Azure Container Registry
Azure Container Registry: A capable Azure-focused registry with builds, security controls, and Premium geo-replication. Ranked #9 of 61 in Container Registries by our editors (8.6/10); pricing: Paid; best for azure-native development teams.
At a glance
- Editor score8.6 / 10
- PricingPaid
- Best forAzure-native development teams
- Free planNo
- Image scanningYes
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- ACR Tasks provides cloud-based container image builds.
- Supports signing, verification, scanning, locking, and retention policies.
- Integrates with AKS, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, and Key Vault.
Where it doesn't
- There is no free plan.
- Geo-replication and Private Link support require Premium.
- Scanning uses a separately licensed Microsoft Defender for Cloud integration.
Our verdict on Azure Container Registry
Azure Container Registry is a managed private registry for Docker container images and other OCI artifacts. It suits development teams and organizations deploying workloads on Azure, particularly those connecting container storage to Azure Kubernetes Service and CI/CD pipelines. Alongside image storage and retrieval, it provides repository, image, layer, and tag management, authentication, webhooks, and repository-scoped permissions.
The paid tiers scale storage and automation capacity by plan. Basic includes 10 GB of storage and 2 webhooks, while Standard includes 100 GB and 10 webhooks. Premium includes 500 GB, 500 webhooks, geo-replication, and Private Link support. All three tiers are paid, and the tier structure makes Premium the relevant choice for multi-region distribution or private network connectivity. ACR Tasks adds cloud-based image builds, while retention policies for untagged manifests and tag or image locking support registry housekeeping and control.
Azure Container Registry fits most closely with an Azure-centered delivery stack. It connects with Azure Kubernetes Service, GitHub Actions, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Azure Key Vault, and Azure DevOps. Security-related capabilities include vulnerability scanning through Microsoft Defender for Cloud, plus image signing and verification with Notary Project and OCI artifacts. Teams seeking a registry for Azure deployments, integrated build workflows, and repository controls should find the feature set well aligned. Teams that need a free starting tier or require geo-replication without choosing Premium should consider a different registry service.
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Azure Container Registry pricing
All 3 Azure Container Registry plans and prices →
Azure Container Registry fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Image scanning | Yes |
| OCI artifacts | Yes |
| Immutable tags | Yes |
| Retention policies | Yes |
| Replication scope | Global |
| Included storage | 10 GB |
| Maximum image size | 195 GB |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 6 integrations: Azure Kubernetes Service, Azure Red Hat OpenShift, Azure App Service, Azure Machine Learning, Azure Batch, Microsoft Defender for Cloud |
| Pricing | Paid (source) |
| Website | azure.microsoft.com |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Azure Container Registry integrations
Azure Container Registry lists 6 integrations on its own site.
- Azure Kubernetes Service
- Azure Red Hat OpenShift
- Azure App Service
- Azure Machine Learning
- Azure Batch
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Alternatives to Azure Container Registry
- HarborA self-hosted Harbor registry with strong policy, scanning, signing, and replication controls.9.4
- QuayA flexible registry for teams that need hosted convenience or self-hosted control.9.3
- 8gears Container RegistryA security-focused Harbor registry with OCI support, policy controls, and flexible deployment options.9.2
See all Azure Container Registry alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Azure Container Registry is ranked in 12 of our directories; the 6 strongest besides Container Registries.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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