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 |
AWS or Microsoft Azure? Who each tool is best for
AWS
The world's most comprehensive cloud platform
- Pricing: Pay-as-you-go; Savings Plans up to 72% off
- Best for: Startups, digital natives, and diverse workloads
- Hybrid cloud: AWS Outposts for on-premises extension
- Active Directory: AWS Directory Service (managed AD)
Starting from Pay-as-you-go
Microsoft Azure
Cloud computing for every organization
- Pricing: Pay-as-you-go; Azure Hybrid Benefit for existing licenses
- Best for: Enterprises on Microsoft stack and hybrid cloud
- Hybrid cloud: Azure Arc for hybrid and multi-cloud management
- Active Directory: Native Azure Active Directory (Entra ID)
Starting from Pay-as-you-go
How Appaca works
Appaca is not another SaaS tool to evaluate. It builds you a working app from a plain description — with database, dashboards, and team access — and runs it on the platform.
Describe what you need
Tell Appaca what you need in plain language. No forms, no setup wizard — just describe the job to be done.
Chat with AI to refine it
Appaca AI builds your app and stays available to refine it. Change behaviour, add fields, adjust flows — all in chat.
Use it immediately
Your app runs on Appaca with a built-in database, file storage, and team access. No deployment, no devops.
Everything your team needs, built in
Appaca provides the full stack for internal and personal software — no integrations to wire up, no hosting to manage.
Build and update apps by chatting with AI
Describe what you need and Appaca builds a working app. Come back any time to refine it — add new fields, change behaviour, or extend functionality — all without writing code.
Built-in database and file storage
Every Appaca app comes with a secure database and file storage ready to use. No external service to connect, no schema to design — Appaca handles the data layer automatically.
Connect to services your team already uses
Appaca apps can connect to Google Sheets, Slack, Airtable, and any service that supports an API or webhook — so your app fits into your existing workflow instead of replacing it.
Building software for how your team actually works?
While you're comparing AWS and Microsoft Azure, you might have other tools your team actually builds and maintains — trackers, dashboards, internal workflows. Appaca builds those from a plain description, with a database and team access included. No code, no devops.
- Describe what you need, get a working app in minutes
- Built-in database, dashboards, and team access
- Iterate with chat — no engineer needed
- Free to start, no per-seat pricing
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.
Appaca is a platform for personal software. You describe what you need and Appaca builds a working app with a database, dashboards, and team access — no code or deployment required. It is not a replacement for the tools compared on this page. Try it free at appaca.ai.