Pay as you go with Azure—plus get free services
Create an Azure account and purchase cloud services at pay-as-you-go pricing.
- Get monthly amounts of select services free.
- Pay only for what you use beyond free amounts.
- No upfront commitment. Cancel anytime.
How Azure pay-as-you-go pricing works
Create an Azure account with no upfront commitment.
Activate services and pay only for what you use beyond free amounts.
Scale or stop using services at any time with no termination fees.
Take advantage of free products
These products are free up to the specified monthly amounts. Some are always free to all Azure customers, and some are free for 12 months to new customers only.
12 Months
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Azure Virtual Machines—Windows
750 hours each of B1s, B2pts v2 (Arm-based), and B2ats v2 (AMD-based) burstable VMs
12 Months
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Azure Virtual Machines—Linux
750 hours each of B1s, B2pts v2 (Arm-based), and B2ats v2 (AMD-based) burstable VMs
Always
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Azure SQL Database
100,000 vCore seconds of SQL database serverless usage per month with 32 GB of storage
12 Months
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Azure Blob Storage
5 GB locally redundant storage (LRS) hot block with 20,000 read and 10,000 write operations
Take advantage of free products
These products are free up to the specified monthly amounts. Some are always free to all Azure customers, and some are free for 12 months to new customers only.
| Azure service | Description | Type | Free monthly amount | Free period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Advisor | Get personalized recommendations and best practices for Azure. | Management and governance | Unlimited | Always |
 | API Management | Manage APIs across all platforms with a hybrid, multicloud platform. | Integration | 1 million monthly calls free with Consumption tier | Always |
 | App Configuration | Store and manage configurations for all your Azure apps. | Developer tools | 1,000 requests per day with 10 MB storage | Always |
 | App Service | Quickly create powerful apps for any platform or device using your choice of tools including Node.js and PHP. | Compute | 10 web, mobile, or API apps with 1 GB storage 1 hour per day | Always |
 | Archive Storage | Store and manage rarely accessed data with locally redundant storage (LRS) or geo-redundant storage (GRS). | Storage | 10 GB LRS storage, 10 GB LRS or GRS write and retrieval, and 100 reads | 12 months |
 | Automation | Simplify cloud management with process automation. | Management and governance | 500 minutes of job runtime | Always |
 | Azure AI Anomaly Detector | Detect anomalies in data to quickly identify and troubleshoot issues. | AI + machine learning | 20,000 transactions S0 tier | 12 months |
 | Azure AI Bot Service | Develop intelligent, enterprise-grade bots that scale on demand. | AI + machine learning | 10,000 premium channel messages and unlimited standard channel messages | Always |
 | Azure AI Content Safety | Moderate text and images to provide a safer, more positive user experience. | AI + machine learning | 10,000 transactions S0 tier to moderate or review | 12 months |
 | Azure AI Customer Vision | Easily customize computer vision models for your unique use case. | AI + machine learning | 10,000 predictions S0 tier, one training hour, two projects with 5,000 training images each | 12 months |
 | Azure AI Document Intelligence | Automate the extraction of text, key/value pairs, and tables from your documents. | AI + machine learning | 500 pages S0 tier | 12 months |
 | Azure AI Immersive Reader | Embed text reading and comprehension capabilities into applications. | AI + machine learning | 3 million characters | Always |
 | Azure AI Language | Extract information such as sentiment, key phrases, named entities, and language from your text. | AI + machine learning | 5,000 text records | Always |
 | Azure AI Metrics Advisor | Embed AI-powered monitoring features to proactively diagnose issues. | AI + machine learning | 25 time series | Always |
 | Azure AI Personalizer | Deliver rich, personalized experiences for every user. | AI + machine learning | 50,000 transactions S0 tier | 12 months |
 | Azure AI Translator | Add real-time, multi-language text translation to your apps, websites, and tools. | AI + machine learning | 2 million characters S0 tier | 12 months |
 | Azure Arc | Extend Azure management and services. | Hybrid + multicloud | Free Azure control plane functionality for resources outside Azure, search and indexing for Azure Arc-enabled resources | Always |
| | Azure Attestation | Verify the identity and security posture of trusted platform modules and trusted execution environments. | Security | Free | Always |
