Microsoft Azure Reviews

Name: Microsoft Azure
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 4.2 (316 reviews)

Vendor: Microsoft

4.2 out of 5

316 reviews
96% willing to recommend

5,175 followers

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What is Microsoft Azure?

Windows Azure is Microsoft's cloud platform, where developers can create, deploy, and maintain their apps. This cloud application platform allows developers to concentrate on the actual applications, while it takes care of all the elements behind the apps.

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Microsoft Azure is the #1 ranked solution in top Infrastructure as a Service Clouds and PaaS Services. PeerSpot users give Microsoft Azure an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Microsoft Azure is most commonly compared to Amazon AWS: Microsoft Azure vs Amazon AWS. Microsoft Azure is popular among the midsize enterprise segment, accounting for 44% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 40% of all views.

Helped 854,338 peers since 2012

Featured Microsoft Azure reviews

Nicolas Chabrier

Cloud Strategy B2B leader at Sunrise UPC

Microsoft Azure promotes clear, logical structures preventing impractical configurations. So, compared to the older platform I know, the advantage of Microsoft Azure is it's very coherent. You can't really build something totally stupid. With other platforms, it's possible to build something technically possible but practically very stupid. So, it's very coherent on the Microsoft platform, and it's also consistent with what Microsoft has done on-premise. If we have a customer with a strong Microsoft footprint, it's pretty obvious that we should move to Microsoft Azure. On the opposite side, if we have a customer that's super Linux-oriented, they have a lot of Linux services and stuff like that for those types of customers. It's easier, maybe, to move to AWS. Another area of improvement is Microsoft Sentinel. It is great for large companies but less so for smaller ones. An improvement could be a version that is more adapted for small companies.

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SubodhThakar

Program Manager at eClerx

Cosmos DB offered better scalability. In Azure SQL, we had to carefully manage the storage tier, switching back and forth based on needs. But when we first implemented Cosmos DB, we had a good understanding of the required data volume over the past three months. This helped us select the appropriate tier because we had those figures. If we had done it the other way around, it would have been much harder to estimate the data accurately. While you can get a rough idea, whether it works out in practice is more of a hit-and-miss approach, which we have already experienced with Cosmos DB. We applied the knowledge gained from that exercise to build a similar solution over Azure SQL. On the DevOps side, our team consisted of five members, ranging from senior to junior roles. We would raise requests for specific services needed in the development environment. The process typically takes three to five business days, including all necessary approvals, from submitting the request to receiving the resources and verifying access.

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Arunprasad Kumar

Lead Cloud Specialist at EZ-Link Pte Ltd

The initial deployment is easy now, after five years of using it. It might have been a nightmare a few years ago, but it's very good now. We primarily deploy using PaaS (Platform as a Service) solutions. We avoid managing virtual machines whenever possible. Approximately 90% of our mission-critical application workloads are microservices run in Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). We use virtual machines for the remaining 10%. We also use Azure SQL Database. We deploy resources using Azure DevOps pipelines. Azure's documentation assists with our deployments. I like the recommendation feature, although we sometimes need to create exceptions, as is typical with any baseline. But overall, it's helpful. Not just the recommendations, but the entire added value is a great feature and provides valuable insights. The architectural framework pillars are also very useful to use as a whole, not just the individual recommendations.

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Microsoft Azure mindshare

Product category:

As of June 2025, the mindshare of Microsoft Azure in the Infrastructure as a Service Clouds (IaaS) category stands at 17.9%, down from 18.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Infrastructure as a Service Clouds (IaaS)

PeerResearch reports based on Microsoft Azure reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Infrastructure as a Service Clouds (IaaS)	Jun 3, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jun 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Azure vs Amazon AWS	Jun 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Azure vs Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)	Jun 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Azure vs Google Firebase	Jun 3, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Amazon AWS	4.2	12.7%	93%	255 interviews Add to research
Red Hat OpenShift	4.2	N/A	95%	62 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Microsoft Azure provides reliable cloud computing features including worldwide data center availability, fast deployment, multilingual support, and secure integration with Microsoft and non-Microsoft services. Users appreciate its scalability, diverse services such as Virtual Machines and Azure Active Directory. Its strong support for hybrid environments enhances DevOps practices, micro-service architectures, and IT siloes breakdown. PaaS capabilities and affordable pay-as-you-go model ensure valuable operational efficiency, user-friendly interface, frequent updates, and robust community support. Organizations enjoy seamless deployment and migrations.

