Which cloud certification should I start with — AWS, Azure, or Google?

An honest, cited answer. We make no ROI, salary, placement, or 'worth it' claim, and we don't track live job demand — where we don't know, we say so.

Start with the foundational cert for the platform your target employers use — all three vendors publish an entry credential with no prerequisites, so the choice is about platform, not difficulty. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) is "a good starting point ... for individuals with no prior IT or cloud experience." Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) is a beginner credential and "a common starting point" (and isn't a prerequisite for the role-based certs). Google Cloud Digital Leader is foundational and role-independent with no hands-on experience required. We don't crown a 'best' cloud — AWS has the broadest market presence, Azure is strong in Microsoft-heavy enterprises, and Google Cloud is common in data/AI shops. Check postings for your target role/region, pick that platform's foundational cert, and see the cost on its total-cost page.

What we don't know

We don't publish live job-posting demand by platform (we don't track postings); platform popularity varies by region and employer.

Related

• AWS Cloud Practitioner — total cost
• Cloud Engineer — roadmap

Sources

• AWS — Cloud Practitioner (foundational): https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-cloud-practitioner/
• Microsoft — Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/azure-fundamentals/
• Google Cloud — Cloud Digital Leader (foundational): https://cloud.google.com/learn/certification/cloud-digital-leader

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