# Amazon EC2 vs Azure Virtual Machines Comparison

---
## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between Amazon EC2 vs Azure Virtual Machines?

Amazon EC2 stands out for its higher G2 rating and reviewer-cited scalability, while Azure Virtual Machines is favored for its flexibility and ease of use.

| [Amazon EC2](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-ec2/reviews) | [Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machines/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.6/5 (1,200 reviews) | 4.4/5 (393 reviews) |
| Mid-Market | Mid-Market |
| 8.5 | 8.6 |
| 8.7 | 8.4 |
| Scalability (37 all-time mentions) | Flexibility (19 all-time mentions) |



### How do the pricing models of Amazon EC2 and Azure Virtual Machines compare?

Amazon EC2 is rated higher for price satisfaction, indicating reviewers consider it the stronger value compared to Azure Virtual Machines.

- **Amazon EC2:** In recent reviews, many cite cost-effectiveness and the ability to pay only for what is used, but note that pricing can be complex and costs can rise if resources are not managed carefully.
- **Azure Virtual Machines:** Reviewers frequently mention that while Azure VMs offer flexible pricing and cost optimization options, the pricing structure is complex and can be expensive for long-term or high-resource workloads.



### What are the best alternatives to Amazon EC2 and Azure Virtual Machines?

The top 3 alternatives to Amazon EC2 and Azure Virtual Machines are Google Compute Engine, DigitalOcean, and VMware vSphere.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Amazon EC2](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-ec2/reviews) | 4.6/5 (1,200) | Mid-Market | Cost-effective, but pricing can be complex | Scalability |
| [Azure Virtual Machines](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machines/reviews) | 4.4/5 (393) | Mid-Market | Flexible pricing, but can be expensive for long-term workloads | Flexibility |
| [Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) | 4.5/5 (953) | Small-Business | — | Performance and reliability |
| [DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/products/digitalocean/reviews) | 4.6/5 (756) | Small-Business | — | Ease of use |
| [VMware vSphere](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-vsphere/reviews) | 4.5/5 (772) | Enterprise | — | Enterprise-grade virtualization |



### Which Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) features should I prioritize when comparing Amazon EC2 and Azure Virtual Machines?

Buyers should prioritize scalability, flexibility, integrations, security, and cost management when comparing Amazon EC2 and Azure Virtual Machines.

- **Scalability:** Amazon EC2 (37 all-time mentions), Azure Virtual Machines (29 all-time mentions)
- **Flexibility:** Amazon EC2 (30 all-time mentions), Azure Virtual Machines (19 all-time mentions)
- **Integrations:** Amazon EC2 (19 all-time mentions), Azure Virtual Machines (16 all-time mentions)
- **Security:** Amazon EC2 (16 all-time mentions), Azure Virtual Machines (19 all-time mentions)
- **Cost Management:** Amazon EC2 (25 all-time mentions for Expensive), Azure Virtual Machines (19 all-time mentions for Expensive)



### What are the pros and cons of Amazon EC2 vs Azure Virtual Machines?

Amazon EC2's headline strength is scalability, while Azure Virtual Machines is most praised for flexibility and ease of use.

- **Amazon EC2 strengths:** Scalability (37 all-time mentions), flexibility (30), ease of use (55), reliability (23), integrations (19), cost-effectiveness (15)
- **Amazon EC2 trade-offs:** Complexity (25), expensive (25), pricing issues (17), learning difficulty (14), not user-friendly (14), overwhelming choices (12)
- **Azure Virtual Machines strengths:** Flexibility (19), ease of use (45), cloud storage (29), scalability (29), security (19), integrations (16)
- **Azure Virtual Machines trade-offs:** Complexity (26), cost issues (23), expensive (19), learning difficulty (13), poor customer support (10), slow performance (9), complex pricing (8)



### Is Amazon EC2 or Azure Virtual Machines better for small businesses?

DigitalOcean is the top-ranked alternative with the strongest small-business fit, but between Amazon EC2 and Azure Virtual Machines, both primarily serve the mid-market segment.

- **Amazon EC2:** Largest segment is Mid-Market; small-business reviewers highlight cost-effectiveness and scalability, but note a steep learning curve and complex pricing.
- **Azure Virtual Machines:** Largest segment is Mid-Market; small-business reviewers appreciate ease of use and flexibility, but mention higher costs and complex pricing structures.



### Which Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) platform has better integrations?

Amazon EC2 and Azure Virtual Machines are rated nearly equally for integrations, with both products frequently cited for their integration capabilities.

- **Amazon EC2:** Docker (11 all-time mentions), Python (7 all-time mentions), integrations cited in 19 reviews
- **Azure Virtual Machines:** Kubernetes (4 all-time mentions), integrations cited in 16 reviews



### How do Amazon EC2 and Azure Virtual Machines compare on customer support?

Amazon EC2 scores higher on Quality of Support (8.7 vs 8.4), but the difference is below the materiality threshold, indicating near parity.

