Software · head to head
Azure Machine Learning vs Seldon
Azure Machine Learning
Software
Enterprise-grade machine learning service
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Azure Machine Learning requires knowledge of Azure ecosystem and integration with other Azure services; Seldon production deployment requires a Kubernetes cluster, whether managed such as GKE, EKS or AKS, or on-premises such as OpenShift
- They diverge on capability: Azure Machine Learning covers Automated ML, Seldon covers Model serving.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Azure Machine Learning and Seldon actually diverge.
| Attribute | Azure Machine Learning | Seldon |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | usage-based | freemium |
| Platforms | Azure Cloud | Linux |
| Founded | 1975 | 2014 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Azure Machine Learning
- Automated ML
- Designer (drag-and-drop)
- Notebooks
- MLOps
- Model registry
- Azure Blob Storage
- Azure DevOps
- Power BI
Only in Seldon
- Model serving
- A/B testing
- Canary deployments
- Outlier detection
- Model explainability
- Kubernetes
- Istio
- Prometheus
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Azure Machine Learning
- Machine learningnot Seldon
- Data analysisnot Seldon
- Model trainingnot Seldon
- Predictive analyticsnot Seldon
Seldon
- Serving and routing machine learning models on Kubernetesnot Azure Machine Learning
- Building multi-step inference pipelines with A/B tests and explainersnot 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
Seldon
- Production deployment requires a Kubernetes cluster, whether managed such as GKE, EKS or AKS, or on-premises such as OpenShift
- The documented components carry both minimum and maximum supported versions, so newer Kubernetes and dependency versions are not automatically supported
- Dataflow Pipelines need an additional component that the docs recommend avoiding installing when pipelines are not used
- The Docker Compose install is offered as a lightweight alternative for environments without Kubernetes rather than as a production path
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
Seldon
Free- Seldon CoreFree
- Open source
- Kubernetes deployment
- Model serving
- Seldon DeployFree
- Enterprise features
- GUI
- Monitoring
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 Seldon if
- You need model serving.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux.
- You also want a/b testing.
Questions people ask
- Is Azure Machine Learning or Seldon better?
- Neither clearly leads. Azure Machine Learning starts at Free and Seldon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Azure Machine Learning or Seldon?
- Azure Machine Learning starts at Free and Seldon at Free.
- Does Azure Machine Learning or Seldon run on more platforms?
- Azure Machine Learning runs on Azure Cloud. Seldon runs on Linux.
- Can I use Azure Machine Learning for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Seldon is typically brought in for.
- What can Azure Machine Learning do that Seldon cannot?
- Azure Machine Learning covers Automated ML, Designer (drag-and-drop), Notebooks, MLOps. Seldon covers Model serving, A/B testing, Canary deployments, Outlier detection.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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