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Software · head to head

Azure Machine Learning vs OpenAI API

Azure Machine Learning logo

Azure Machine Learning

Software

Enterprise-grade machine learning service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenAI API logo

OpenAI API

Software

GPT and DALL-E APIs for developers

From
$0.15/per-million-tokens
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; OpenAI API new accounts start with a $100 approved monthly usage limit and must spend cumulatively to graduate tiers
  • They diverge on capability: Azure Machine Learning covers Automated ML, OpenAI API covers GPT models.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Azure Machine Learning and OpenAI API actually diverge.

Attributes where Azure Machine Learning and OpenAI API differ
AttributeAzure Machine LearningOpenAI API
Starting priceFree$0.15/per-million-tokens
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAzure CloudApi
Founded19752015

Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), 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 OpenAI API

  • GPT models
  • DALL-E
  • Whisper
  • Embeddings
  • REST API
  • SDKs
  • Azure OpenAI
  • Api support

What people use each for

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

Azure Machine Learning

  • Machine learningnot OpenAI API
  • Data analysisnot OpenAI API
  • Model trainingnot OpenAI API
  • Predictive analyticsnot OpenAI API

OpenAI API

  • Calling hosted language models from an applicationnot Azure Machine Learning
  • Generating images, audio and embeddings through one APInot Azure Machine Learning
  • Building agents and tool calling workflows on managed modelsnot Azure Machine Learning

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

OpenAI API

  • New accounts start with a $100 approved monthly usage limit and must spend cumulatively to graduate tiers
  • Reaching the top Tier 5 monthly cap of $200,000 requires $1,000 of cumulative paid usage
  • Rate limits apply simultaneously across requests per minute, requests per day, tokens per minute, tokens per day and images per minute, and the first one hit blocks the request
  • API access is restricted to approved geographies

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

OpenAI API

$0.15/per-million-tokens
  • GPT-4o mini$0.15/per-million-input-tokens
    • Fast
    • Affordable
  • GPT-4o$5/per-million-input-tokens
    • Multimodal
    • 128K context

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).
Azure Machine Learning review

Choose OpenAI API if

  • You need gpt models.
  • You work on Api.
  • You also want dall-e.
OpenAI API review

Questions people ask

Is Azure Machine Learning or OpenAI API better?
Neither clearly leads. Azure Machine Learning starts at Free and OpenAI API at $0.15/per-million-tokens, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Azure Machine Learning or OpenAI API?
Azure Machine Learning has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Azure Machine Learning and $0.15/per-million-tokens for OpenAI API.
Does Azure Machine Learning or OpenAI API run on more platforms?
Azure Machine Learning runs on Azure Cloud. OpenAI API runs on Api.
Can I use Azure Machine Learning for free?
Yes. Azure Machine Learning has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OpenAI API starts at $0.15/per-million-tokens.
What is Azure Machine Learning best used for?
Azure Machine Learning is most often used for machine learning, data analysis, model training, predictive analytics. Of those, machine learning and data analysis are not what OpenAI API is typically brought in for.
What can Azure Machine Learning do that OpenAI API cannot?
Azure Machine Learning covers Automated ML, Designer (drag-and-drop), Notebooks, MLOps. OpenAI API covers GPT models, DALL-E, Whisper, Embeddings.

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.

Source
Azure 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.

Source
Azure 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.

Source
Azure 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.

Source
Azure 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
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Related pages

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