 | Azure Cosmos DB | Build modern apps at any scale using a fast NoSQL database with open APIs. | Databases | 400 request units per-second provisioned throughput with 25 GB storage | 12 months |
| | Azure Cosmos DB | Build modern apps at any scale using a fast NoSQL database with open APIs. | Databases | 1,000 request units per-second provisioned throughput with 25 GB storage | Always |
 | Azure Database for MySQL | Host a fully managed, scalable MySQL database in Azure. | Databases | 750 hours of Flexible Server—Burstable B1MS Instance, 32 GB storage, and 32 GB backup storage | 12 months |
 | Azure Database for PostgreSQL | Build intelligent, scalable apps with fully managed database for PostgreSQL. | Databases | 750 hours of Flexible Server—Burstable B1MS Instance, 32 GB storage, and 32 GB backup storage | 12 months |
 | Azure DevOps | Build apps in any language using Git repos, CI/CD, and build and release automation. | Developer tools | 5 users with unlimited private Git repos | Always |
 | Azure Files | Migrate to simple, distributed, cross-platform file storage without changing code. | Storage | 100 GB of LRS transaction optimized, hot, and cool files. 2 million read, list, and other file operations | 12 months |
 | Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) | Deploy and manage containers using the tools you choose. | Compute | AKS cluster management is free; you’ll incur a charge for resources consumed by nodes | Always |
| | Azure Lighthouse | Manage service providers with Zero Trust access controls. | Management and governance | Free | Always |
| | Azure Managed Applications, Service catalog | Make it easier to acquire services with a catalog of approved cloud offerings. | Management and governance | Free publishing | Always |
 | Azure Maps | Create location-aware web and mobile applications using geospatial services, APIs, and SDKs. | Internet of Things | 1,000 to 5,000 transactions for specific mapping and location insights features | Always |
 | Azure Migrate | Discover, assess, right-size, and migrate your on-premises virtual machines to Azure. | Migration | Free | Always |
 | Azure Policy | Achieve real-time cloud compliance at scale with consistent resource governance. | Management and governance | Free access to configuration and change tracking features | Always |
| | Azure Resource Mover | Simplify how you move multiple resources between Azure regions. | Management and governance | Free (ingress and egress charges may apply) | Always |
 | Azure SignalR Service | Add real-time communications into your web applications. | Web | 20 concurrent connections per unit and 20,000 messages | Always |
 | Azure SQL Managed Instance | Modernize existing apps with a fully managed SQL instance on Azure. | Database | 750 vCore hours per month with 32 GB of storage | 12 months |
 | Bandwidth (Data Transfer) | Transfer data inbound and outbound through our robust network of global data centers. | Networking | 15 GB outbound | 12 months |
| | Bandwidth (Data Transfer) | Transfer data inbound and outbound through our robust network of global data centers. | Networking | 100 GB outbound | Always |
 | Batch | Scale your application in the cloud with job orchestration and scheduling for HPC applications. | Compute | Free | Always |
 | Blob Storage | Use massively scalable object storage for any type of unstructured data. | Storage | 5 GB locally redundant storage (LRS) hot block with 20,000 read and 10,000 write operations | 12 months |
 | Cloud Shell | Manage Azure resources in a browser-based shell using popular command-line tools and programming languages. | Management and governance | 5 GB free storage in Azure Files for 12 months | Always |
 | Cognitive Search | Include a cloud search service in your web and mobile application. | AI + machine learning | 50 MB storage for 10,000 hosted documents and 3 indexes per service | Always |
 | Computer Vision | Extract rich information from images to categorize and process visual data. | 5,000 transactions for each S1, S2, and S3 tier | 12 months | |
 | Container Apps | Build and deploy modern apps and microservices using serverless containers. | Containers | 180,000 vCPU seconds, 360,000 GiB seconds, and 2 million requests | Always |
 | Container Registry | Store and manage container images across all types of Azure deployments. | Containers | 1 Standard tier registry with 100 GB storage and 10 webhooks | 12 months |
 | Cost Management | Monitor, allocate, and optimize cloud costs with transparency, accuracy, and efficiency. | Management and governance | Free | Always |
 | Data Catalog | Get more value from your enterprise data assets. | Analytics | Unlimited users | Always |
 | Data Factory | Compose and manage data services at scale. | Analytics | 5 low-frequency activities | Always |
 | Database Migration Service | Simplify on-premises database migration to the cloud. | Databases | Free Standard Compute | Always |
 | DevTest Labs | Enable fast, easy, and lean dev-test environments. | Developer tools | Free | Always |
