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Microsoft Azure

Microsoft cloud infrastructure, data and AI services

Azure provides compute, storage, databases, identity and AI services with deep Microsoft ecosystem integration.

Ongoing cost

Free tier

Setup cost

$0

Tech comfort needed

8/10

What the plans cost

Free account

Free

time- and usage-limited services

Pay as you go

Quoted

varies by service, region and usage

Public list prices checked on 2026-09-17. Always confirm on the provider's own pricing page before you buy.

What you get

  • Compute and serverless hosting
  • Blob storage and CDN
  • Managed databases
  • Microsoft Entra identity
  • Azure AI services

Works with

  • Microsoft 365
  • GitHub
  • OpenAI
  • Cloudflare
  • Power Platform

How it rates

Ease of use
3/10
Speed to launch
4/10
Design control
2/10
Room to grow
10/10
Add-ons and extensions
10/10
Selling products
3/10
Courses
3/10
Memberships
3/10
Search visibility
4/10
Support
7/10

Best suited to

  • App / software
  • Online store
  • Courses / training
  • Membership
  • Directory / marketplace

What to watch out for

  • Expect to be comfortable with technical settings, or to get help.
  • Limited control over how the site looks.
  • Service catalog and pricing are complex
  • Best fit often assumes Microsoft expertise
  • Governance needs careful setup

Partner programme

Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program

Official partner ecosystem; not an earning link used by this site.

partner · checked 2026-09-17 · confidence: high · official details

Startup programme

Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub

Eligible startups can apply for Azure credits, development tools and support; benefit levels vary.

checked 2026-09-17 · confidence: high · official details

Questions about Microsoft Azure

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