# Azure Cloud Shell Reviews **Vendor:** Microsoft **Category:** [Other IT Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/other-it-management) **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 18 ## About Azure Cloud Shell Azure Cloud Shell is an interactive, browser-based command-line interface that enables users to manage Azure resources directly from their web browser. It offers the flexibility to choose between Bash and PowerShell environments, catering to diverse user preferences. By providing a pre-configured and authenticated shell experience, Azure Cloud Shell simplifies resource management without the need for local installations or configurations. Key Features and Functionality: - Multiple Access Points: Accessible through the Azure portal, shell.azure.com, Azure mobile app, Visual Studio Code Azure Account extension, and directly from Azure documentation pages. - Pre-Configured Environment: Comes equipped with popular command-line tools and language support, including Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, Ansible, Terraform, and Kubernetes tools, ensuring users have immediate access to necessary utilities. - Secure and Authenticated Access: Automatically authenticates users, providing secure access to Azure resources without additional login steps. - Integrated Graphical Text Editor: Features a built-in editor for creating and editing files, facilitating seamless deployment through Azure CLI or Azure PowerShell. - Persistent Storage: Utilizes a 5-GB Azure Files share to persist files across sessions, ensuring continuity and data retention. Primary Value and User Solutions: Azure Cloud Shell addresses the challenge of managing Azure resources from various devices and locations without the overhead of setting up and maintaining local development environments. By offering a ready-to-use, authenticated, and browser-accessible shell, it enables developers and IT professionals to efficiently manage and deploy Azure resources, enhancing productivity and operational efficiency. ## Azure Cloud Shell Reviews ### 1. Powerful and Convenient CLI Tool Built into Azure **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ramesh Kumar S. | Full Stack Developer(Research & Development) — React.js and Laravel, Computer Software, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 25, 2025 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** Azure Cloud Shell provides an incredibly convenient way to manage cloud resources without needing to install or configure local tools. It’s pre-loaded with essential tools like Azure CLI, PowerShell, Terraform, Git, Kubernetes tools, and more. I can start managing my infrastructure or deploying apps right from any browser—even from mobile. It's tightly integrated with Azure Portal, and I love that it maintains state through a persistent storage mount (via Azure Files). It saves time, especially for quick tasks and automation scripts. **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** One downside is the initial loading time—it can take a while to spin up, especially if storage mounting is involved. The session timeout can also be frustrating during longer operations, particularly when you're multitasking or debugging scripts. More persistent session handling and slightly faster startup would enhance the user experience. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Azure Cloud Shell eliminates the need to install and configure the Azure CLI or PowerShell on local machines, which is especially beneficial when working across multiple devices or in locked-down enterprise environments. It allows for consistent, secure, browser-based access to tools with preconfigured environments, which saves time and reduces setup friction. It also supports quick prototyping, resource management, and automation directly in the cloud. ### 2. Good Learning for Non-IT Expert **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Linda S. | multi-media artist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 30, 2019 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** I like the ease of use with either my Mac Air or my iPad 5th Gen. I can choose between Bash and something else. All I do is tap the _> button and it opens right up. And I created my first VM. Major step for me! **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** I dislike that it has a harder time with my iPad, even with my Bluetooth keyboard. I also got charged $17.xx after my free trial. I had to get a Smartphone with text-friendly mode to be allowed into the Club, so to speak. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am more likely to be hired by a Tech Company, having had my first taste of Azure. It's worldwide, and my first computer was a PC. I now have a good refresher course in Linux. I think I should stick around and not give up. I now know more about VMs and their costs. ### 3. Fastest growing cloud provider and well documented **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Pritesh C. | Principal Engineer, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 17, 2022 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** Active directory inbuilt. Subscriptions are easy to manage. **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** UI can be better. Open source things should be more integrated into the product for better debugging. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am working as a test engineer, so I am a user of Azure. Well documented and good support team. ### 4. Fast and integration of devices in the cloud. **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Wallis R. | Senior Software Development Engineer, Aviation & Aerospace, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 18, 2019 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** It presents the fastest connection times between the cloud and the devices. It allows a high degree of integration with private clouds, making it the best alternative for hybrid solutions. Great potential for launching cloud applications. It allows you to connect with PowerBi and collect existing projects from the Microsoft ecosystem (Office, SQL Server, SharePoint, .Net ...). It has many tools for displaying information and presenting data in real time. It offers very good performance in the processing of large volumes of data. It has good technical support and complete documentation for the end user. **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** The implementation of a new service has a longer creation time than other suppliers. Incompatibility with the Safari web browser. The implementation of real-time data visualization systems is sometimes complex. **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** Creation of intelligent applications with an integral platform to offer extraordinary experiences with applications in the cloud. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Azure adapts to our company and allows us to reuse the language we prefer using current knowledge to create experiences with new generation applications on our website. We control the management of our website database, in turn we manage all traffic and implement modules that help us manage our corporate image more efficiently. ### 5. Nice terminal experience on the web with existing browsers **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Education Management | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 17, 2019 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** All standard key bindings (Ctrl, Alt)... works Vim/Tmux/Emacs also work out of the box Terminal is accessible from the top right Both Powershell and Linux terminal are available a Free little VM to play with on Azure cloud Responsive on streaming large log files over the chrome browser **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** Default theme is hard to see and ugly Ability to customize theme, e.g., solarized theme Pricing is not transparent I wish zsh and oh my zsh framework is installed by default instead of bash shell Should install standard productivity tools such as rg, fzf, and other tools for programmers Ability to run terminal in a separated browser (e.g., chrome or edge) tab would be a great addition Typography of Azure cloud is not beautiful, try to use native font of OS, e.g., San Francisco font on MacOS **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** Theme and customization Don't make key binding conflict with browser key bindings **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Manage the alert pipeline across many universities ### 6. Azure Cloud Shell **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Monique T. | Monique Tucker, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 17, 2019 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** I like that I can switch between my Mac and HP computer without any issues. This product is user friendly and helps with time management. **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** I really don't like that how difficult it is to use on my ipad even with a Bluetooth keyboard. Also I feel the need for a smartphone is a waste. **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** Take some time to learn how to use the product so it can be more beneficial to your business. At times the product can get complicated but once your over that hurdle you will see the ease of the next task. Be patient it user friendly, helps with time management, and organization. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** With the knowledge I'm receiving from this product it is definitely a plus for my resume. It was a great refresher course. ### 7. Useful when you can't install the Azure modules. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Tony A. | Freelance Information Technology Consultant, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 17, 2019 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** Azure Cloud Shell is fantastic when you can't or don't want to install the Azure modules to your local machine. You also don't need to login to the azure account again on the cloud shell compared to local powershell. **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** It charges you an extra amount just to create a cloud shell in the form of a storage account in your resources, where as the other is free since it's on your local machine (duh). I think this should be a free option without having to create a cloud shell especially for linux to create SSH public keys. **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** Create a way for a user to use cloud shell bash without creating a storage account or have a way without users needing it to go through other functions that are not available in portal **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** It makes it streamline to assist customers who are not able to download installation files through their machine because of either business reason or security issues. When we're troubleshooting for the Customer, it's sometime easier to just have them use the cloud shell then downloading the installer or asking them to install the module on their powershell. ### 8. Azure cloud shell available for Mac Users **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 17, 2019 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** Best platform independent, browser based cloud shell that helps to access the shell virtually from anywhere. Available for mac users as well. Supports almost all common tools and programming languages including node.js that helps to easy development. Text editors are good for non IT users as well. **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** Need to type commands manually every time. Also need to pay more if it should keep in our local storage resources. **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** As this is browser based cloud shell, it can be used for people working on any OS . Also contain powershell with tools like text editor and other database tools. Equally benefit for IT users as it supports many advanced programming languages like .net, node.js etc and also to non IT users because contains predefined commands for easy access. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Easy handling within the browser without the overhead of installing, versioning, and maintaining a machine. ### 9. Flexible shell tool for both Bash and PowerShell **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 16, 2019 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** Azure Cloud Shell provides the flexibility of using either Bash of PowerShell **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** Azure Cloud Shell is not as customizable as other console tools **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Azure Cloud Shell provides a developer friendly environment to manage your Azure resources through the az command line. It is also a good platform to connect to your VMs and manage temporary workstation environment variables. Operational use of Azure as a public cloud infrastructure solution to any enterprise is made a lot easier with Azure Cloud Shell. ### 10. I Love This Cloud Storage Product! **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Andrew L. | Marketing Director , Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 17, 2019 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** I love that the Cloud Shell offers a browser-accessible, pre-configured shell experience for managing my Azure resources without the overhead of installing, versioning, and maintaining a machine myself. **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** It is kinda of hard to understand all the components when first working with the product. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** I love that the Cloud Shell offers a is browser-accessible which is perfect for my company! ### 11. Very easy to use **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Sporting Goods | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 17, 2019 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** First off this program is free which is fantastic, it also is very flexible, so you can use it for what best suits you. **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** While it was very easy to use once you get used to it, I found the instructions very confusing. **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** The best thing is that it is free so you can try it out without paying. This program does not slow you computer down and is a great asset. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Managing our Azure resources. It is a browser that is very easy to install, I also found that is was customizable. ### 12. Cloud Shell **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 17, 2019 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** Easy to use. Lots of different functionality support. Easy to bring up and query values in the cloud. **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** Since it runs on powershell, sometimes it can run slow but since it is in cloud, it has a lot of resources to make it fast. One has to know powershell to query which is acceptable. There are no ways to bring in new packages easily and run new commands. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Checking the status of the Azure storage and other components quickly. ### 13. Azure Cloud Shell - productivity bonus **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Software | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 21, 2019 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** It's a one stop shop for access and update to the Azure stack. **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** Nothing. It's a simple tool and easy to use, and has no bugs or problems. **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** It has the same strength as Google Cloud's console. For people who are comfortable with Linux, it's a great tool to have. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Accessing my Azure stack. Being able to use a command line to script up queries and changes is very helpful, instead of having to point-click on the main UI. Productivity gains are huge. ### 14. Great tool to manage your cloud from your browser **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 12, 2018 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** Interactive, browser-accessible, can switch between bash and powershell **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** Fails sometimes, Takes time to load, Have to refresh browser **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** No need to access Azure VM's from a different terminal/prompts. Can use it within the browser. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Manage VM's; Install, manage Web application servers; Debugging issues on servers; Tracing logs; Deployment of applications ### 15. Browser based command line tool for Azure **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Artem V. | Cloud Architect, Computer Software, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 21, 2018 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** The best thing that it is working within Azure Portal and could be used anywhere regardless of your workstation platform. So you can write powershell commandlets on Mac if you need that. Cloud shell is a timy VM running within your subscription, so you have some storage to putt scripts, ARM templates and other useful things and access it directly within your commands. It allows using both PowerShell and Azure CLI to control your resources. you are being charged only for storage used for clou shell, so it is almost free to use. **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** Could not find the way to paste data from clipboard to Cloud Shell, so you have to write entire commands manually. This makes it useless for long scripting, but it still could be used to deploy ARM template or get some information about your resources **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** Solution became available not so long time ago, so probably it will become more flexible and will be able to fully replace CLI tools installed locally in future. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Simple powershell commands in Azure Portal ### 16. Easy way to manage all aspects of you subscription from Azure portal **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Anton S. | Windows System Administrator, Information Technology and Services, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 12, 2018 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** Implementation of cloud shell in Azure portal made admin`s life easier, you can use both PowerShell and x-Plat CLI directly from portal without need to import additional modules to your on-premise powershell and walk through not very straightforward connection procedure. You can use cloud shell just like you normally using command line tools for Azure, you can even store some data there. It is actually very small virtual machine with preinstalled management tools. Pricing is very affordable, you are paying only for consumed storage, which usually not being used much, so your costs would be a bih higher than nothing. As it is running on portal, you can use powershell even if you are working on Mac, Linux PC or even tablet or smartphone. This could be usable when you need to take some urgent activities, while being on the road **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** No option to have powershell ISE., you have to put your scripts by parts there to execute these. **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** Avoid access of your junior staff to this. It can be used to perform in-depth management of Azure resources. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** CLI tools to be used of different platforms ### 17. Azure PowerShell for Mac **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Michael L. | Principal System Engineer, Telecommunications, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 07, 2018 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** Cloud shell gives you a choice between PowerShell and Azure CLI to manage your resources directly from Azure Portal, it is also the only option to use PowerShell on Mac. It is very easy to set up and does not requires any administration efforts. Cloud shell can access file share where you can keep scripts or ARM templates for deployment. Shell is vary fast as resources that it uses are located in Azure and it need less time to access azure than your workstation **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** You are getting all the issues of Azure portal while using it. You can write scripts there, it is only suitable to execute short commands typed manually **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** Put the scripts on a share associated with cloud shell and execute these from Portal. **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Simple powershell commands executed on portal ### 18. Great innovation in Azure management **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Boris P. | System Administrator, Information Technology and Services, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 18, 2018 **What do you like best about Azure Cloud Shell?** You can use Powershell or Azure CLI directly from Azure Portal, without using it from your local machine **What do you dislike about Azure Cloud Shell?** Lack of Powershell ISE option, it`s hard to work with scripting **Recommendations to others considering Azure Cloud Shell:** If you need to speed up your work with Azure, cloud shell will help you **What problems is Azure Cloud Shell solving and how is that benefiting you?** Speeds up the work with azure resources ## Azure Cloud Shell Discussions - [Create My Own Folder](https://www.g2.com/discussions/10427-create-my-own-folder) - 1 upvote - [View Azure Cloud Shell pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-cloud-shell/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-06-15+11%3A58%3A10+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=3d4e60a5-a445-40f4-90a0-91e989119583&secure%5Btoken%5D=32374d9e8100e77f779730c18199f436f6884bfc5b8f9fc7bdb3b12bf4935052&format=llm_user) ## Top Azure Cloud Shell Alternatives - [Google Cloud Shell](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-shell/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (27 reviews) - [ConnectWise PSA](https://www.g2.com/products/connectwise-psa/reviews) - 4.0/5.0 (555 reviews) - [IBM Cloud Pak for AIOps](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-cloud-pak-for-aiops/reviews) - 4.2/5.0 (57 reviews)