 | Event Grid | Get reliable event delivery at massive scale. | Integration | 100,000 operations per month | Always |
 | Face | Detect, identify, analyze, organize, and tag faces in images. | 30,000 transactions S0 tier | 12 months | |
| | Face | Detect, identify, analyze, organize, and tag faces in images. | 30,000 transactions of Free instance | Always | |
 | Functions | Process events with a serverless code architecture. | Compute | 1 million requests | Always |
| | Health Bot | Build and deploy AI-powered, compliant, conversational healthcare experiences at scale. | AI + machine learning | 3,000 messages (up to 10 messages per second) | Always |
| | Health Data Services | Unify and manage health data and protected health information (PHI) in the cloud. | Integration | 1 GB structured and blob storage, 50,000 API requests, .5 GB transformation operations, 100,000 events | Always |
 | IoT Edge | Extend cloud intelligence and analytics to IoT edge devices. | Internet of Things | Free, open-source edge runtime | Always |
 | IoT Hub | Connect, monitor, and manage IoT assets with a scalable platform. | Internet of Things | 8,000 messages per day and .5 KB message meter size of Free edition | Always |
 | Key Vault | Safeguard and maintain control of keys and other secrets. | Security | 10,000 transactions RSA 2048-bit keys or secret operations, Standard tier | 12 months |
 | Language Understanding (LUIS) | Build natural language understanding into apps, bots, and IoT devices. | AI + machine learning | 10,000 text request transactions S0 tier | 12 months |
 | Load Balancer | Instantly add scale, availability, and network performance to your applications. | Networking | 750 hours, 15 GB of data processing, and up to five rules with Standard Load Balancer | 12 months |
 | Logic Apps | Build automated integration solutions across clouds and on-premises systems. | Integration | 4,000 built-in actions with the Consumption plan | Always |
 | Machine Learning | Develop and run R and Python models on your platform of choice. | AI + machine learning | Free | Always |
 | Managed Disks | Get high performance, durable block storage for Azure Virtual Machines with simplified management. | Storage | 2 64 GB (P6) solid state drives SSD storage, plus 1 GB snapshot and 2 million I/O operations | 12 months |
 | Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) | Enable identity and access management in the cloud. | Identity | 50,000 stored objects with single sign-on (SSO) to all cloud apps | Always |
 | Monitor | Gain full observability into your applications, infrastructure, and network. | Management and governance | See Azure Monitor pricing details for free amounts per feature | Always |
 | Network Watcher | Monitor, diagnose, and gain insights into your network performance and health. | Networking | 5 GB storage with 1,000 checks, 10 tests, and 10 connection metrics | Always |
 | Notification Hubs | Send push notifications to any platform from any back end. | Mobile | 1 million push notifications with free namespace | Always |
 | Open Datasets | Accelerate machine learning with curated datasets. | AI + machine learning | Free (egress charges may apply) | Always |
 | Private Link | Privately access services on Azure, keeping your data on the Microsoft network. | Networking | Free | Always |
 | Resource Manager | Simplify how you manage your app resources. | Management and governance | Free | Always |
 | Security Center | Prevent, detect, and respond to threats with increased visibility and control over the security of your Azure resources. | Security | Free policy assessment and recommendations | Always |
 | Service Bus | Get reliable cloud messaging as a service with simple hybrid integration. | Integration | 750 hours and 13 million operations Standard tier base unit | 12 months |
 | Service Fabric | Build and operate always-on, scalable, distributed apps. | Containers | Free | Always |
 | Spatial Anchors | Build mixed reality apps that map, share, and persist 3D content. | Mixed reality | 10,000 anchors queried | Always |
 | Speaker Recognition | Accurately verify and identify speakers by their unique voice characteristics. | AI + machine learning | 10,000 transactions each of speaker verification, speaker identification, and voice storage | Always |
 | Speech to Text | Transcribe spoken audio to text. | AI + machine learning | 5 audio hours each of Standard, Custom, and Conversation Transcription Multichannel Audio, 1 Custom endpoint hosting model | Always |
 | Speech Translation | Integrate real-time speech translation into your app. | AI + machine learning | 5 audio hours Standard | Always |
 | SQL Database | Create a SQL database that delivers intelligence built-in. | Databases | 100,000 vCore seconds of SQL database serverless usage per month with 32 GB of storage | Always |
