Software · head to head
Oracle Cloud vs Microsoft Azure
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Oracle Cloud the free trial gives US$300 of credit that expires when consumed or after 30 days, whichever comes first; 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
- They diverge on capability: Oracle Cloud covers Autonomous Database, Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Oracle Cloud and Microsoft Azure actually diverge.
| Attribute | Oracle Cloud | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, Api, Cli | Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile |
| Founded | 2019 | 2010 |
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 Oracle Cloud
- Autonomous Database
- Compute Instances
- MySQL Database Service
- Object Storage
- Block Volume
- Load Balancers
- Virtual Cloud Network
- API Gateway
Only in Microsoft Azure
- Virtual Machines
- App Service
- SQL Database
- Blob Storage
- Azure Cosmos DB
- Functions
- Service Fabric
- API Management
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.
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
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
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Microsoft Azure
Free- Free AccountFree
- $200 credit for 30 days
- Popular services 12 months free
- 40+ services always free
Which should you pick?
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Oracle Cloud or Microsoft Azure better?
- Neither clearly leads. Oracle Cloud starts at Free and Microsoft Azure at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Oracle Cloud or Microsoft Azure?
- Oracle Cloud starts at Free and Microsoft Azure at Free.
- Does Oracle Cloud or Microsoft Azure run on more platforms?
- Oracle Cloud runs on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli. Microsoft Azure runs on Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile.
- Can I use Oracle Cloud for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Oracle Cloud best used for?
- Oracle Cloud is most often used for running virtual machines, databases and storage on oracle's cloud infrastructure, hosting oracle database workloads on infrastructure from the same vendor. Of those, running virtual machines, databases and storage on oracle's cloud infrastructure and hosting oracle database workloads on infrastructure from the same vendor are not what Microsoft Azure is typically brought in for.
- What can Oracle Cloud do that Microsoft Azure cannot?
- Oracle Cloud covers Autonomous Database, Compute Instances, MySQL Database Service, Object Storage. Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, App Service, SQL Database, Blob Storage. Both handle Terraform, Kubernetes, SOC2, ISO27001.