Original: Utility vs. Cloud vs Grid Indeed, many cloud computing deployments  depend on grids, have autonomic characteristics, and bill like utilities—but cloud computing tends to expand what is provided by grids and utilities.
Simplified: Utility vs. Cloud vs Grid Many cloud computing deployments are today powered by grids, have autonomic characteristics and are billed like utilities, but cloud computing can be seen as a natural next step from the grid-utility model.