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Microsoft Azure vs Chef

Microsoft Azure logo

Microsoft Azure

Software

Open and flexible cloud services

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Chef logo

Chef

Software

Infrastructure automation and management

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; Chef priced per node per year, at $59 on Business and $189 on Enterprise, so cost scales with fleet size rather than with team size
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, Chef covers Recipes.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Azure and Chef actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Azure and Chef differ
AttributeMicrosoft AzureChef
Pricing modelusage-basedopen-source
PlatformsWeb, Api, Desktop, MobileLinux, Windows, Mac, Api
Founded20102009

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 Microsoft Azure

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

Only in Chef

  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Roles
  • Data bags
  • Attributes
  • Chef Server
  • Chef Infra
  • Chef Compliance

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment

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 Chef
  • Extending on-premises Active Directory and Microsoft 365 estates into cloud infrastructurenot Chef

Chef

  • Configuration management and infrastructure automation across server fleetsnot Microsoft Azure
  • Enforcing compliance and audit policy on managed nodesnot 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

Chef

  • Priced per node per year, at $59 on Business and $189 on Enterprise, so cost scales with fleet size rather than with team size
  • Tripling the price between the two published tiers puts compliance and audit features well above basic automation
  • Enterprise Plus and every self managed deployment are custom quoted with no published price

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Azure

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

Chef

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Chef Infra
    • Community support
    • Full functionality
  • Chef Automate$4000/year
    • Chef Infra
    • Compliance automation
    • Insights

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 Chef if

  • You need recipes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Api.
  • You also want cookbooks.
Chef review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Azure or Chef better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Azure starts at Free and Chef at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Azure or Chef?
Microsoft Azure starts at Free and Chef at Free.
Does Microsoft Azure or Chef run on more platforms?
Microsoft Azure runs on Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile. Chef runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Api.
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 Chef is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Azure do that Chef cannot?
Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, App Service, SQL Database, Blob Storage. Chef covers Recipes, Cookbooks, Roles, Data bags. Both handle Cloud deployment.
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