"My final overall rating for Microsoft Azure is excellent, giving it a perfect score."
"I would definitely recommend Microsoft Azure as a platform to other businesses because of its cost effectiveness, scalability, the range of products, and ease of use."
"Microsoft Azure supports our company growth through its robust features."

Room for Improvement

Microsoft Azure faces multiple challenges, including compatibility issues with Apple devices, slow interfaces, complex pricing structures, and insufficient third-party integration. Moreover, users encounter security concerns, intricate initial setups, and limited debugging features. Ineffective customer support and unclear documentation complicate problem resolution, while high costs and frequent changes hinder smooth operations. Simplifications in user interface and enhanced cross-platform capabilities are frequently sought after, alongside improved cost management and stability features.

"I would prefer to see improvements such as more advanced AI features, lower pricing, and better technical support."
"Most of the challenges we encounter when integrating Microsoft Azure with existing IT infrastructure are related to the lack of documentation when they release new products on the Microsoft side."
"It is more difficult for HR and finance to use Microsoft Azure, as they want to build AI agents without always contacting IT."

ROI

Microsoft Azure delivers high return on investment by reducing infrastructure and maintenance costs, moving expenses from capital to operation, and eliminating on-premises hardware needs. Users experience significant savings and can quickly scale resources based on demand. Though initial migration may be challenging, Azure's offerings like disaster recovery and improved performance lead to positive outcomes. Promotions or discounts like special pricing for development aid in reducing monthly expenses further enhancing cost-effectiveness.

Pricing

Microsoft Azure offers flexible pricing that varies based on services, usage, and configurations. Enterprise users can benefit from partnerships offering credits and discounts, but costs remain dynamic and sometimes difficult to predict. Initial setup is minimal, often taking minutes, with transparent pricing through published lists and a calculator tool. Monthly costs can range significantly, appealing to different needs from basic subscriptions to large-scale deployments. Azure's pricing remains competitive with AWS, although clarity in cost forecasting could improve.

"In countries experiencing high inflation, the cost of Azure services can be significantly impacted. This can result in higher expenses compared to other regions."
"We pay a monthly licensing fee for the solution, which could be cheaper."
"The pricing is fine."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations predominantly employ Microsoft Azure for hosting diverse applications, development, and testing environments. They utilize Azure for infrastructure services, leveraging virtual machines, storage, DevOps, identity management, and database capabilities. They build omnichannel apps, support business continuity, utilize machine learning, and migrate data to the cloud. Azure's platforms enable efficient deployment, integration, and management of services, catering to varied needs across industries like finance, healthcare, and technology.

Service and Support

Microsoft Azure's customer service is generally responsive but varies based on the type of support accessed. Some users find their issues quickly resolved, especially when escalated to higher levels or through paid plans, while others report delays and complexity. Technical support is often praised for its expertise and efficiency, though language barriers and the ticketing process can cause complications. Many users appreciate the knowledgeable staff and active community resources available for troubleshooting.

Deployment

Users found Microsoft Azure's initial setup generally straightforward, though some encountered learning curves. Many appreciated its intuitiveness, while the complexity varied based on integration needs. The cloud-based nature simplified the process for those familiar with cloud technology, but new users faced challenges. Training and documentation were highlighted as beneficial, and timing for deployment depended on specific configurations. Organizations with prior experience managed setups more easily, with some procedures requiring additional efforts for complex solutions.

Scalability

Users highlight Azure's significant scalability, effortlessly adapting to demand fluctuations, and enabling businesses to adjust resources easily. Some encounter limitations when targeting specific constraints or competing platforms like AWS, yet Azure’s flexibility, elastic growth capabilities, and automatic scaling remain attractive, accommodating varied client needs. Cost concerns may arise when expanding, but Azure's adaptive infrastructure helps manage workloads efficiently. Many cite seamless and effective scaling that supports both immediate and long-term operational requirements.

