By Quick answer: AWS ML Engineer or Google Cloud ML Engineer: which should I choose in 2027?
- Choose AWS ML Engineer — your team uses AWS.
- Choose Google Cloud ML Engineer — your team uses Google Cloud and you're experienced.
- Verdict — Choose by cloud; PMLE is harder.
- Before you pay — take a free practice test.
Key takeaways
- Choose AWS ML Engineer if your team uses AWS.
- Choose Google Cloud ML Engineer if your team uses Google Cloud and you're experienced.
- Check job posts in your target market before deciding.
AWS ML Engineer and Google Cloud ML Engineer are often compared, but they suit different people. Here's a side-by-side comparison and a clear way to choose.
The options at a glance
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1501 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 2 | Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning EngineerGoogle Cloud | $2002 | 2 hours, multiple choice | Free test |
| 3 | Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100)Microsoft | Exam priced by country3 | Self-paced | Free test |
| 4 | Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer AssociateDatabricks | $2004 | 90 minutes | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- AWS ML Engineer Associate Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate before you pay.Start free test →
- Google Professional ML Engineer Practice ExamPractise for Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer before you pay.Start free test →
- Azure Machine Learning Certification TestPractise for Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100) before you pay.Start free test →
- Databricks Generative AI Engineer Practice ExamPractise for Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate before you pay.Start free test →
Each option, and who should choose it
- AWSAWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – AssociateAWS teams$150
- Google CloudGoogle Cloud Professional Machine Learning EngineerGoogle Cloud teams$200
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100)Azure teamsExam priced by country
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate
- Cost
- $1501
$150; associate. AWS's associate exam proves you can prepare data, train, deploy and monitor machine learning models on AWS. It costs $150 and expects hands-on ML and AWS experience, making it a strong credential for ML engineers.
Best forAWS teams
Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer
- Cost
- $2002
- Format
- 2 hours, multiple choice
$200; professional, two hours. Google Cloud's professional exam tests production machine learning: framing problems, building pipelines and serving and monitoring models. It's two hours, costs $200 and is aimed at experienced ML engineers.
Best forGoogle Cloud teams
Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country3
Azure ML. Microsoft's associate exam proves you can train and deploy machine learning models with Azure Machine Learning. It's priced by country, needs Python and ML basics and renews free online each year.
Best forAzure teams
Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate
- Cost
- $2004
- Format
- 90 minutes
$200 GenAI. Databricks' associate exam proves you can design and build LLM applications on the Databricks platform, from data preparation to evaluation. It's 90 minutes and costs $200, so it suits data and AI engineers whose teams use Databricks.
Best forDatabricks teams
AWS ML Engineer vs Google Cloud ML Engineer side by side
| AWS ML Engineer | Google Cloud ML Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Associate | Professional |
| Cost | $150 | $200 |
| Experience | Hands-on ML and AWS | Production ML experience |
| Best for | ML engineers on AWS | Senior ML engineers on Google Cloud |
Table: AWS ML Engineer vs Google Cloud ML Engineer
How to choose
- Choose AWS ML Engineer — your team uses AWS.
- Choose Google Cloud ML Engineer — your team uses Google Cloud and you're experienced.
- Still unsure — search job posts in your city for each name.
How we ranked these picks
We compared both options on cost, format, prerequisites and fit using official pages, checked 3 November 2026. Science of Apps has no commercial relationship with either issuer.
Frequently asked questions
Which is harder?
Google Cloud PMLE (professional level).
Which is cheaper?
AWS MLE at $150.
Which has more jobs?
AWS overall; check your market.
Can I take both?
Yes, if you work across clouds.
Is there a free practice test for both?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free practice tests for both, instantly graded with a verifiable certificate.
Sources
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google Cloud — Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Databricks — Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
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- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
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Prove the skill before you pay for the exam.
Start with the free AWS ML Engineer Associate Practice Exam. 1,200+ free, test-based certifications graded on our server. Pass and get a founder-signed certificate with a credential ID employers can verify.