- **Amazon EC2:** Reviewers frequently mention responsive support and helpful documentation, though some note complexity in troubleshooting and a learning curve for new users.
- **Azure Virtual Machines:** Reviewers describe support as reliable and professional, with 24/7 availability, but some mention slow response times and the need for paid support tiers for faster resolution.



### Which is easier to implement, Amazon EC2 or Azure Virtual Machines?

Amazon EC2 and Azure Virtual Machines score within a tenth of a point on Ease of Setup (8.5 vs 8.6), indicating near parity in implementation experience.

- **Amazon EC2:** Reviewers highlight quick provisioning, a wide variety of instance types, and strong documentation, but note that initial setup can be complex for beginners due to the number of configuration options.
- **Azure Virtual Machines:** Reviewers praise the straightforward deployment process, easy VM creation, and helpful templates, but mention that initial configuration and permission management can be overwhelming for new users.



| | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.6 out of 5 | 4.4 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 1,202 | 394 | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Amazon EC2

Pros:
- Ease of Use (54 reviews)
- Scalability (36 reviews)

Cons:
- Expensive (25 reviews)
- Complexity (24 reviews)

### Azure Virtual Machines

Pros:
- Ease of Use (45 reviews)
- Cloud Storage (29 reviews)

Cons:
- Complexity (26 reviews)
- Cost Issues (23 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 9.2 (1013 reviews) | 9.0 (340 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.6 (1021 reviews) | 8.6 (340 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.5 (546 reviews) | 8.6 (207 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.7 (480 reviews) | 8.6 (192 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.7 (973 reviews) | 8.4 (327 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 9.0 (469 reviews) | 8.9 (184 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 9.2 (929 reviews) | 9.2 (328 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Amazon EC2

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Azure Virtual Machines

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Amazon EC2** | 8.9/10 | 251 |
| **Azure Virtual Machines** | 8.7/10 | 76 |

#### Infrastructure Provision

| Feature | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
| **Public Cloud** | 9.3 (202 reviews) | 9.0 (66 reviews) | 
| **Private Cloud** | 8.9 (182 reviews) | 8.6 (55 reviews) | 
| **Hybrid Cloud** | 8.8 (167 reviews) | 9.0 (53 reviews) | 
| **Bare Metal** | 8.1 (141 reviews) | 7.2 (48 reviews) | 
| **High-Performance Computing (HPC)** | 9.1 (166 reviews) | 8.3 (54 reviews) | 
| **Virtual Machines (VMs)** | 9.4 (213 reviews) | 9.3 (67 reviews) | 
| **Edge Computing** | 8.9 (156 reviews) | 8.5 (49 reviews) | 
| **Virtual Networks** | 9.0 (187 reviews) | 9.1 (60 reviews) | 
| **Cloud Computing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Management

| Feature | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
| **Pay by Usage** | 8.7 (210 reviews) | 8.9 (63 reviews) | 
| **Usage Tracking** | 8.6 (187 reviews) | 8.8 (56 reviews) | 
| **Performance Tracking** | 8.9 (183 reviews) | 8.6 (56 reviews) | 
| **Activity Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Functionality

| Feature | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
| **Resource Auto-Scaling** | 9.2 (192 reviews) | 8.9 (58 reviews) | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
| **Version Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Database Support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SSL Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Configurable Workflow** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Performance Metrics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Performance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Server Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Single Sign On** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Escalation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Storage Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Resource Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Scheduling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Load Balancing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Backup and Recovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Role-Based Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Login** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Network Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Service Level Agreement (SLA) Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Task Scheduling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Application Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Resource Allocation & Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Migration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Configuration Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Log Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Visualization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Trail** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Data Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Capture and Transfer** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Performance Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Search/Filter** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Server Virtualization

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Amazon EC2** | N/A | N/A |
| **Azure Virtual Machines** | 8.7/10 | 35 |

#### Performance

| Feature | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
| **Scalability** | Not enough data | 8.5 (28 reviews) | 
| **Portability** | Not enough data | 8.3 (26 reviews) | 
| **Data Recovery** | Not enough data | 8.9 (27 reviews) | 
| **Disaster Recovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Functionality

| Feature | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
| **OS Integration** | Not enough data | 9.0 (31 reviews) | 
| **Resource Saving** | Not enough data | 8.5 (30 reviews) | 
| **Performance Management** | Not enough data | 8.7 (29 reviews) | 
| **Security** | Not enough data | 9.3 (30 reviews) | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Task Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Server Virtualization

| Feature | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-step Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Decision Making** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **File Transfer** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
| **Cloud Computing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Archiving & Retention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Issue Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Virtual Machine Migration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Server Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Status Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Login** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Graphical User Interface** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Data Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Escalation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Virtual Server** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remote Update/Installation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Verification** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **VDI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Database Support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Synchronization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Replication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Virtual Machine Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### AWS Marketplace

