVersion tracking
API SimplicityVery simple REST/gRPCREST API
Multi-CloudGCP onlyAWS, Azure, GCP
RotationBasic (Pub/Sub triggers)Built-in rotation engine
Secure Remote AccessNot availableBuilt-in SSH/RDP
EncryptionCMEK with Cloud KMSZero-knowledge DFC

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Google Cloud Secret Manager when:

  • +You're running workloads primarily on GCP
  • +You want the simplest, most intuitive API
  • +You need a generous free tier to start
  • +You want automatic versioning built-in
  • +You prefer GCP's IAM model for access control

Choose Akeyless when:

  • +You use multiple cloud providers
  • +You need advanced rotation beyond GCP services
  • +You want secure remote access features
  • +You need a richer feature set for enterprise use
  • +You want a single platform across all clouds

Pros & Cons Comparison

Google Cloud Secret Manager

Pros

  • +Simple and intuitive API
  • +Generous free tier
  • +Strong GCP integration
  • +Automatic versioning built-in

Cons

  • –GCP lock-in
  • –Fewer rotation features than AWS
  • –Smaller ecosystem
  • –No self-hosted option

Akeyless

Pros

  • +Zero-knowledge SaaS architecture
  • +No infrastructure to manage
  • +Built-in secure remote access
  • +Fast time-to-value and easy onboarding
  • +Multi-cloud out of the box

Cons

  • –Proprietary and closed-source
  • –Custom pricing lacks transparency
  • –Smaller community than open-source tools
  • –Vendor lock-in with proprietary DFC
  • –Fewer third-party integrations than Vault

Akeyless vs Google Cloud Secret Manager FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Akeyless and Google Cloud Secret Manager.

What is the main difference between Akeyless and Google Cloud Secret Manager?

Google Cloud Secret Manager offers the simplest API and most generous free tier among cloud-native options. Akeyless provides multi-cloud support and additional features like secure remote access that GCP Secret Manager doesn't offer.

Is Google Cloud Secret Manager better than Akeyless?

Choose GCP Secret Manager if you're running on Google Cloud and want the simplest, most cost-effective secrets management. Choose Akeyless if you need multi-cloud support or advanced features beyond basic secret storage.

How much does Google Cloud Secret Manager cost compared to Akeyless?

Google Cloud Secret Manager pricing: Free for 6 active versions + $0.06/10k access ops. Akeyless pricing: Custom pricing / Free community tier. Google Cloud Secret Manager's pricing model is per-operation, while Akeyless uses custom enterprise pricing.

Can I migrate from Akeyless to Google Cloud Secret Manager?

Yes, you can migrate from Akeyless to Google Cloud Secret Manager. The migration process depends on your specific setup and the features you use. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate automated migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime.

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