--- title: "Microsoft Azure Pricing 2026 | Capterra" description: "Learn more about Microsoft Azure pricing plans including starting price, free versions and trials." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/16365/Azure/pricing/" page_type: "pricing" language: "en" --- # Microsoft Azure Pricing - Overall rating: 4.6 out of 5 from [1,985 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/16365/Azure/reviews/) - Starting at $0.002 per month - Free trial: Available - Free version: Available - Credit card required: Not provided by vendor --- ## How much does Microsoft Azure cost? Microsoft Azure has **4 different plans**. The pricing **starts at $0.00 usage based per month** with a free plan available. ### Azure Virtual Machines - Price: $31.39 - Billing: Usage Based, Per Month #### Azure Virtual Machines plan includes: - Load balancing - Auto-scaling - Latest generation of A-series virtual machines - Faster disk ### Azure AI Services - Price: Custom Quote - Billing: Usage Based #### Azure AI Services plan includes: - Pre-built APIs - Machine learning - Natural language processing ### Azure App Service - Price: Contact vendor - Billing: Usage Based, Per Month ### Azure Storage - Price: $0.00 - Billing: Usage Based, Per Month #### Azure Storage plan includes: - Database backups - Analytics - File Storage --- ## Is Microsoft Azure worth the price? ### Value for Money - Overall rating: 4.2 out of 5 - Good or excellent value for money: 82% AI summary based on 138 value-for-money rating reviews: Reviewers appreciate Microsoft Azure's flexible pricing models, including pay-as-you-go and subscription plans, which help businesses manage costs effectively. They value the ability to scale resources up or down based on demand, which is beneficial for cost optimization. However, some users find Azure's pricing to be high, especially for resource-intensive tasks or large-scale storage needs. #### Rating breakdown - Ease of use: 4.2 - Customer service: 4.2 - Features: 4.6 - Ease of deployment: 4.3 - Likelihood to recommend: 79% Based on 1,985 total Microsoft Azure reviews. --- ## How does Microsoft Azure compare to other alternatives? Microsoft Azure starts at $0.00 usage based per month. Explore how its pricing and plan options compare with top alternatives below. Microsoft Azure pricing comparison | Product | Plans | Starting price | Free version | Free trial | Value for Money | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Microsoft Azure — 4.6 out of 5 ([1,985 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/16365/Azure/reviews/)) | 4 plans | $0.00 /usage/mo | Available | Available | 4.2 | | [GitLab](https://www.capterra.com/p/159806/GitLab/) — 4.6 out of 5 ([1,231 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/159806/GitLab/reviews/)) | 1 plan | $29.00 /user/mo | Available | Available | 4.5 | | [GitHub](https://www.capterra.com/p/129067/GitHub/) — 4.8 out of 5 ([6,212 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/129067/GitHub/reviews/)) | 3 plans | $4.00 /user/mo | Available | Available | 4.6 | | [Essential Studio](https://www.capterra.com/p/228226/Essential-Studio/) — 4.6 out of 5 ([962 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/228226/Essential-Studio/reviews/)) | 5 plans | $599.00 /user/yr | Available | Available | 4.6 | | [Microsoft Visual Studio](https://www.capterra.com/p/80230/microsoft-visual-studio/) — 4.6 out of 5 ([3,017 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/80230/microsoft-visual-studio/reviews/)) | 5 plans | $45.00 /user/mo | Available | Available | 4.4 | --- ## What reviewers say about Microsoft Azure's pricing ### What they like - **Microsoft Azure's flexible pricing models** Including pay-as-you-go and subscription plans, which help businesses manage costs effectively. They value the ability to scale resources up or down based on demand, which is beneficial for cost optimization. - **Users highlight the cost savings achieved through Azure's pay-as-you-go model and the availability of free credits for students and free trials** The platform's integration with on-premise resources and other Microsoft products is seen as a cost-effective solution. - **Reviewers also mention the efficient billing and cost management tools that help in tracking and controlling expenses** ### What holds them back - **Azure's pricing to be high** Especially for resource-intensive tasks or large-scale storage needs. They report that costs can add up quickly, making it less cost-effective for some businesses. - **The complexity of the pricing structure and the need for careful monitoring of resource usage are common concerns** Some reviewers also mention hidden costs and the difficulty in predicting expenses accurately. - **The learning curve and the complexity of the platform can be challenging for new users** Adding to the overall cost of using Azure. ## Price & value in reviewers' words * * * 3 out of 5 stars > "The integration with Windows Server, Microsoft 365, and identity management makes it a strong choice for businesses. Although Azure has a learning curve and its pricing can be complicated, it provides the tools and scalability needed to support everything from small workloads to large enterprise environments." Reviewer: Khimson L. Role: It admin * * * 4 out of 5 stars > "Overall Microsoft Azure has more positives than negatives, but if they change the pricing structure that would drastically change things." Reviewer: Ben S. Role: Infrastructure Architect * * * 4 out of 5 stars > "The platform’s pricing structure can be difficult to predict, especially when workloads scale unexpectedly." Reviewer: christopher F. Role: Brand Strategy Lead * * * 5 out of 5 stars > "Pricing can also become difficult to understand initially, especially when working with multiple services and subscriptions." Reviewer: HARIKRISHNAN R. Role: Infrastructure Engineer [Check all reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/16365/Azure/reviews/)