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Amazon EC2** | 9.3/10 | 8 |
| **Azure Virtual Machines** | N/A | N/A |

#### Agentic AI - AWS Marketplace

| Feature | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | 9.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-step Planning** | 9.3 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | 9.5 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas)

**Unique to Amazon EC2 (1):** [AWS Marketplace Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/aws-marketplace)

**Unique to Azure Virtual Machines (1):** [Server Virtualization Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/server-virtualization)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Amazon EC2 | Azure Virtual Machines | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 40.2% | 31.6% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 34.6% | 33.0% | 
| **Enterprise** | 25.2% | 35.4% | 

### By Industry

#### Amazon EC2

- **Information Technology and Services:** 25.3%
- **Computer Software:** 23.7%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 3.6%
- **Financial Services:** 3.1%
- **Internet:** 3.0%
- **Telecommunications:** 2.9%
- **Banking:** 2.1%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 2.0%
- **Consumer Services:** 1.8%
- **Higher Education:** 1.6%
- **Other:** 30.8%

#### Azure Virtual Machines

- **Information Technology and Services:** 30.2%
- **Computer Software:** 17.8%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 7.4%
- **Accounting:** 4.2%
- **Information Services:** 2.4%
- **Financial Services:** 2.1%
- **Banking:** 1.9%
- **Higher Education:** 1.9%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 1.6%
- **Computer Networking:** 1.6%
- **Other:** 28.9%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Amazon EC2

- [Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (953 reviews)
- [DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/products/digitalocean/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (755 reviews)
- [Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/products/akamai-cloud-computing/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (409 reviews)
- [Vultr](https://www.g2.com/products/vultr/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (286 reviews)
- [OVHcloud](https://www.g2.com/products/ovhcloud/reviews) — 3.1/5 stars (76 reviews)
- [Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/products/hostwinds/reviews) — 4.9/5 stars (438 reviews)
- [IBM Cloud Virtual Servers](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-cloud-virtual-servers/reviews) — 3.8/5 stars (55 reviews)
- [Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-virtual-machine-scale-sets/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (30 reviews)
- [OpenStack](https://www.g2.com/products/openstack/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (53 reviews)
- [Contabo](https://www.g2.com/products/contabo/reviews) — 2.1/5 stars (27 reviews)

### Alternatives to Azure Virtual Machines

- [Google Compute Engine](https://www.g2.com/products/google-compute-engine/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (953 reviews)
- [VMware vSphere](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-vsphere/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (777 reviews)
- [DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/products/digitalocean/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (755 reviews)
- [Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/products/akamai-cloud-computing/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (409 reviews)
- [Vultr](https://www.g2.com/products/vultr/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (286 reviews)
- [Oracle VM](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-vm/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (73 reviews)
- [Proxmox VE](https://www.g2.com/products/proxmox-ve/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (38 reviews)
- [VirtualBox](https://www.g2.com/products/virtualbox/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (294 reviews)
- [VMware Cloud Director](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-cloud-director/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (16 reviews)
- [Hostwinds](https://www.g2.com/products/hostwinds/reviews) — 4.9/5 stars (438 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Amazon EC2

- Title: [What is Amazon EC2 used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-amazon-ec2-used-for) — 5 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Amazon EC2 is basically like a VM. You can build your VM in the cloud and you can do most of the tasks that you are supposed to do with a VM. The advantage..."
- Title: [What are the benefits of using Amazon EC2 ?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-the-benefits-of-using-amazon-ec2) — 5 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "What is your question?

There are many benefits to using cloud computing (not just AWS, but Azure, GCP, or other services like Heroku, Redshift, etc), but..."
- Title: [What is the easy way to creat a GUI instance just like creating normal instance](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-easy-way-to-creat-a-gui-instance-just-like-creating-normal-instance) — 4 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Have you tried the Windows Instances?"
- Title: [As an end user perspective I want to get brief notes in a simple layman's language to understand](https://www.g2.com/discussions/as-an-end-user-perspective-i-want-to-get-brief-notes-in-a-simple-layman-s-language-to-understand) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "What do you want to know ?"

### Azure Virtual Machines

- Title: [What is Azure Virtual Machines used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-azure-virtual-machines-used-for) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) are used to run applications and workloads on virtualized server environments in the cloud. They allow you to deploy and manage..."
- Title: [What operating systems does an Azure virtual machine support?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-operating-systems-does-an-azure-virtual-machine-support) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "2012 and above"
- Title: [What are Azure virtual machines used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-azure-virtual-machines-used-for) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Mission critical workloads"
- Title: [What is virtual machine in Azure portal?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-virtual-machine-in-azure-portal) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "It is a computer file that behaves like a computer,it has computing environment that offers to run different operating system "
- Title: [Azure VM](https://www.g2.com/discussions/36714-azure-vm) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Most powerful VM machine"

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/amazon-ec2-vs-azure-virtual-machines)