How does the pricing model work for Google Cloud?

The pricing model for Google Cloud is primarily based on usage metrics, such as compute time or storage consumed. This means that customers are charged based on the actual resources they use rather than a predetermined flat fee. This approach allows for flexibility and scalability, enabling organizations to pay only for what they need. For instance, if a company runs a virtual machine for a few hours, they will only be billed for that specific usage rather than a full month’s charge.

This model is particularly beneficial for businesses that see fluctuating workloads or seasonal spikes in usage, as it aligns costs more closely with actual consumption. As a result, organizations can optimize their expenses by utilizing resources only when needed.

The other options do not accurately reflect Google Cloud's pricing model. Fixed monthly subscriptions regardless of usage would not provide the same flexibility and could lead to overpayment for services not used. Basing charges on the number of projects created does not account for the actual resource consumption and would be inefficient for billing purposes. Flat-rate pricing for all GCP services would eliminate the opportunity for cost-effective scaling and could result in clients paying for more than they actually utilize.