Grab Rides to $2.4 Million Savings by ditching Cloud Macs
SINGAPORE – Rideshare and delivery powerhouse Grab has repatriated its Mac infrastructure, swapping 200 remotely hosted machines for company-owned hardware in a colocation facility, resulting in projected savings of $2.4 million over three years. The move underscores a growing trend of companies re-evaluating cloud dependency as costs rise and control becomes paramount.
The decision to bring Mac operations in-house allows Grab to optimize performance and reliability for its regional user base. While many organizations have embraced cloud solutions for scalability and convenience, Grab’s success demonstrates the potential for notable financial gains – and a competitive edge – through direct infrastructure ownership. The company’s engineering team took ownership of its core infrastructure, achieving a 20 percent cost reduction.
Grab initially relied on a cloud provider to host its Mac fleet, requiring a minimum 24-hour allocation for each virtual machine. The company has not yet disclosed which cloud provider it previously used, though industry observers point to Amazon Web Services (AWS), which offers Mac instances through its EC2 service.
“This project proves that taking ownership of our core infrastructure can be a major competitive advantage, allowing us to deliver faster and more reliably for our users across the region,” Grab stated in a recent post.
Grab isn’t alone in reversing course on cloud reliance. Basecamp, formerly known as 37signals, famously exited AWS in 2025, reporting significant annual cost reductions.these examples signal a potential shift in cloud strategy for businesses seeking greater financial control and operational efficiency.
