AWS vs. Azure vs. Google Cloud: Which Should a Beginner Learn First?

/ Future-Proofing & Skills ✨, Technology Hub

If you’re a new developer looking for jobs in the EU, you can’t escape “The Cloud.” Every single job description, from front-end to back-end, now lists “cloud experience” as a requirement.

But “the cloud” is a confusing place, dominated by three giants:

  • AWS (Amazon Web Services)
  • Microsoft Azure
  • GCP (Google Cloud Platform)

As a beginner, you can’t learn all three. So, which one should you pick to get your first job? Here’s a simple breakdown.

The Market Share (Why It Matters)

First, let’s look at the numbers. As of 2025, the global cloud market share looks like this:

  1. AWS: ~29% – 32%
  2. Microsoft Azure: ~22% – 24%
  3. Google Cloud (GCP): ~11% – 12%

What this tells you: AWS is the oldest and biggest. There are, statistically, more jobs asking for AWS. But Azure’s growth is huge, especially in Europe.

The Big Three: Who Uses What?

1. AWS (The Default Choice)

  • Who are they? The 800-pound gorilla. They are the oldest (launched in 2006) and have the most services, by far.
  • Who uses them? Everyone. From Netflix and Reddit to thousands of startups.
  • Why learn it? Market share. More companies use AWS, so more jobs require it. Their “S3” (storage), “EC2” (servers), and “Lambda” (serverless) services are the gold standard.
  • The Vibe: Can feel overwhelming, like a giant toolbox. But a basic “AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner” certification is a huge boost to any junior CV.

2. Microsoft Azure (The Enterprise Choice)

  • Who are they? Microsoft. Their superpower is their existing relationship with every big company.
  • Who uses them? Large corporations, especially those already using Windows Server, Office 365, and .NET. This is very common in the enterprise and industrial jobs in Germany.
  • Why learn it? If you want to work in “enterprise” (big banks, car manufacturers, global companies), Azure is your ticket. Its integration with Microsoft products is seamless.
  • The Vibe: Very professional, “corporate,” and a direct path to high-paying enterprise jobs.

3. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) (The Data & AI Choice)

  • Who are they? Google. Their superpower is what they use to run Google Search and YouTube.
  • Who uses them? Companies focused heavily on Big Data, AI, and Machine Learning. Think data analytics startups and companies built on ML.
  • Why learn it? If you love data science, AI, or want to work with the “cool tech” like Kubernetes (which Google invented), GCP is the place. It’s often praised for its speed and user-friendly interface.
  • The Vibe: Feels modern, “techy,” and data-focused.

The Verdict: What Should You Learn?

PlatformBest For…Certification to Start
AWSMost jobs, startups, general-purposeAWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
AzureEnterprise jobs, .NET shops, big EU companiesAZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
GCPData Science, AI/ML, Kubernetes jobsGoogle Cloud Digital Leader

Our advice? Stop worrying and pick one.

The concepts are all the same. “EC2” in AWS is a “Virtual Machine” in Azure. “S3” in AWS is “Blob Storage” in Azure.

Learning one cloud platform teaches you the concepts of cloud computing (virtual machines, object storage, serverless functions). A good recruitment agency, get-talent.eu in Europe knows that an engineer who understands AWS can pick up Azure in two weeks.

Action Plan: Go to the job boards for jobs in the EU. Search for your dream role. See which cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP) appears most often.

Learn that one.

References

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