AWS vs Microsoft Azure
A source-aware comparison of pricing, documented capabilities and workflow fit.
Short answer
- Price: not directly comparable — AWS is usage-based pricing, Microsoft Azure is usage-based pricing.
- How to start: both are usage-based pricing.
- Where they differ: on what we checked they match — both offer public api, mobile app and sso (saml).
These lines are generated from the pricing we track, not from a paid placement. How we score tools.
What AWS is
What AWS isAmazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's most comprehensive and widely adopted cloud platform. Offering over 200 fully featured services, it helps startups move faster while lowering costs for giant government agencies. From databases to machine learning and IoT, it provides everything a digital infrastructure needs in seconds. AWS is the backbone of the internet; the world's largest companies like Netflix and Airbnb live on this secure and scalable infrastructure.
What Microsoft Azure is
What Microsoft Azure isMicrosoft Azure is a massive cloud computing platform designed for the modern enterprise. It offers over 200 products and cloud services designed to help you bring new solutions to life—to solve today's challenges and create the future. It is particularly strong for organizations already using Microsoft technologies like Windows Server, Active Directory, and SQL Server, providing a seamless hybrid cloud experience. Azure is a leader in AI innovation, hosting OpenAI's infrastructure and offering some of the most advanced machine learning tools in the market.
Side by side
| AWS | Microsoft Azure | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Hosting | Hosting |
| How to start | Usage-basednot a monthly price | Usage-basednot a monthly price |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Open source / self-hostable | No | No |
| SSO (SAML) | Yes | Yes |
| Visit | AWS ↗ | Microsoft Azure ↗ |
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What AWS is built to do
- Amazon EC2
- Rent flexible and scalable virtual servers in the cloud.
- AWS Lambda
- A serverless architecture that runs your code only when triggered.
- Amazon S3
- The most secure object storage service for any type of data on the web.
- Amazon SageMaker
- Build, train, and deploy machine learning models at high speed.
What Microsoft Azure is built to do
- Azure Active Directory
- The world standard for identity and access management in corporate environments.
- SQL Database
- A fully managed, intelligent relational database service that scales with your needs.
- Azure AI Search
- Cloud-native search with AI capabilities for large-scale enterprise data.
- App Service
- Quickly build, deploy, and scale web apps and APIs on your terms.
Choose AWS if
- Trying it with real credit — a new account gets $100 immediately and up to $200 over six months
- Workloads that fit the always-free monthly allowances on 30+ services
- Teams that need breadth: over 90 services from one account
Skip AWS if
- You expect a permanent free account — a new Free Tier account CLOSES ITSELF after six months, or when the credits run out
- You want predictable monthly cost; everything past the free allowances is usage-billed
- You need a small, simple platform; the surface area here is enormous
Choose Microsoft Azure if
- Enterprise IT Managers, .NET Developers, and Large Organizations.
Evidence and freshness
Where a claim on this page comes from a vendor page, it is linked here.
AWS: pros & cons
- Infinite Scalability: Your systems grow automatically as your traffic increases.
- Global Infrastructure: Low-latency data centers available in every major global region.
- Pay-as-you-go: You only pay for the actual resources your application consumes.
- Security Certifications: Meets the world's strictest standards like HIPAA and PCI.
- Extreme Complexity: It's easy to get lost among thousands of features; requires expertise.
- Hidden Costs: Can lead to unexpectedly high bills if not properly configured.
- Support Costs: Professional technical support requires an additional monthly fee.
Microsoft Azure: pros & cons
- Microsoft Ecosystem: Unbeatable integration with Office 365, Teams, and AD.
- Hybrid Cloud Leader: Best-in-class tools for connecting on-premise servers to the cloud.
- AI Innovation: Direct access to OpenAI models and advanced cognitive services.
- Compliance: Boasts the most comprehensive set of compliance certifications in the industry.
- Complex Management: The portal can be overwhelming for those not used to Microsoft's ecosystem.
- Learning Curve: Requires significant certification and training for advanced usage.
- Support Costs: Technical support tiers can be expensive for high-level issues.
Our verdict on AWS
The world's most powerful and detailed cloud infrastructure; the pro's choice.
Our verdict on Microsoft Azure
The premier choice for large-scale enterprises deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem.
AWS vs Microsoft Azure: common questions
- Does AWS or Microsoft Azure have a free plan?
- AWS has no free plan listed, while Microsoft Azure has no free plan listed.
- What is the difference between AWS and Microsoft Azure?
- On the criteria we check, on what we checked they match — both offer public api, mobile app and sso (saml). The table above lists every criterion side by side.