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AWS (Amazon Web Services) vs Microsoft Azure

AWS (Amazon Web Services) logo

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Software

The leading cloud computing platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Azure logo

Microsoft Azure

Software

Open and flexible cloud services

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AWS (Amazon Web Services) data transfer in is free and data transfer out is charged, which is the standard source of unexpected bills; Microsoft Azure the 12 months of free services is available only to new customers who have not previously had an Azure account or received 12 months of free services
  • They diverge on capability: AWS (Amazon Web Services) covers EC2 - Virtual Servers, Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Microsoft Azure actually diverge.

Attributes where AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Microsoft Azure differ
AttributeAWS (Amazon Web Services)Microsoft Azure
PlatformsWeb, Api, Cli, MobileWeb, Api, Desktop, Mobile
Founded20062010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AWS (Amazon Web Services)

  • EC2 - Virtual Servers
  • S3 - Object Storage
  • RDS - Managed Database
  • Lambda - Serverless Computing
  • CloudFront - CDN
  • VPC - Virtual Network
  • IAM - Access Management
  • CloudWatch - Monitoring

Only in Microsoft Azure

  • Virtual Machines
  • App Service
  • SQL Database
  • Blob Storage
  • Azure Cosmos DB
  • Functions
  • Service Fabric
  • API Management

Both cover

  • Terraform
  • Kubernetes
  • SOC2
  • ISO27001
  • HIPAA
  • PCI-DSS
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

  • Web hostingnot Microsoft Azure
  • Data storagenot Microsoft Azure
  • Machine learningnot Microsoft Azure
  • Big data analyticsnot Microsoft Azure
  • Application developmentnot Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure

  • Running Windows and Linux workloads, databases and AI services on Microsoft's cloudnot AWS (Amazon Web Services)
  • Extending on-premises Active Directory and Microsoft 365 estates into cloud infrastructurenot AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

  • Data transfer in is free and data transfer out is charged, which is the standard source of unexpected bills
  • Discounts require one or three year Savings Plan commitments rather than being automatic
  • Every service is priced separately, so a working architecture has no single published cost
  • The free tier is a promotional allowance rather than an ongoing free plan

Microsoft Azure

  • The 12 months of free services is available only to new customers who have not previously had an Azure account or received 12 months of free services
  • The 12 months free offer is not available to customers who sign up directly for pay as you go in China and India
  • Customers who try Azure free must move to pay as you go within 30 days to keep receiving the 12 months of free services
  • Free services are capped at specified monthly amounts, and only some of them are always free

Pricing, plan by plan

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Free
  • AWS Free TierFree
    • EC2 750 hours/month
    • 5GB S3 storage
    • 20GB data transfer
  • Pay-As-You-GoFree
    • No upfront payment
    • No long-term commitments
    • Pay only for what you use

Microsoft Azure

Free
  • Free AccountFree
    • $200 credit for 30 days
    • Popular services 12 months free
    • 40+ services always free

Which should you pick?

Choose AWS (Amazon Web Services) if

  • You need ec2 - virtual servers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api, Cli, Mobile.
  • You also want s3 - object storage.
AWS (Amazon Web Services) review

Choose Microsoft Azure if

  • You need virtual machines.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want app service.
Microsoft Azure review

Questions people ask

Is AWS (Amazon Web Services) or Microsoft Azure better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS (Amazon Web Services) starts at Free and Microsoft Azure at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AWS (Amazon Web Services) or Microsoft Azure?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) starts at Free and Microsoft Azure at Free.
Does AWS (Amazon Web Services) or Microsoft Azure run on more platforms?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) runs on Web, Api, Cli, Mobile. Microsoft Azure runs on Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use AWS (Amazon Web Services) for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is AWS (Amazon Web Services) best used for?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) is most often used for web hosting, data storage, machine learning, big data analytics. Of those, web hosting and data storage are not what Microsoft Azure is typically brought in for.
What can AWS (Amazon Web Services) do that Microsoft Azure cannot?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) covers EC2 - Virtual Servers, S3 - Object Storage, RDS - Managed Database, Lambda - Serverless Computing. Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, App Service, SQL Database, Blob Storage. Both handle Terraform, Kubernetes, SOC2, ISO27001.
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