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Cloud & Infrastructure · head to head

Microsoft Azure vs AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Microsoft Azure logo

Microsoft Azure

Cloud & Infrastructure

Open and flexible cloud services

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
AWS (Amazon Web Services) logo

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Cloud & Infrastructure

The leading cloud computing platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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; AWS (Amazon Web Services) data transfer in is free and data transfer out is charged, which is the standard source of unexpected bills
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, AWS (Amazon Web Services) covers EC2 - Virtual Servers.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Microsoft Azure and AWS (Amazon Web Services) differ
AttributeMicrosoft AzureAWS (Amazon Web Services)
PlatformsWeb, Api, Desktop, MobileWeb, Api, Cli, Mobile
Founded20102006

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

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 Microsoft Azure

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

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

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.

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)

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Azure

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

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

Which should you pick?

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Azure or AWS (Amazon Web Services) better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Azure starts at Free and AWS (Amazon Web Services) at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Azure or AWS (Amazon Web Services)?
Microsoft Azure starts at Free and AWS (Amazon Web Services) at Free.
Does Microsoft Azure or AWS (Amazon Web Services) run on more platforms?
Microsoft Azure runs on Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile. AWS (Amazon Web Services) runs on Web, Api, Cli, Mobile.
Can I use Microsoft Azure for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Microsoft Azure best used for?
Microsoft Azure is most often used for running windows and linux workloads, databases and ai services on microsoft's cloud, extending on-premises active directory and microsoft 365 estates into cloud infrastructure. Of those, running windows and linux workloads, databases and ai services on microsoft's cloud and extending on-premises active directory and microsoft 365 estates into cloud infrastructure are not what AWS (Amazon Web Services) is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Azure do that AWS (Amazon Web Services) cannot?
Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, App Service, SQL Database, Blob Storage. AWS (Amazon Web Services) covers EC2 - Virtual Servers, S3 - Object Storage, RDS - Managed Database, Lambda - Serverless Computing. Both handle Terraform, Kubernetes, SOC2, ISO27001.
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