Networking & CDN
Dedicated private connectivity
Exact match
What's different
Dedicated circuits or partner-provided links from your data centre.
Networking & CDN · Dedicated private connectivity
AWS Direct Connect equivalent in Azure and Google Cloud
AWS Direct Connect vs Azure ExpressRoute vs Cloud Interconnect
Dedicated private connectivity, side by side on AWS, Azure and Google Cloud. They're a near 1:1 match, so a migration is mostly configuration.
Key differences at a glance
| Aspect | AWS | Azure | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated port speeds | 1, 10, 100 Gbps; 400 Gbps at select locations | ExpressRoute Direct: 10 or 100 Gbps ports | Dedicated Interconnect: 10 or 100 Gbps links |
| Via a partner | Hosted connections: 50 Mbps up to 25 Gbps | Provider circuits: 50 Mbps up to 10 Gbps | Partner Interconnect: from 50 Mbps |
| Link encryption | MACsec on supported connections | MACsec on ExpressRoute Direct | MACsec on Cloud Interconnect |
| Reaching many regions | Direct Connect gateway connects to VPCs in other Regions | Premium add-on for global reach; Global Reach links on-premises sites | Global VPC: one connection can reach all regions with global routing |
When to choose which
AWS
You need the widest range of speeds, up to 400 Gbps at select locations.
Azure
You also connect Microsoft 365 or many Azure regions; ExpressRoute tiers cover both.
Google Cloud
You want one connection to reach every region, thanks to Google's global VPC.
Migration tips
- All three bill for the port or circuit and for data transferred out, so model both.
- For resilience, use two connections at two different locations.
- Partner (hosted) connections are much faster to set up than dedicated ports.
Details for AWS Direct Connect verified November 2026 against official documentation: AWS: Dedicated Direct Connect connections · Azure: ExpressRoute overview · Google Cloud Interconnect.
Quick answers
- What is the Azure equivalent of AWS Direct Connect?
- The Azure equivalent of AWS Direct Connect is Azure ExpressRoute. They're a near 1:1 match, so a migration is mostly configuration.
- What is the Google Cloud equivalent of AWS Direct Connect?
- The Google Cloud equivalent of AWS Direct Connect is Cloud Interconnect. They're a near 1:1 match, so a migration is mostly configuration.
- What is the AWS equivalent of Azure ExpressRoute?
- The AWS equivalent of Azure ExpressRoute is AWS Direct Connect. They're a near 1:1 match, so a migration is mostly configuration.
- What is the Google Cloud equivalent of Azure ExpressRoute?
- The Google Cloud equivalent of Azure ExpressRoute is Cloud Interconnect. They're a near 1:1 match, so a migration is mostly configuration.
- What is the AWS equivalent of Cloud Interconnect?
- The AWS equivalent of Cloud Interconnect is AWS Direct Connect. They're a near 1:1 match, so a migration is mostly configuration.
- What is the Azure equivalent of Cloud Interconnect?
- The Azure equivalent of Cloud Interconnect is Azure ExpressRoute. They're a near 1:1 match, so a migration is mostly configuration.