 | SQL Server 2019 Developer Edition | Build, test, and demonstrate applications in a nonproduction environment. | Developer tools | Free | Always |
 | Static Web Apps | Streamline full-stack development from source code to global high availability. | Compute | 100 GB bandwidth per subscription, 2 custom domains and .5 GB storage per app | Always |
| | Text to Speech | Build apps that convert text to lifelike speech. | AI + machine learning | 5 million characters Standard, 500,000 characters Neural, and hosting model | Always |
 | Virtual Machines—Linux | Create Linux virtual machines (VMs) in seconds to meet your workload and budget needs. | Compute | 750 hours each of B1s, B2pts v2 (Arm-based), and B2ats v2 (AMD-based) burstable VMs | 12 months |
| | Virtual Machines—Windows | Create Windows VMs in seconds to meet your workload and budget needs. | Compute | 750 hours each of B1s, B2pts v2 (Arm-based), and B2ats v2 (AMD-based) burstable VMs | 12 months |
 | Virtual Network | Provision private networks and connect to on-premises datacenters. | Networking | 50 virtual networks | Always |
 | Visual Studio Code | Boost productivity with a powerful, lightweight code editor for cloud development. | Developer tools | Free | Always |
 | VPN Gateway | Establish secure, cross-premises connectivity. | Networking | 750 hours VpnGw1 Gateway Type | 12 months |
 | Web PubSub | Build real-time, two-way communication into your web and mobile apps. | Web | 20,000 messages per unit per day and 20 concurrent connections per unit (1 unit max) | Always |
Take advantage of transparent and competitive pricing
See how Azure adds up against AWS for comparable services.
Price-match to AWS on comparable services
| AZURE SERVICE | PRICE MATCH | STARTING PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| Linux virtual machines | AWS EC2* | From $0.004 per hour |
| Functions | AWS Lambda* | From $0.20 per million executions |
| Block Blob storage (ZRS HOT) | Amazon S3 Standard* | From $0.023 per GB per month |
| Block Blob storage (ZRS COOL) | Amazon S3 Standard-Infrequent Access* | From $0.013 per GB per month |
*Price match available to the publicly available prices as of November 21, 2018, of eligible newest-generation products in the same comparable geographic region only. Pricing adjustments in response to price drops by AWS can take up to 90 days to process.
Ways to save with Azure
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Take full advantage of your free service amounts every month.
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Save up to 72 percent over pay-as-you-go pricing when you purchase one-year or three-year reservations in advance.
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Bring your existing on-premises Windows Server and SQL Server licenses to Azure and save up to 85 percent over pay as you go with the Azure Hybrid Benefit.
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Get discounted dev/test pricing.
Ready when you are—let's set up your Azure account
1 Calculations based on scenarios running 744 hours/month for 12 months at 3-year Reserved Instances. Prices as of October 24, 2018, subject to change. Savings calculations based on two D2V3 Azure VMs in US West 2 region, reduced compute rate at SUSE Linux Enterprise Basic rate with Azure Hybrid Benefit. AWS calculations based on two m5.Large VMs in US West (Oregon) using Windows Server pay-as-you-go rate for Reserved Instances under Standard 3-year term, all upfront payment. Actual savings may vary based on region, instance size, and performance tier. Savings exclude Software Assurance costs, which may vary based on Volume Licensing agreement.
2 Calculations based on scenarios running 744 hours/month for 12 months at 3-year Reserved Capacity. Prices as of October 24, 2018, subject to change. Savings based on eight vCore Azure SQL Database Managed Instance Business Critical in US West 2 running at Azure Hybrid Benefit rate. AWS calculations based on RDS for SQL EE for db.r4.2xlarge on US West (Oregon) in a multi AZ deployment for Reserved Instances under Standard 3-year term, all upfront payment. Actual regional pricing and program discounts may apply. Actual savings may vary based on region, instance size, and performance tier. Savings exclude Software Assurance costs, which may vary based on Volume Licensing agreement.
3 Calculations based on scenarios running 744 hours/month for 12 months at 3-year Reserved Instances. Prices as of June 15, 2018, subject to change. Savings based on 8-Core D13 v2 Azure VM in East US 2 region at CentOS/Ubuntu Linux with Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server and Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server. AWS calculations based on r3.2xlarge in US East (N. Virginia) at Windows rate with SQL Server License Mobility. Actual savings may vary based on region, instance size, and performance tier. Savings exclude Software Assurance costs, which may vary based on Volume Licensing agreement.