Software · head to head
OVHcloud vs Microsoft Azure
The short version
- Only Microsoft Azure has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: OVHcloud public Cloud pricing table lists a scheduled price change with a column labeled Price on April 1, 2026, showing current rates are promotional and set to change on that date; 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: OVHcloud covers Public Cloud, Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which OVHcloud and Microsoft Azure actually diverge.
| Attribute | OVHcloud | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | €3.5/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | usage-based |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, Api, Cli | Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile |
| Founded | 1999 | 2010 |
Identical on both: 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 OVHcloud
- Public Cloud
- Private Cloud
- Bare Metal Servers
- Managed Kubernetes
- Object Storage
- Block Storage
- Load Balancers
- Databases
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
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
OVHcloud
- Businesses running public cloud compute and storage workloads on European infrastructurenot Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure
- Running Windows and Linux workloads, databases and AI services on Microsoft's cloudnot OVHcloud
- Extending on-premises Active Directory and Microsoft 365 estates into cloud infrastructurenot OVHcloud
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
OVHcloud
- Public Cloud pricing table lists a scheduled price change with a column labeled Price on April 1, 2026, showing current rates are promotional and set to change on that date
- Free network traffic and free Object Storage API calls exclude the Asia-Pacific region
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
OVHcloud
€3.5/month- Public Cloud Starter$3.5/month
- 1 vCPU
- 1 GB RAM
- 10 GB storage
- Bare Metal$49/month
- Dedicated hardware
- High performance
- Full control
Microsoft Azure
Free- Free AccountFree
- $200 credit for 30 days
- Popular services 12 months free
- 40+ services always free
Which should you pick?
Choose OVHcloud if
- You need public cloud.
- You work on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
- You also want private cloud.
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 OVHcloud or Microsoft Azure better?
- Neither clearly leads. OVHcloud starts at €3.5/month and Microsoft Azure at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, OVHcloud or Microsoft Azure?
- Microsoft Azure has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at €3.5/month for OVHcloud and Free for Microsoft Azure.
- Does OVHcloud or Microsoft Azure run on more platforms?
- OVHcloud runs on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli. Microsoft Azure runs on Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile.
- Can I use Microsoft Azure for free?
- Yes. Microsoft Azure has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OVHcloud starts at €3.5/month.
- What is OVHcloud best used for?
- OVHcloud is most often used for businesses running public cloud compute and storage workloads on european infrastructure. Of those, businesses running public cloud compute and storage workloads on european infrastructure is not what Microsoft Azure is typically brought in for.
- What can OVHcloud do that Microsoft Azure cannot?
- OVHcloud covers Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Bare Metal Servers, Managed Kubernetes. Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, App Service, SQL Database, Blob Storage. Both handle Terraform, Kubernetes, SOC2, Cloud deployment.