AWS suits businesses that want the widest choice of cloud services and regions, with 39 regions and 124 availability zones, and a free plan built on credits that lasts up to 6 months. Azure suits businesses already on Microsoft 365, Windows Server or other Microsoft tools, with 65+ services that stay free as long as you have an account and more free services for your first 12 months. If you're starting from scratch, AWS gives more room; if you're a Microsoft shop, Azure fits in more easily.
Both clouds can run almost anything, so the useful differences sit in the free offers, the regions and how each fits your existing tools. I read Amazon's Free Tier and global infrastructure pages and Microsoft's free services and geographies pages.
AWS and Azure side by side
| AWS | Azure | |
|---|---|---|
| Free offer | Credits on a Free plan for up to 6 months | 12 months of free services for new customers |
| Always free | Not described on the Free Tier page I read | 65+ always-free services |
| When it ends | Account closes at 6 months or when credits run out | Always-free amounts continue while you have an account |
| Regions | 39 regions, 124 availability zones | Geographies with one or more regions |
| Resilience design | Three availability zones per region | Geographies built for data residency |
| Expansion | 7 more zones and 2 regions announced | New regions listed on its geographies page |
| Best fit | Broad choice of services | Microsoft-based businesses |
How the AWS free plan ends, and why it matters
Amazon's Free Tier page has a rule many guides still miss. New accounts on the Free plan get credits, and the account closes on its own 6 months after you open it or when your credits run out, whichever comes first. You're not charged unless you convert to a Paid plan, so it's a safe sandbox, but it's not a free home for a live website.
Azure works differently. Microsoft says some services are free for your first 12 months, while 65+ services keep giving free monthly amounts for as long as you have an Azure account.
Where AWS leads
AWS leads on reach. Amazon says its cloud spans 124 availability zones within 39 regions, with three zones in each region and seven more zones and two more regions announced for Saudi Arabia and Chile. If you need servers close to customers in many countries, or the widest menu of managed services, AWS is the default shortlist.
Where Azure leads
Azure's strength is fit with Microsoft. Each Azure geography is built to meet data residency and compliance requirements, which helps if you must keep data in one country. If your team already signs in with Microsoft accounts and runs Windows workloads, Azure keeps identity, billing and support in one place.
If you plan to expose APIs, API management platforms will help.
Before you pick a cloud provider
- List the countries where your data must stay.
- Check which Microsoft or Amazon tools you already use.
- Decide if you need a sandbox or a long-term free tier.
- Ask a developer which services your app depends on.
- Set spending alerts on day one, whichever you choose.
If you're building with AI on either cloud, my explainers on AWS Bedrock and Azure OpenAI cover each provider's AI service.
Free plan or pay as you go
Amazon frames its offer as two plans: a Free plan to get started and a Paid plan to scale, and you won't move from one to the other unless you choose to. Microsoft's page asks you to choose between trying Azure free or paying as you go from the start, and it splits its free services into the 12-month and always-free groups.
Whichever cloud you choose, the data platform is a separate decision, weighed up in my Databricks and Snowflake comparison.
My advice on AWS or Azure
If your business already runs on Microsoft 365 and Windows, start with Azure and use its always-free services to test. If you're building something new and want the broadest range of services and regions, start with AWS, and treat its free plan as a six-month sandbox rather than free hosting for a live site.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Do you make cloud or hosting tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS or Azure better for a small business?
It depends on your tools. Azure fits businesses already using Microsoft products; AWS offers the wider range of services and regions.
How long is the AWS free plan?
Amazon says a Free plan account closes 6 months after you open it or when your credits run out, whichever comes first.
Does Azure have services that stay free?
Yes. Microsoft lists 65+ always-free services, plus more services free for your first 12 months.
How many regions does AWS have?
Amazon says its cloud spans 124 availability zones within 39 geographic regions.
Will AWS charge me after the free plan?
Amazon says you won't be charged unless you convert to a Paid plan.
Can I use both AWS and Azure?
Yes. Many businesses use both, for example Azure for Microsoft workloads and AWS for other services.
Can I keep my data in one country on Azure?
Microsoft says each Azure geography meets specific data residency and compliance requirements, so you can keep data nearby.
