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Head-to-head · nopCommerce Hosting

SmarterASP.NET vs Azure Virtual Machines

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score SmarterASP.NET #3 in nopCommerce Hosting 8.4/10 60-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 2 features Visit SmarterASP.NET
Azure Virtual Machines #5 in nopCommerce Hosting 8.1/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Azure

SmarterASP.NET leads on 0 checks, Azure Virtual Machines on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSmarterASP.NET · 8.4/10
  • Free trialonly SmarterASP.NET

SmarterASP.NET scores higher on our rubric for nopcommerce hosting: 8.4 against 8.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.

SmarterASP.NET is the better fit for budget-conscious .NET stores wanting a long trial. Azure Virtual Machines is the better fit for teams that want control over a cloud Windows server.

  • SmarterASP.NET fits best

    Budget-conscious .NET stores wanting a long trial

  • Azure Virtual Machines fits best

    Teams that want control over a cloud Windows server

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Side by side

Feature SmarterASP.NET 8.4/10 Visit ↗ Azure Virtual Machines 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.4 8.1
Ranking #3 in nopCommerce Hosting #5 in nopCommerce Hosting
Best for Budget-conscious .NET stores wanting a long trial Teams that want control over a cloud Windows server
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price $2.95/mo Not checked yet
Free plan — —
Free trial 60 days —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop Cloud
Platforms Web, Windows Web, Windows, Linux
Integrations 3 integrations 7 integrations
Features SmarterASP.NET 0/2 · Azure Virtual Machines 0/2
Automated backups Not checked yet Not checked yet
One-click installer Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Hosting type Not checked yet Not checked yet
Windows Server Not checked yet Not checked yet
ASP.NET support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Included storage Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • 60-day trial includes 5 GB of web space, one website, and free SSL
  • Paid plans include automatic data backups and free Let's Encrypt SSL
  • Supports SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, GitHub, and Web Deploy
  • Provision Windows or Linux VMs in configurable sizes and regions
  • Scale instances and distribute traffic with Azure services
  • Use managed disks, backups, monitoring and related storage or database services
Cons
  • The .NET Basic plan allows only one website and 1 GB of database space
  • Shared hosting payments are accepted quarterly or annually
  • Automatic backups are included on paid plans, not the trial
  • The team must manage the nopCommerce deployment
  • Usage-based pricing varies by VM, operating system, region and usage
  • No ongoing free plan
Our verdict

SmarterASP.NET provides shared hosting for ASP.NET and other .NET applications on Windows Server 2022. Its hosting tools also cover databases, email, SSL, and deployment, making it relevant to individuals, developers, and small or…

Read the review →

Azure Virtual Machines provides configurable Linux and Windows servers on Microsoft Azure. For nopCommerce teams, it suits those who want control over a cloud Windows server and are prepared to manage the application deployment themselves.…

Read the review →
  1. SmarterASP.NETnopCommerce Hosting 8.460-day trial
  2. Azure Virtual MachinesnopCommerce Hosting 8.1Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • SmarterASP.NET — where it wins

    • 60-day trial includes 5 GB of web space, one website, and free SSL
    • Paid plans include automatic data backups and free Let's Encrypt SSL
    • Supports SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, GitHub, and Web Deploy

    Where it doesn't

    • The .NET Basic plan allows only one website and 1 GB of database space
    • Shared hosting payments are accepted quarterly or annually
    • Automatic backups are included on paid plans, not the trial

  • Azure Virtual Machines — where it wins

    • Provision Windows or Linux VMs in configurable sizes and regions
    • Scale instances and distribute traffic with Azure services
    • Use managed disks, backups, monitoring and related storage or database services

    Where it doesn't

    • The team must manage the nopCommerce deployment
    • Usage-based pricing varies by VM, operating system, region and usage
    • No ongoing free plan

More comparisons

All nopcommerce hosting comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update