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Microsoft Azure Review

Azure



Microsoft Azure was founded in 2008.
It is headquartered in the USA.
It offers VPS, Database, Storage and Networking hosting products.

It has datacenters in:
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • Norway
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Switzerland
  • UAE
  • UK
  • USA

Features and Usability

Features not included in the VPS price are marked as missing below.

Last updated on August 26 2019.

Feature Value Comment
Hourly Billing  Yes
DDOS Protection  No
Backups  No
Control Panel  Custom
SSH Keys Setup  Yes
Total Number of Datacenters  40
Number of Datacenter Continents  4
Monitoring Charts  Yes
Admin REST API  No
Upgrade VPS from admin console  No
Mobile Friendly UI  No
Reverse DNS  Yes
Accepted Forms of Payment  Credit cards
Hidden CPU Model  No
Affiliate Program  No
Firewall  Yes

In VPSBenchmark's opinion

Feature Value Comment
UI Friendliness 

The admin console of all 3 major providers are complicated due to the large number of features. Azure's is particularly disorienting.
Quality of Service 

Resources attached to a VM remain and are still billed after the VM is deleted.
Compare Features

Microsoft Azure Extra Services

In addition to features included in the VPS plan, Microsoft Azure also offers the following services (possibly for a fee):

Backups   Block storage   Object storage   Load balancer   Floating IP addresses  
Teams   Managed databases   Serverless   DDoS protection   Kubernetes  
GPU instances  

VPS Instance Provisioning Time

For each Microsoft Azure VPS trial, we measured how long it took to provision the server.

See also VPS provisioning times for all providers.

Average Provisioning Time Min Provisioning Time Max Provisioning Time Number of VPS Samples
125s 90s 180s 6

Cloud Storage Prices

For a comparison of storage features and prices from all providers, please check the Cloud Storage page.

Storage Type Price / GB / month Restriction Description
Block $0.156 Prices decrease with disk size. LRS. Called "Managed disks".
Throughput increases with disk size: 25MB/second for 32GB disk.
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/managed-disks/
Object $0.060 Standard Data Storage, LRS, General Purpose v2 Called "Azure Files".
LRS - Locally Redundant Storage.
Zone and Region redundant storage are also available for higher prices.
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/storage/files/
Object $0.021 First 50TB, Hot, General purpose v2, LRS Called "Azure Storage Blobs".
Also available as Cool or Archve storage at lower prices.
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/storage/blobs/

Compare all Microsoft Azure plans in the Screener

The Screener shows all Microsoft Azure plans side by side with their grades in 5 categories.

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Microsoft Azure Plans


Plan Specifications

URL https://azure.microsoft.com/en-au/pricing/details/virtual-machines/linux/
Price per month $15.11
Warning: storage costs are not included in this price.
Warning: network bandwidth costs are not included in this price.
Discount or Surcharge for
long or short term use		 Discount
Discounted monthly price: $9.83
Minimum continuous use for discount: 365 days
Disk GB 4
Num Cores 1
Memory GB 2.0
Hourly Billing Yes
Virtualization Hyper-V
Data Transfer GB 1000
Burstable CPU
Per core CPU allocation: 20%
Dedicated No

Plan Grades

Screen Microsoft Azure VPS Plans

Grades are calculated by combining results from web, sysbench, endurance and remote timing tests. Grade A is best, grade F is worst.

Follow the letter links to find the test results backing the grade.

More details about grades calculation

Overall Score: 36

Web Performance Raw CPU Power Performance Stability Disk IO Performance Network Performance
C F D E D
Show Price Weighted Grades   

Performance Test Results

We conducted 5 different types of tests during the latest trial for Microsoft Azure - B1MS. Review the results and compare this plan to its competitors.

Web Test Remote Timing Test Network Transfers Sysbench Test Endurance Test
Review Review Review Review Review
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

Performance trials run on the B1MS plan

This plan was tested 2 times at vpsbenchmarks.com. The table below shows all trials run on the B1MS plan and the web response times for every one of those.

Start of Trial CPU Overall Grade
Oct 11 2018 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2673 v4 @ 2.30GHz D
Mar 10 2018 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2673 v3 @ 2.40GHz D

Plan Specifications

URL https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/introducing-b-series-our-new-burstable-vm-size/
Price per month $30.37
Warning: storage costs are not included in this price.
Warning: network bandwidth costs are not included in this price.
Discount or Surcharge for
long or short term use		 Discount
Discounted monthly price: $17.75
Minimum continuous use for discount: 365 days
Disk GB 8
Num Cores 2
Memory GB 4.0
Hourly Billing Yes
Virtualization Hyper-V
Data Transfer GB 100
Burstable CPU
Per core CPU allocation: 40%
Dedicated No

Plan Grades

Screen Microsoft Azure VPS Plans

Grades are calculated by combining results from web, sysbench, endurance and remote timing tests. Grade A is best, grade F is worst.

