Question 1

What's the difference between Cloud Router and Cloud VPN?

Accepted Answer

Cloud VPN creates the encrypted tunnel between your network and Google Cloud. Cloud Router doesn’t create a tunnel; it uses BGP to automatically exchange routes over a tunnel (Cloud VPN) or a private link (Cloud Interconnect). In practice, you often use Cloud VPN + Cloud Router together so routes update automatically instead of being configured as static routes.

Question 2

When should I use Cloud Router?

Accepted Answer

Use Cloud Router when you need dynamic routing (BGP), especially for hybrid connectivity (on-prem to VPC) or when you want automatic failover and route updates. It’s a good fit if you have multiple VPN tunnels, multiple interconnect attachments, changing on-prem prefixes, or you want to avoid managing many static routes by hand.

Question 3

How much does Cloud Router cost?

Accepted Answer

Cloud Router is billed as a managed networking service, typically based on the number of Cloud Router instances and their uptime (router-hours). Your total cost also depends on the connectivity you pair it with (Cloud VPN tunnel charges, Interconnect/egress charges, and data transfer). Always estimate using the Google Cloud Pricing Calculator and consider that dynamic routing can reduce operational overhead even if it adds a small service cost.

Cloud Router

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