GCP PCA vs AWS Solutions Architect Professional: 2026 Comparison
If you're aiming for the pinnacle of cloud architecture certifications, you've likely narrowed it down to two: the Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect (PCA) and the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP).
Philosophy: Understanding vs. Service Knowledge
The core difference lies in philosophy. AWS SAP tests your ability to navigate a massive ecosystem of over 200 services. It's about knowing which specific feature of a specific service solves a niche technical problem.
GCP PCA, on the other hand, is focused on Architectural Principles. Google cares less about you memorizing every CLI flag and more about whether you understand design patterns like Zero Trust, Microservices scaling, and Data Analytics pipelines.
Exam Format Comparison
| Feature | GCP PCA | AWS SAP |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 120 Minutes | 180 Minutes |
| Questions | 50-60 Questions | 75 Questions |
| Case Studies | 3-4 Dedicated (Static) | None (All unique scenarios) |
| Difficulty | High (Scenario Analysis) | Extreme (Technical Depth) |
The "Hardest" Part of Each
- GCP PCA: The 3 specific case studies (EHR Healthcare, Mountkirk Games, TerramEarth). You must know these inside out.
- AWS SAP: Time pressure and "Distractor" answers. You will often find 4 working solutions, but only one is the "most cost-effective" or "operationally efficient."
Which Should You Choose?
Choose GCP PCA if you enjoy high-level system design, work in multi-cloud environments, or are focused on Data/AI, as Google's platform is industry-leading in those domains. Check our 30-day roadmap to start.
Choose AWS SAP if your organization is heavily invested in AWS and you need to manage complex, multi-account enterprise migrations at a granular level.
Pro Tip for Candidates
Many architects now pursue both. The architectural principles learned in PCA actually help you pass AWS SAP by giving you a better framework for "thinking like an architect."