Follow the letter links to find the test results backing the grade.

More details about grades calculation

Overall Score: 51

Web Performance Raw CPU Power Performance Stability Disk IO Performance Network Performance
B C D F A
Show Price Weighted Grades   

Performance Test Results

We conducted 6 different types of tests during the latest trial for Microsoft Azure - B2s. Review the results and compare this plan to its competitors.

Web Runs Web Test Network Transfers Remote Timing Test Sysbench Test Endurance Test
Review Review Review Review Review Review
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

Performance trials run on the B2s plan

This plan was tested 2 times at vpsbenchmarks.com. The table below shows all trials run on the B2s plan and the web response times for every one of those.

Start of Trial CPU Overall Grade
Nov 25 2019 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2673 v4 @ 2.30GHz C
Aug 06 2018 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2673 v4 @ 2.30GHz C

Plan Specifications

URL https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-machines/linux/#a-series
Price per month $31.39
Warning: storage costs are not included in this price.
Warning: network bandwidth costs are not included in this price.
Discount or Surcharge for
long or short term use		 No
Disk GB 10
Num Cores 1
Memory GB 2.0
Hourly Billing Yes
Virtualization Hyper-V
Data Transfer GB 200
Burstable CPU No
Dedicated No

Plan Grades

Screen Microsoft Azure VPS Plans

Grades are calculated by combining results from web, sysbench, endurance and remote timing tests. Grade A is best, grade F is worst.

Follow the letter links to find the test results backing the grade.

More details about grades calculation

Overall Score: 20

Web Performance Raw CPU Power Performance Stability Disk IO Performance Network Performance
F F D F D
Show Price Weighted Grades   

Performance Test Results

We conducted 5 different types of tests during the latest trial for Microsoft Azure - A1 v2. Review the results and compare this plan to its competitors.

Web Test Remote Timing Test Network Transfers Sysbench Test Endurance Test
Review Review Review Review Review
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

Performance trials run on the A1 v2 plan

This plan was tested 1 times at vpsbenchmarks.com. The table below shows all trials run on the A1 v2 plan and the web response times for every one of those.

Start of Trial CPU Overall Grade
Dec 27 2018 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2673 v3 @ 2.40GHz E

Plan Specifications

URL https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-machines/linux/#dasv4-series
Price per month $31.39
Warning: network bandwidth costs are not included in this price.
Discount or Surcharge for
long or short term use		 No
Disk GB 16
Num Cores 2
Memory GB 8.0
Hourly Billing Yes
Virtualization Hyper-V
Data Transfer GB 0
Burstable CPU No
Dedicated No

Plan Specifications

URL https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-machines/linux/
Price per month $36.00
Warning: network bandwidth costs are not included in this price.
Discount or Surcharge for
long or short term use		 Discount
Discounted monthly price: $22.30
Minimum continuous use for discount: 365 days
Disk GB 16
Num Cores 1
Memory GB 2.0
Hourly Billing Yes
Virtualization Hyper-V
Data Transfer GB 1000
Burstable CPU No
Dedicated No

Plan Grades

Screen Microsoft Azure VPS Plans

Grades are calculated by combining results from web, sysbench, endurance and remote timing tests. Grade A is best, grade F is worst.

Follow the letter links to find the test results backing the grade.

More details about grades calculation

Overall Score: 45

Web Performance Raw CPU Power Performance Stability Disk IO Performance Network Performance
C E D E B
Show Price Weighted Grades   

Performance Test Results

We conducted 5 different types of tests during the latest trial for Microsoft Azure - F1. Review the results and compare this plan to its competitors.

Web Test Remote Timing Test Network Transfers Sysbench Test Endurance Test
Review Review Review Review Review
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

Performance trials run on the F1 plan

This plan was tested 1 times at vpsbenchmarks.com. The table below shows all trials run on the F1 plan and the web response times for every one of those.

Start of Trial CPU Overall Grade
Mar 19 2019 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2673 v3 @ 2.40GHz D

Plan Specifications

URL https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-machines/linux/
Price per month $36.50
Warning: storage costs are not included in this price.
Warning: network bandwidth costs are not included in this price.
Discount or Surcharge for
long or short term use		 Discount
Discounted monthly price: $22.58
Minimum continuous use for discount: 365 days
Disk GB 16
Num Cores 1
Memory GB 2.0
Hourly Billing Yes
Virtualization Hyper-V
Data Transfer GB 1000
Burstable CPU No
Dedicated No

Plan Grades

Screen Microsoft Azure VPS Plans

Grades are calculated by combining results from web, sysbench, endurance and remote timing tests. Grade A is best, grade F is worst.

Follow the letter links to find the test results backing the grade.

