AWS vs Microsoft Azure
AWS and Azure together hold over 60% of the global cloud market. AWS leads in innovation velocity and service breadth, while Azure dominates in enterprises standardized on Microsoft technology stacks-Windows Server, SQL Server, Active Directory, and Microsoft 365. The choice is often political as much as technical.
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The world's most comprehensive cloud platform vs Cloud computing for every organization.
| Feature | AWS | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing from | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-as-you-go |
| Pricing | Pay-as-you-go; Savings Plans up to 72% off | Pay-as-you-go; Azure Hybrid Benefit for existing licenses |
| Best for | Startups, digital natives, and diverse workloads | Enterprises on Microsoft stack and hybrid cloud |
| Hybrid cloud | AWS Outposts for on-premises extension | Azure Arc for hybrid and multi-cloud management |
| Active Directory | AWS Directory Service (managed AD) | Native Azure Active Directory (Entra ID) |
| OpenAI partnership | Bedrock with multiple model providers | Exclusive OpenAI models via Azure OpenAI |
| Compliance | 143+ compliance certifications | 100+ compliance certifications, strong EU focus |
The third option most teams miss
Picking between AWS and Microsoft Azure isn't the only choice.
Appaca runs on both AWS and Azure, so you can deploy AI workflows wherever your data lives. Leverage Azure's OpenAI models or AWS Bedrock without rewriting your application architecture.
- No code, no deployment, no devops
- Built-in database, dashboards, team access
- Refine with chat as your needs change
- Free to start, no per-seat pricing surprises
Common questions
Yes, Azure integrates deeply with Microsoft 365, Teams, Dynamics 365, and Active Directory. For organizations paying Microsoft Enterprise Agreements, Azure credits and Hybrid Benefits offer significant cost savings.
Both platforms have comparable security postures with extensive compliance certifications. Security outcomes depend more on customer configuration than the platform itself. Azure has strong identity-centric security via Entra ID; AWS has extensive service-level security controls.
Subjectively, AWS has more documentation and community resources while Azure's portal UI is considered more approachable for Windows administrators. Developer experience varies by preferred tooling and language ecosystem.