What makes Azure VMs stand out for our team is the sheer flexibility in configuration.

Whether we need a small B-series VM for lightweight dev workloads or a compute-optimized instance for heavier processing tasks, the right option is always available.

The deployment process is remarkably simple — we can spin up a new VM within minutes, which has been a huge productivity boost for our team. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

We've had a few surprise bills early on before we set up proper cost alerts and budgets.

Costs can also be difficult to predict upfront, especially when you factor in storage, networking, and data egress charges on top of compute costs. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best about Azure Virtual Machines is how easy and convenient it is to spin up a new VM with just a few clicks. The process of selecting machine types, configuring resources, and assigning resource groups is very straightforward. I also find the ability to create new virtual machines from existing VM images especially useful, as it saves time and ensures consistency. From a pricing perspective, Azure VMs provide great value with solid performance and a wide range of integrations. Additionally, Azure’s support and SLA commitments are reliable and meet industry standards. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One thing I dislike about Azure Virtual Machines is that pricing can become confusing when additional services like storage, networking, and backups are included, sometimes making cost estimation difficult. Initial configuration and permission management can also feel overwhelming for new users. Additionally, occasional performance tuning and resource optimization are needed to avoid unnecessary costs. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recently, I’ve appreciated the improvements in Azure Virtual Machines around automation and integration with other Azure services. Features like automatic scaling, improved monitoring through Azure Monitor, and easier integration with security tools such as Microsoft Defender for Cloud make it much simpler to manage workloads in production environments. I also like how flexible VM deployment has become through infrastructure-as-code tools like ARM templates and Terraform, which helps streamline deployments and maintain consistent environments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

While Azure Virtual Machines are very powerful, cost management can still be challenging if resources are not monitored closely. It would be helpful to have even clearer cost optimization recommendations directly within the VM management experience. Additionally, simplifying some networking and configuration options could make the platform easier for teams that are newer to Azure infrastructure. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best about Azure Virtual Machines is the flexibility and scalability it offers. It’s easy to quickly spin up VMs with different configurations based on workload needs, and it integrates seamlessly with other Azure services like Azure Networking, Storage, and Backup. The reliability, security features, and global availability of data centers make it suitable for both development and production workloads. Additionally, the pay-as-you-go pricing model helps optimize costs while maintaining performance. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I dislike about Azure Virtual Machines is that connecting to the VM—especially through the Azure portal—can sometimes take longer than expected. Initial startup times, RDP/SSH connection delays, and occasional networking or authentication latency can slow down workflows. Troubleshooting connection issues is not always straightforward and may require navigating multiple Azure services, which can be time-consuming for users who need quick access. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Azure Virtual Machines provide excellent flexibility and scalability for running workloads in the cloud. One of the biggest advantages is the ability to quickly deploy Windows or Linux virtual machines with customizable CPU, memory, and storage configurations. Integration with other services in the Microsoft Azure ecosystem makes it easy to manage networking, security, monitoring, and backups in one place.

Another major benefit is the reliability and global availability of Azure data centers, which helps ensure high uptime and performance. Features like auto-scaling, load balancing, and easy snapshot backups make it simple to maintain production environments. The platform is also very useful for testing, development, and running enterprise applications without needing physical hardware. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One challenge with Azure Virtual Machines is that the pricing structure can become complex, especially when additional services such as storage, networking, backups, and bandwidth are included. Without careful monitoring, costs can increase quickly.

Another downside is that the initial setup and configuration may feel complicated for beginners who are new to cloud infrastructure. Managing networking rules, virtual networks, and security groups can require a learning curve. Additionally, some advanced features and troubleshooting may require deeper knowledge of the Azure platform and documentation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Azure Virtual Machines is one of the best options for security-focused companies. The main reason is that there’s no need to manage on-premises infrastructure, electricity, server temperature, and other related overhead. With Azure Virtual Machines, I can deploy almost any OS within a minute, and I can scale up or down easily when needed. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

After a few months, I noticed the performance of our Azure virtual machines was slightly down. Sometimes the VM restarts automatically, which has been disruptive. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

High-quality infrastructure with very reliable performance. The services are well integrated with the rest of the Azure ecosystem, and the support is very professional when you need help. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The pricing can be quite high compared to other providers, especially for smaller projects or long-running virtual machines. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Azure Virtual Machines offer great flexibility, stability, and integration across the entire Azure ecosystem. Creating VMs is extremely easy, and templates/SKU options help in optimizing cost vs performance. Features like Availability Sets, Scale Sets, Azure Backup, Update Management, and Azure Monitor make lifecycle management smooth and automated.

Performance has been very consistent, especially with newer VM families. Integration with Azure AD and RBAC improves security and governance. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Pricing can become confusing, especially with storage, network bandwidth, and licensing components. Support for issues sometimes takes longer than expected. Additionally, importing/exporting large VMs between regions can be time-consuming. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Easy implementation, fair pricing because of used resources calculation, good integration possibilities with newest stack Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Not an easy setup for beginners, also, due to different roles, it could be difficult to track, what's the permissions and who's responsible for what Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Azure Virtual Machines provides easily scale resources (CPU, RAM, storage) up or down based on workload demands, which is ideal for dynamic environments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

VM startup and deployment time often feels slower compared to container-based or serverless solutions Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.