Software · head to head
Microsoft Azure vs Oracle Cloud
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; Oracle Cloud the free trial gives US$300 of credit that expires when consumed or after 30 days, whichever comes first
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, Oracle Cloud covers Autonomous Database.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Azure | Oracle Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile | Linux, Windows, Api, Cli |
| Founded | 2010 | 2019 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), 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 Oracle Cloud
- Autonomous Database
- Compute Instances
- MySQL Database Service
- Object Storage
- Block Volume
- Load Balancers
- Virtual Cloud Network
- API Gateway
Both cover
- Terraform
- Kubernetes
- SOC2
- ISO27001
- HIPAA
- PCI-DSS
- 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 Oracle Cloud
- Extending on-premises Active Directory and Microsoft 365 estates into cloud infrastructurenot Oracle Cloud
Oracle Cloud
- Running virtual machines, databases and storage on Oracle's cloud infrastructurenot Microsoft Azure
- Hosting Oracle Database workloads on infrastructure from the same vendornot 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
Oracle Cloud
- The free trial gives US$300 of credit that expires when consumed or after 30 days, whichever comes first
- The US$300 cloud credit is available only in select countries
- Only one Oracle Cloud Free Trial or Always Free account is permitted per person
- Accounts left idle for 30 days or more are eligible for suspension or termination as abandoned
- Always Free NoSQL Database is restricted to the Phoenix region
- Free Tier availability is subject to capacity limits, and the published per-service capacity figures are estimates that assume the entire credit is spent on that one service
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Azure
Free- Free AccountFree
- $200 credit for 30 days
- Popular services 12 months free
- 40+ services always free
Oracle Cloud
Free- Always FreeFree
- Oracle Autonomous Database
- 2 compute instances
- 100 GB storage
- Pay-as-You-GoFree
- Flexible pricing
- No long-term commitment
- Enterprise support
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.
Choose Oracle Cloud if
- You need autonomous database.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
- You also want compute instances.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Azure or Oracle Cloud better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Azure starts at Free and Oracle Cloud at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Azure or Oracle Cloud?
- Microsoft Azure starts at Free and Oracle Cloud at Free.
- Does Microsoft Azure or Oracle Cloud run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Azure runs on Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile. Oracle Cloud runs on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
- 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 Oracle Cloud is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Azure do that Oracle Cloud cannot?
- Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, App Service, SQL Database, Blob Storage. Oracle Cloud covers Autonomous Database, Compute Instances, MySQL Database Service, Object Storage. Both handle Terraform, Kubernetes, SOC2, ISO27001.