Software · head to head
Tencent Cloud vs Microsoft Azure
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Tencent Cloud standard SA5 2-core instance in Beijing is priced at 1567 CNY per year while an 8-core Standard S6 in Shanghai runs 5719 CNY per year; 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: Tencent Cloud covers CVM - Cloud Virtual Machines, Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Tencent Cloud and Microsoft Azure actually diverge.
| Attribute | Tencent Cloud | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, Api, Cli | Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2010).
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 Tencent Cloud
- CVM - Cloud Virtual Machines
- COS - Cloud Object Storage
- TencentDB
- SCF - Serverless Computing
- CDN
- Load Balancer
- VPC
- 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
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Tencent Cloud
- Gaming platformsnot Microsoft Azure
- Social medianot Microsoft Azure
- Video streamingnot Microsoft Azure
- Asia-Pacific deploymentnot Microsoft Azure
- Mobile applicationsnot Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure
- Running Windows and Linux workloads, databases and AI services on Microsoft's cloudnot Tencent Cloud
- Extending on-premises Active Directory and Microsoft 365 estates into cloud infrastructurenot Tencent Cloud
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Tencent Cloud
- Standard SA5 2-core instance in Beijing is priced at 1567 CNY per year while an 8-core Standard S6 in Shanghai runs 5719 CNY per year
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
Tencent Cloud
Free- Free TrialFree
- Free trial credits
- CVM instances
- Cloud storage
- Pay-as-You-GoFree
- Flexible pricing
- No long-term contracts
- Global infrastructure
Microsoft Azure
Free- Free AccountFree
- $200 credit for 30 days
- Popular services 12 months free
- 40+ services always free
Which should you pick?
Choose Tencent Cloud if
- You need cvm - cloud virtual machines.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
- You also want cos - cloud object storage.
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 Tencent Cloud or Microsoft Azure better?
- Neither clearly leads. Tencent 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, Tencent Cloud or Microsoft Azure?
- Tencent Cloud starts at Free and Microsoft Azure at Free.
- Does Tencent Cloud or Microsoft Azure run on more platforms?
- Tencent Cloud runs on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli. Microsoft Azure runs on Web, Api, Desktop, Mobile.
- Can I use Tencent Cloud for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Tencent Cloud best used for?
- Tencent Cloud is most often used for gaming platforms, social media, video streaming, asia-pacific deployment. Of those, gaming platforms and social media are not what Microsoft Azure is typically brought in for.
- What can Tencent Cloud do that Microsoft Azure cannot?
- Tencent Cloud covers CVM - Cloud Virtual Machines, COS - Cloud Object Storage, TencentDB, SCF - Serverless Computing. Microsoft Azure covers Virtual Machines, App Service, SQL Database, Blob Storage. Both handle Terraform, Kubernetes, Cloud deployment.