Logo of Google Cloud Shell

Google Cloud Shell

Website LinkedIn Twitter

Last updated on

Company health

Employee growth
69% increase in the last year
Web traffic
2% decrease in the last quarter
Financing
July 2018 - $16M

Ratings

G2
4.3/5
(31)
Glassdoor
3.5/5
(2)

Google Cloud Shell description

Google Cloud Shell is a cloud-based command-line tool that lets you manage your company's Google Cloud projects and resources from any web browser. It offers a familiar terminal-like environment and comes pre-installed with tools like the Google Cloud command-line interface (gcloud CLI) for streamlined workflows. Cloud Shell is included with your Google Cloud account, meaning there's no need for local installations or software updates. It's designed to help your developers efficiently build, deploy, and manage applications on Google Cloud's platform.

Who is Google Cloud Shell best for

Google Cloud Shell is a browser-based command-line tool tailored for developers and IT professionals who are actively engaged in managing Google Cloud resources. We've found that users appreciate the pre-installed tools like gcloud CLI, the accessible web browser interface, and the seamless integration with Google Cloud accounts. Based on the reviews, the serverless application deployment and robust data analytics tools are also major selling points for our users.

  • Perfect for large enterprises (1001+ employees) and also a good fit for medium-sized businesses (101-1000 employees).

  • In our experience, Google Cloud Shell is commonly used and found to be a great fit for companies in Software/IT/Telecommunications.

Google Cloud Shell features

Supported

Client Libraries for multiple languages: Use Cloud SDK client libraries, available for programming languages such as Java, C++, Python, Node.js, Ruby, Go, .NET, PHP, and ABAP, to easily integrate APIs with your chosen language. These client libraries handle authentication, reduce repetitive code, and provide helpful functions for dealing with large datasets and long-running operations.

Supported

Command-line interface (gcloud CLI): gcloud CLI is a command-line tool that helps manage authentication, local configuration, developer workflow, and interactions with Google Cloud resources. It simplifies common cloud tasks like creating VM instances, managing Kubernetes clusters, and deploying App Engine applications.

Supported

Local development emulators: Emulators for Pub/Sub, Spanner, Bigtable, and Datastore are provided to accelerate local development.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Reliability and Performance

Rather positive
+0.33

Scalability

Rather positive
+0.33

Google Cloud Shell reviews

We've summarised 31 Google Cloud Shell reviews (Google Cloud Shell G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of Google Cloud Shell
  • Pre-installed tools like gcloud CLI and a familiar terminal-like environment.
  • Accessibility from any web browser and included with Google Cloud account.
  • Serverless application deployment options and high availability.
  • Powerful data analytics tools like BigQuery and Looker.
  • 5GB of persistent storage and convenient web preview functionality.
Cons of Google Cloud Shell
  • Limited storage space and computational power in Cloud Shell.
  • Cloud Shell sessions time out after an hour of inactivity.
  • Difficult networking and billing management.
  • Steep learning curve and complex pricing model.
  • Limited customization options and immature features compared to AWS.

Google Cloud Shell pricing

The commentary is based on 7 reviews from Google Cloud Shell G2 reviews.

We find that Google Cloud Shell's free tier is a highlight for many users, allowing tasks like website hosting and code editing without charge. However, some users mention the complexity of its billing structure, especially when exceeding the free tier limitations. Overall, the free tier is appreciated, but navigating costs can be tricky.

Users sentiment

Strongly negative
-1

See the Google Cloud Shell pricing page.

Google Cloud Shell alternatives

  • Logo of Google Cloud Tools for PowerShell
    Google Cloud Tools for PowerShell
    Manage Google Cloud with your PowerShell scripts.
    Read more
  • Logo of Google Cloud Terraform on Google Cloud
    Google Cloud Terraform on Google Cloud
    Automate Google Cloud infrastructure builds. Reliable. Scalable. Free.
    Read more
  • Logo of Google Cloud SDK
    Google Cloud SDK
    Manage and build cloud apps with powerful command-line tools.
    Read more
  • Logo of Google Cloud Code
    Google Cloud Code
    Develop and deploy on Google Cloud, right from your IDE.
    Read more
  • Logo of Google Cloud Tools for IntelliJ
    Google Cloud Tools for IntelliJ
    Develop, debug, and deploy Java apps to Google Cloud, seamlessly.
    Read more
  • Logo of Google Cloud Asset Inventory
    Google Cloud Asset Inventory
    Discover, manage, and secure all your Google Cloud resources.
    Read more

Google Cloud Shell FAQ

  • What is Google Cloud Shell and what does Google Cloud Shell do?

    We find Google Cloud Shell to be a handy browser-based command-line tool for managing Google Cloud resources. It comes with pre-installed tools, making it easy to build, deploy, and manage applications, accessible from any web browser.

  • How does Google Cloud Shell integrate with other tools?

    We find Google Cloud Shell integrates seamlessly with other Google Cloud tools like the gcloud CLI, Cloud SDK client libraries, and local development emulators. This simplifies building, deploying, and managing applications on the Google Cloud platform.

  • What the main competitors of Google Cloud Shell?

    We find that the main competitors to Google Cloud Shell include AWS Cloud9, Azure Cloud Shell, and tools like Terraform and the various Google Cloud SDKs and IDE integrations. These offer similar cloud-based development environments and management tools.

  • Is Google Cloud Shell legit?

    Yes, Google Cloud Shell is a legitimate service offered by Google Cloud. It's a safe and useful tool for managing your cloud resources, though some users find its storage and timeout limitations challenging.

  • How much does Google Cloud Shell cost?

    Google Cloud Shell is free to use within certain usage limits. Beyond these limits, standard resource pricing applies for Compute Engine, Persistent Disk, and other used resources.

  • Is Google Cloud Shell customer service good?

    Based on the reviews, some users find Google Cloud's customer support lacking, particularly regarding documentation and IAM-related issues. Others mention that while the platform itself is beneficial, support can be improved.

Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

NEW: Introducing Gralio Screen Buddy

An AI tool that observes your work, finds inefficiencies, and suggests smarter ways to do things. Maybe you can use your tools better, automate tasks, or switch software.

For Individuals
Streamline your daily tasks, get helpful AI tips, and find the right tools for your workflow.
For Businesses
See how your team really works, uncover automation opportunities, and get software recommendations tailored to your processes.