Software · head to head
Microsoft Azure vs Vultr
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; Vultr vultr Cloud Compute pricing as captured 31 December 2022 started at $5/month (1 vCPU, 1GB RAM, 25GB storage, 1TB transfer), scaling to $10/month and $20/month with more vCPU/RAM/storage; bandwidth overage billed at $0.01 to $0.05 per GB depending on plan
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, Vultr covers Cloud servers.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Azure and Vultr actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Azure | Vultr |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile | Web, Api, Cli |
| Founded | 2010 | 2014 |
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 Vultr
- Cloud servers
- Bare metal servers
- Block storage
- Object storage
- Load balancers
- Firewalls
- Private networks
- Ansible
Both cover
- Terraform
- Kubernetes
- 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 Vultr
- Extending on-premises Active Directory and Microsoft 365 estates into cloud infrastructurenot Vultr
Vultr
- High performance computingnot Microsoft Azure
- Game serversnot Microsoft Azure
- Streamingnot Microsoft Azure
- Database hostingnot Microsoft Azure
- Application serversnot 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
Vultr
- Vultr Cloud Compute pricing as captured 31 December 2022 started at $5/month (1 vCPU, 1GB RAM, 25GB storage, 1TB transfer), scaling to $10/month and $20/month with more vCPU/RAM/storage; bandwidth overage billed at $0.01 to $0.05 per GB depending on plan
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Azure
Free- Free AccountFree
- $200 credit for 30 days
- Popular services 12 months free
- 40+ services always free
Vultr
Free- Cloud Compute$2.5/month
- 512MB RAM
- 10GB SSD
- 500GB bandwidth
- Bare Metal$32/month
- Dedicated hardware
- High performance
- Full root access
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 Vultr if
- You need cloud servers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api, Cli.
- You also want bare metal servers.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Azure or Vultr better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Azure starts at Free and Vultr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Azure or Vultr?
- Microsoft Azure starts at Free and Vultr at Free.
- Does Microsoft Azure or Vultr run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Azure runs on Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile. Vultr runs on Web, 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 Vultr is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Azure do that Vultr cannot?
- Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, App Service, SQL Database, Blob Storage. Vultr covers Cloud servers, Bare metal servers, Block storage, Object storage. Both handle Terraform, Kubernetes, Cloud deployment.