Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Cloud VPN provides 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 VPN tunnel (or Dedicated/Partner Interconnect). In practice, you often use them together: Cloud VPN for secure connectivity, and Cloud Router for dynamic routing so you don’t have to maintain static routes.

Question 2

When should I use Cloud Router?

Accepted Answer

Use Cloud Router when you need dynamic routing between a VPC and another network (on-premises, another cloud, or a different environment) and you want routes to update automatically as networks change. Common triggers include: using HA VPN with dynamic routing, using Dedicated/Partner Interconnect, connecting to multiple on-prem locations, advertising many VPC subnets, or needing faster failover and simpler operations than static routes.

Question 3

How much does Cloud Router cost?

Accepted Answer

Cloud Router is billed as a managed service (typically per router instance/hour) and may have additional charges related to BGP sessions or route processing depending on the pricing model in your region. You also pay separately for the underlying connectivity (Cloud VPN tunnels, Interconnect attachments, data transfer/egress). Always confirm current rates in the Google Cloud pricing page for Cloud Router, because prices can vary by region and can change over time.

Cloud Router

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