AWSAWS vs Microsoft Azure
AWS rates 4.5/5 and starts at Custom. Microsoft Azure rates 4.4/5 and starts at Custom. AWS is the higher rated.
Verdict
AWS rates higher (4.5/5 vs 4.4/5). AWS suits Startups to enterprises, while Microsoft Azure is aimed at Microsoft-centric enterprises.
AWS vs Microsoft Azure at a glance
| Measure | AWS | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Reviews | 16,800 | 11,400 |
| Starting price | Custom | Custom |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations listed here | 5 | 5 |
Feature & pricing comparison
| Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Starting price | Custom | Custom |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| API available | ||
| Best for | Startups to enterprises | Microsoft-centric enterprises |
| 200+ services | ||
| EC2 compute | ||
| S3 storage | ||
| Global regions | ||
| Pay-as-you-go | ||
| Hybrid cloud (Azure Arc) | ||
| Active Directory integration | ||
| Virtual machines | ||
| Azure OpenAI | ||
| Enterprise agreements | ||
| Visit | Visit |
Pricing side by side
| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Free | — |
| Pay-as-you-go | Custom | — |
Microsoft Azure
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free Account | Free | — |
| Pay-as-you-go | Custom | — |
Which should you choose?
Pick AWS if you prioritize Startups to enterprises
Pick Microsoft Azure if you prioritize Microsoft-centric enterprises
Choose AWS if…
- Most services matters to you.
- Huge ecosystem matters to you.
- Global scale matters to you.
- Portal can be complex would be a problem.
Choose Microsoft Azure if…
- Best for Microsoft shops matters to you.
- Strong hybrid story matters to you.
- Enterprise deals matters to you.
- Complex pricing would be a problem.
AWS
Pros
- Most services
- Huge ecosystem
- Global scale
Cons
- Complex pricing
- Steep learning curve
Microsoft Azure
Pros
- Best for Microsoft shops
- Strong hybrid story
- Enterprise deals
Cons
- Portal can be complex
- Pricing hard to predict
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS better than Microsoft Azure?+
AWS rates higher (4.5/5 vs 4.4/5). AWS suits Startups to enterprises, while Microsoft Azure is aimed at Microsoft-centric enterprises.
Which is cheaper, AWS or Microsoft Azure?+
AWS starts at Custom and Microsoft Azure starts at Custom.
Do AWS or Microsoft Azure have a free plan?+
Both offer a free tier, so you can trial either without paying.
Which is better rated, AWS or Microsoft Azure?+
AWS, at 4.5/5 across 16,800 reviews, versus 4.4/5 for Microsoft Azure.
What is AWS best for, and what is Microsoft Azure best for?+
AWS is aimed at Startups to enterprises (scalable apps, enterprise workloads). Microsoft Azure is aimed at Microsoft-centric enterprises (enterprise IT, hybrid cloud).