Stability

Microsoft Azure is stable with minor outages reported by users. Some noted disruptions in development environments and specific applications, but these occurrences are rare. Users appreciate its high availability and reliability. It performs well for mid-size deployments, though some issues can arise in larger or more complex implementations. Microsoft Azure is praised for its robust performance, but comparisons with AWS indicate room for improvement. Most users report positive experiences with its stability.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Microsoft Azure Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

40%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

University

Government

Healthcare Company

Comms Service Provider

Retailer

Energy/Utilities Company

Insurance Company

Construction Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Transportation Company

Hospitality Company

Non Profit

Media Company

Legal Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Outsourcing Company

Consumer Goods Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Performing Arts

Pharma/Biotech Company

Logistics Company

Compare Microsoft Azure with alternative products

Learn more about Microsoft Azure

Windows Azure works across multiple frameworks and languages. It is fully scalable, localized in that it is hosted globally in many datacenters, and has widespread capabilities with elements of application development, deployment, and management.

Azure is comprised of several different service modules, including Infrastructure; Web; Mobile; Dev & Test; Big Data; Media;Storage, Backup & Recovery; and Identity & Access Management.

Microsoft Azure works as a:

Platform as a service (PaaS)
Software as a service (SaaS)
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

Microsoft Azure is available:

On-premises
Hybrid
Multi-cloud
At the edge

Compared to its competitors, Microsoft Azure:

Has more affordable features
Has easier migration for organizations already using other Microsoft tools
Has several educational resources available
Provides robust support
Is ideal for small and large businesses

Microsoft Azure Features:

Scalability
Stability
Flexibility
Azure Site Recovery
Active Directory
Monitoring features
Cloud-based
Automated tasks
Change capability cadence
Showback capabilities
Information protection
Azure Data Lake
Excellent portal
Intuitive user interface
Remote desktop
Fast provisioning
Data security
Data resiliency
Speed of service
Integrated delivery pipeline
Disaster recovery
Robust templates
Flexible coding languages
Virtual systems testing

Benefits of Microsoft Azure:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Because Microsoft Azure is an IaaS, organizations can deploy as well as manage applications easily and quickly. Azure also provides you with the ability to customize the cloud software to meet your specific business needs.
Seamless integration: Microsoft Azure is built to seamlessly integrate with existing IT departments via hybrid databases, secure private connections, and storage solutions.
Cost-effective: Because Azure can harmoniously exist in your business environment with your data center, it is a very cost-effective solution.
Analytics support: Azure is designed with built-in support that is used to analyze data and provide key insights. Azure offers Cortana Analytics, Stream Analytics, Machine Learning, and SQL services.
Unique storage system: Compared to other cloud services, Microsoft Azure has more data centers and delivery points, which helps create an optimal user experience and also helps deliver content faster. In addition, Microsoft Azure makes it possible for organizations to exchange content across several virtual machines.
Enhanced flexibility: Azure provides extreme flexibility by allowing you to choose any level of functionality you require. It also supports many of the same technologies IT teams and developers usually depend on, making it easier for them to manage.
Easy implementation: Microsoft Azure is easy and quick to deploy. If necessary, you can change web apps to Azure with almost zero downtime.

Reviews from Real Users:

"It is a flexible solution that is straightforward to use," says the principal consultant at a computer software company.

OmarJ., future datacenter consultant: Microsoft Azure Cloud at a tech company, adds that "The user interface is very nice and makes everything easy to use."

“You can build an environment in minutes. It's very good in terms of being an infrastructure as a service, and I found that really fascinating,” says an information technology consultant at a computer software company.

"I think Azure's level of automation to achieve efficiency or agility is valuable. I also like the change capability cadence, the showback capabilities, and understanding what our costs are," says an enterprise architect at an energy/utilities company.

Marco C., Ing. at Wolters Kluwer, says "The valuable features of Microsoft Azure are that it is cloud-based and has good storage. The storage is completely managed by Azure. We do not need to do any patching of security because it is handled by Azure which is a benefit. The solution is fully compatible with the Microsoft technology stack and is very scalable."

"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Azure is it has everything together in one place. It is one large tool with lots of small tools that are updated often," says the owner of a media company.

Microsoft Azure was previously known as Windows Azure, Azure, MS Azure.