AWS vs Azure: Which Cloud is Better?
AWS leads in market share (32%), service breadth (200+ services), and startup ecosystem. Azure excels in Microsoft integration, hybrid cloud, and enterprise agreements. Choose based on your existing technology stack, team expertise, and specific requirements.
Quick Comparison
AWS (Amazon Web Services)
- Market leader: 32% share
- 200+ services
- Launched 2006 (most mature)
- 33 regions, 105 availability zones
- Best for: Startups, tech companies
- Stronger ecosystem and marketplace
- More third-party integrations
- Larger talent pool
Microsoft Azure
- Second place: 23% share
- 150+ services
- Launched 2010
- 60+ regions, 116 availability zones
- Best for: Microsoft-heavy enterprises
- Superior Microsoft integration
- Better hybrid cloud (Azure Arc)
- Simpler enterprise licensing
Detailed Comparison
Compute Services
| Feature | AWS | Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Machines | EC2 (750+ instance types) | Virtual Machines (400+ types) |
| Containers | ECS, EKS, Fargate | AKS, Container Instances |
| Serverless | Lambda (more mature) | Azure Functions |
| Pricing | 5-15% cheaper Linux | Cheaper Windows (hybrid benefit) |
Storage Services
| Feature | AWS | Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Object Storage | S3 (industry standard) | Blob Storage |
| Block Storage | EBS | Managed Disks |
| File Storage | EFS, FSx | Azure Files (better SMB support) |
| Archival | Glacier (cheaper) | Archive Storage |
Database Services
| Feature | AWS | Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Relational | RDS, Aurora (proprietary) | SQL Database |
| NoSQL | DynamoDB (more mature) | Cosmos DB (multi-model) |
| Data Warehouse | Redshift | Synapse Analytics |
| Caching | ElastiCache | Cache for Redis |
Key Differentiators
AWS Advantages:
- Most Mature: 18 years of operation, proven at massive scale
- Broader Service Catalog: 200+ services vs Azure's 150+
- Stronger Ecosystem: More third-party tools, integrations, consultants
- Better Marketplace: Larger selection of pre-built solutions
- Lambda Leadership: Most mature serverless platform
- Startup Friendly: Better programs, credits, documentation
- Larger Talent Pool: More certified engineers available
Azure Advantages:
- Microsoft Integration: Seamless Office 365, AD, Teams integration
- Hybrid Cloud: Azure Arc provides superior on-premises integration
- Windows Workloads: Better licensing, compatibility, support
- Enterprise Agreements: Simpler licensing for Microsoft-heavy orgs
- More Regions: 60+ regions vs AWS's 33 (better global coverage)
- .NET Ecosystem: First-class support for .NET development
- SQL Server: Tighter integration, better licensing options
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is within 5-10% for most services. Key differences:
- Compute: AWS 5-15% cheaper for Linux VMs; Azure cheaper for Windows (hybrid benefit)
- Storage: Comparable, within 5%
- Data Transfer: Similar egress costs (both expensive, $0.08-$0.12/GB)
- Reserved Instances: Both offer 30-70% discounts for 1-3 year commitments
- Spot/Low-Priority: Both offer 60-90% discounts for interruptible workloads
Use Case Recommendations
Choose AWS If You:
- Are a startup or tech company (default choice)
- Need broadest service selection and cutting-edge features
- Run primarily Linux/open-source workloads
- Want strongest serverless capabilities (Lambda ecosystem)
- Prioritize marketplace and third-party integrations
- Have team with AWS expertise or want largest hiring pool
- Need proven scale (powers Netflix, Airbnb, etc.)
Choose Azure If You:
- Have existing Microsoft enterprise agreement or investments
- Run Windows workloads, Active Directory, SQL Server
- Use Office 365, Teams, or other Microsoft SaaS
- Need hybrid cloud with on-premises integration (Azure Arc)
- Develop primarily in .NET or C#
- Want simplified enterprise licensing and support
- Need specific regional presence (Azure has more regions)
Migration Considerations
Migrating to AWS
- Timeline: 3-12 months depending on complexity
- Cost: $50K-$500K for migration project
- Tools: AWS Migration Hub, CloudEndure, Database Migration Service
- Best Practices: Start with non-critical apps, use landing zones, leverage Well-Architected Framework
Migrating to Azure
- Timeline: 3-12 months depending on complexity
- Cost: $50K-$500K for migration project
- Tools: Azure Migrate, Database Migration Service, Azure Site Recovery
- Best Practices: Leverage existing Microsoft licensing, use Azure Arc for hybrid, follow Cloud Adoption Framework
Can You Use Both?
Multi-cloud is possible but adds complexity:
- Benefits: Avoid vendor lock-in, use best service from each provider, redundancy
- Costs: Duplicate tooling, training, operations; 30-50% higher operational costs
- Complexity: Different APIs, tools, security models, networking
- Recommendation: Only pursue multi-cloud if you have specific requirements (M&A, compliance, redundancy). Otherwise, standardize on one provider.
Learning Curve
Both platforms require significant learning investment:
- AWS: Steeper initial learning curve due to service breadth, but more resources and community support
- Azure: Easier for Microsoft-familiar teams, but some inconsistencies in portal and tooling
- Certifications: Both offer extensive certification programs (Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer, etc.)
- Time to Proficiency: 6-12 months for competency, 12-24 months for expertise
Need Help Choosing or Migrating?
Pilotcore's certified cloud architects (AWS and Azure) provide unbiased cloud selection guidance and end-to-end migration services. We'll assess your requirements, recommend the best fit, and execute migration with 40% average cost savings.
