Software · head to head
Azure Machine Learning vs Google Vertex AI
Azure Machine Learning
Software
Enterprise-grade machine learning service
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Google Vertex AI
Software
Unified ML platform to build, deploy, and scale AI models
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Azure Machine Learning has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Azure Machine Learning requires knowledge of Azure ecosystem and integration with other Azure services; Google Vertex AI vendor lock-in to Google Cloud ecosystem makes migration to other platforms difficult
- They diverge on capability: Azure Machine Learning covers Automated ML, Google Vertex AI covers AutoML.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Azure Machine Learning and Google Vertex AI actually diverge.
| Attribute | Azure Machine Learning | Google Vertex AI |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | usage-based | Unknown |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Azure Cloud | Cloud, Web |
| Founded | 1975 | 2008 |
Identical on both: 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 Azure Machine Learning
- Automated ML
- Designer (drag-and-drop)
- Notebooks
- MLOps
- Model registry
- Azure Blob Storage
- Azure DevOps
- Power BI
Only in Google Vertex AI
- AutoML
- Custom training
- Feature Store
- Model monitoring
- Prediction serving
- BigQuery
- Cloud Storage
- TensorFlow
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Azure Machine Learning
- Machine learning
- Data analysis
- Model training
- Predictive analytics
Google Vertex AI
- Machine learning
- Data analysis
- Model training
- Predictive analytics
Both are used for machine learning, data analysis, model training, predictive analytics, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Azure Machine Learning
- Requires knowledge of Azure ecosystem and integration with other Azure services
- Compute resources for training and inference generate separate charges
Google Vertex AI
- Vendor lock-in to Google Cloud ecosystem makes migration to other platforms difficult
- Requires familiarity with Google Cloud Platform infrastructure and concepts
- Cost can escalate quickly with large training and inference workloads
Pricing, plan by plan
Azure Machine Learning
Free- Free TierFree
- Limited compute
- Basic features
- Pay-as-you-go$0.05/hour
- Full platform
- All compute options
- Enterprise features
Google Vertex AI
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Vertex AI review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Azure Machine Learning if
- You need automated ml.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Azure Cloud.
- You also want designer (drag-and-drop).
Choose Google Vertex AI if
- You need automl.
- You work on Cloud, Web.
- You also want custom training.
Questions people ask
- Is Azure Machine Learning or Google Vertex AI better?
- Neither clearly leads. Azure Machine Learning starts at Free and Google Vertex AI at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Azure Machine Learning or Google Vertex AI?
- Azure Machine Learning has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Azure Machine Learning and On request for Google Vertex AI.
- Does Azure Machine Learning or Google Vertex AI run on more platforms?
- Azure Machine Learning runs on Azure Cloud. Google Vertex AI runs on Cloud, Web.
- Can I use Azure Machine Learning for free?
- Yes. Azure Machine Learning has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Vertex AI starts at On request.
- What is Azure Machine Learning best used for?
- Azure Machine Learning is most often used for machine learning, data analysis, model training, predictive analytics.
- What can Azure Machine Learning do that Google Vertex AI cannot?
- Azure Machine Learning covers Automated ML, Designer (drag-and-drop), Notebooks, MLOps. Google Vertex AI covers AutoML, Custom training, Feature Store, Model monitoring. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Azure Machine Learning: Does Azure Machine Learning have any platform licensing fees?
No, Azure Machine Learning carries no extra cost. You only pay for the underlying compute resources utilized during model training or inference.
SourceGoogle Vertex AI: What is the pricing model for Google Vertex AI?
Vertex AI uses a pay-as-you-go model with no upfront costs or lock-in fees. Costs vary by service: training is billed by compute resources and time (30-second increments), online predictions by machine type per hour, and batch predictions by compute time or per-record for specific AutoML types.
SourceAzure Machine Learning: What AutoML capabilities does Azure Machine Learning provide?
Azure Machine Learning supports automated model creation for classification, regression, vision, and natural language processing tasks.
SourceGoogle Vertex AI: What types of data can Vertex AI handle?
Vertex AI supports image, video, text, and tabular data types with tools for uploading, storing, and managing large datasets.
SourceAzure Machine Learning: Does Azure ML support language model fine-tuning?
Yes, Azure Machine Learning supports fine-tuning of foundation models from providers including OpenAI, Meta, Hugging Face, and Cohere.
SourceGoogle Vertex AI: Does Vertex AI support custom model training?
Yes. Vertex AI supports both AutoML for automated machine learning and custom training code in Python, R, and other languages.
SourceAzure Machine Learning: What MLOps features are included?
Azure ML includes end-to-end pipeline automation with CI/CD capabilities, managed endpoints for model deployment, and monitoring tools.
SourceGoogle Vertex AI: What deployment options are available in Vertex AI?
Vertex AI supports online predictions for real-time use cases and batch predictions for large-scale processing.
SourceAzure Machine Learning: Can I access foundation models from multiple vendors?
Yes, Azure Machine Learning provides access to a model catalog with foundation models from Microsoft, OpenAI, Hugging Face, Meta, and Cohere.
Source