Machine Learning & Data Science · head to head
OpenAI API vs Azure Machine Learning
OpenAI API
Machine Learning & Data Science
GPT and DALL-E APIs for developers
- From
- $0.15/per-million-tokens
- Rated
- -
Azure Machine Learning
Machine Learning & Data Science
Enterprise-grade machine learning service
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Azure Machine Learning has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: OpenAI API new accounts start with a $100 approved monthly usage limit and must spend cumulatively to graduate tiers; Azure Machine Learning requires knowledge of Azure ecosystem and integration with other Azure services
- They diverge on capability: OpenAI API covers GPT models, Azure Machine Learning covers Automated ML.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which OpenAI API and Azure Machine Learning actually diverge.
| Attribute | OpenAI API | Azure Machine Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0.15/per-million-tokens | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Api | Azure Cloud |
| Founded | 2015 | 1975 |
Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Machine Learning & Data Science).
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 OpenAI API
- GPT models
- DALL-E
- Whisper
- Embeddings
- REST API
- SDKs
- Azure OpenAI
- Api support
Only in Azure Machine Learning
- Automated ML
- Designer (drag-and-drop)
- Notebooks
- MLOps
- Model registry
- Azure Blob Storage
- Azure DevOps
- Power BI
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
OpenAI API
- Calling hosted language models from an applicationnot Azure Machine Learning
- Generating images, audio and embeddings through one APInot Azure Machine Learning
- Building agents and tool calling workflows on managed modelsnot Azure Machine Learning
Azure Machine Learning
- Machine learningnot OpenAI API
- Data analysisnot OpenAI API
- Model trainingnot OpenAI API
- Predictive analyticsnot OpenAI API
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
OpenAI API
- New accounts start with a $100 approved monthly usage limit and must spend cumulatively to graduate tiers
- Reaching the top Tier 5 monthly cap of $200,000 requires $1,000 of cumulative paid usage
- Rate limits apply simultaneously across requests per minute, requests per day, tokens per minute, tokens per day and images per minute, and the first one hit blocks the request
- API access is restricted to approved geographies
Azure Machine Learning
- Requires knowledge of Azure ecosystem and integration with other Azure services
- Compute resources for training and inference generate separate charges
Pricing, plan by plan
OpenAI API
$0.15/per-million-tokens- GPT-4o mini$0.15/per-million-input-tokens
- Fast
- Affordable
- GPT-4o$5/per-million-input-tokens
- Multimodal
- 128K context
Azure Machine Learning
Free- Free TierFree
- Limited compute
- Basic features
- Pay-as-you-go$0.05/hour
- Full platform
- All compute options
- Enterprise features
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).
Questions people ask
- Is OpenAI API or Azure Machine Learning better?
- Neither clearly leads. OpenAI API starts at $0.15/per-million-tokens and Azure Machine Learning at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, OpenAI API or Azure Machine Learning?
- Azure Machine Learning has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $0.15/per-million-tokens for OpenAI API and Free for Azure Machine Learning.
- Does OpenAI API or Azure Machine Learning run on more platforms?
- OpenAI API runs on Api. Azure Machine Learning runs on Azure Cloud.
- Can I use Azure Machine Learning for free?
- Yes. Azure Machine Learning has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OpenAI API starts at $0.15/per-million-tokens.
- What is OpenAI API best used for?
- OpenAI API is most often used for calling hosted language models from an application, generating images, audio and embeddings through one api, building agents and tool calling workflows on managed models. Of those, calling hosted language models from an application and generating images, audio and embeddings through one api are not what Azure Machine Learning is typically brought in for.
- What can OpenAI API do that Azure Machine Learning cannot?
- OpenAI API covers GPT models, DALL-E, Whisper, Embeddings. Azure Machine Learning covers Automated ML, Designer (drag-and-drop), Notebooks, MLOps.
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