More details about grades calculation

Overall Score: 46

Web Performance Raw CPU Power Performance Stability Disk IO Performance Network Performance
B E D D B
Show Price Weighted Grades   

Performance Test Results

We conducted 5 different types of tests during the latest trial for Microsoft Azure - F1s. Review the results and compare this plan to its competitors.

Web Test Remote Timing Test Network Transfers Sysbench Test Endurance Test
Review Review Review Review Review
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

Performance trials run on the F1s plan

This plan was tested 1 times at vpsbenchmarks.com. The table below shows all trials run on the F1s plan and the web response times for every one of those.

Start of Trial CPU Overall Grade
May 14 2018 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2673 v4 @ 2.30GHz D

Plan Specifications

URL https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-machines/linux/
Price per month $60.73
Discount or Surcharge for
long or short term use		 No
Disk GB 16
Num Cores 2
Memory GB 8.0
Hourly Billing Yes
Virtualization Hyper-V
Data Transfer GB 0
Burstable CPU
Per core CPU allocation: 30%
Dedicated No

Plan Grades

Screen Microsoft Azure VPS Plans

Grades are calculated by combining results from web, sysbench, endurance and remote timing tests. Grade A is best, grade F is worst.

Follow the letter links to find the test results backing the grade.

More details about grades calculation

Overall Score: 62

Web Performance Raw CPU Power Performance Stability Disk IO Performance Network Performance
A C C D C
Show Price Weighted Grades   

Performance Test Results

We conducted 5 different types of tests during the latest trial for Microsoft Azure - B2MS. Review the results and compare this plan to its competitors.

Web Test Network Transfers Remote Timing Test Sysbench Test Endurance Test
Review Review Review Review Review
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

Performance trials run on the B2MS plan

This plan was tested 1 times at vpsbenchmarks.com. The table below shows all trials run on the B2MS plan and the web response times for every one of those.

Start of Trial CPU Overall Grade
Sep 16 2019 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2673 v4 @ 2.30GHz C

This VPS came with 28GB local disk + 16GB mounted.

Plan Specifications

URL https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-machines/linux/
Price per month $61.00
Warning: network bandwidth costs are not included in this price.
Discount or Surcharge for
long or short term use		 Discount
Discounted monthly price: $36.00
Minimum continuous use for discount: 365 days
Disk GB 16
Num Cores 2
Memory GB 4.0
Hourly Billing Yes
Virtualization Hyper-V
Data Transfer GB 0
Burstable CPU No
Dedicated No

Plan Grades

Screen Microsoft Azure VPS Plans

Grades are calculated by combining results from web, sysbench, endurance and remote timing tests. Grade A is best, grade F is worst.

Follow the letter links to find the test results backing the grade.

More details about grades calculation

Overall Score: 63

Web Performance Raw CPU Power Performance Stability Disk IO Performance Network Performance
B B C D C
Show Price Weighted Grades   

Performance Test Results

We conducted 5 different types of tests during the latest trial for Microsoft Azure - F2s v2. Review the results and compare this plan to its competitors.

Web Test Remote Timing Test Network Transfers Sysbench Test Endurance Test
Review Review Review Review Review
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

Performance trials run on the F2s v2 plan

This plan was tested 1 times at vpsbenchmarks.com. The table below shows all trials run on the F2s v2 plan and the web response times for every one of those.

Start of Trial CPU Overall Grade
Jul 14 2019 Intel(R) Xeon(R) Platinum 8168 CPU @ 2.70GHz C

Plan Specifications

URL https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-machines/linux/
Price per month $69.12
Warning: network bandwidth costs are not included in this price.
Discount or Surcharge for
long or short term use		 Discount
Discounted monthly price: $41.74
Minimum continuous use for discount: 365 days
Disk GB 50
Num Cores 2
Memory GB 8.0
Hourly Billing Yes
Virtualization Hyper-V
Data Transfer GB 0
Burstable CPU No
Dedicated No

Plan Grades

Screen Microsoft Azure VPS Plans

Grades are calculated by combining results from web, sysbench, endurance and remote timing tests. Grade A is best, grade F is worst.

Follow the letter links to find the test results backing the grade.

More details about grades calculation

Overall Score: 52

Web Performance Raw CPU Power Performance Stability Disk IO Performance Network Performance
B D B E C
Show Price Weighted Grades   

Performance Test Results

We conducted 5 different types of tests during the latest trial for Microsoft Azure - D2 v3. Review the results and compare this plan to its competitors.

Web Test Remote Timing Test Network Transfers Sysbench Test Endurance Test
Review Review Review Review Review
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare

Performance trials run on the D2 v3 plan

This plan was tested 1 times at vpsbenchmarks.com. The table below shows all trials run on the D2 v3 plan and the web response times for every one of those.

Start of Trial CPU Overall Grade
May 16 2019 Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2673 v3 @ 2.40GHz C

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