Azure Virtual Machines
Azure Virtual Machines: Flexible Azure compute with scaling, networking, storage, and security options. Ranked #4 of 143 in Cloud Hosting by our editors (9.2/10); pricing: Paid; best for organizations standardizing on Azure.
At a glance
- Editor score9.2 / 10
- PricingPaid
- Best forOrganizations standardizing on Azure
- Free planNo
- AutoscalingYes
- Facts checked23 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Supports both Linux and Windows virtual machines
- Adds autoscaling, load balancing, zones, and scale sets
- Connects with Azure storage, monitoring, backup, and databases
Where it doesn't
- Pricing varies by region, operating system, usage, and configuration
- Requires Azure ecosystem knowledge for the broadest fit
- No free plan; ongoing usage can make costs complex to manage
Our verdict on Azure Virtual Machines
Azure Virtual Machines is a cloud computing service for deploying and running Linux or Windows virtual machines. It suits organizations that need configurable compute for enterprise software, databases, applications, APIs, or high-performance computing, particularly when their infrastructure already centers on Azure. Users can choose VM sizes, operating systems, disks, networking, regions, and availability zones, giving the service a broad range of deployment options.
Pricing is paid and depends on usage, region, operating system, and configuration rather than a single standard tier. A 30-day free trial is available. Cost-management options include Spot VMs, reservations, and savings plans, while managed disk storage is available for persistent workloads. The published capabilities also include Virtual Machine Scale Sets, autoscaling based on demand, schedules, or metrics, and load balancing across VM instances. Buyers should expect pricing decisions to require attention to compute selections and deployment design.
Azure Virtual Machines is strongest when paired with related Azure services. Integrations include Azure Load Balancer, Disk Storage, Blob Storage, Backup, Monitor, Migrate, Arc, and Azure databases, alongside networking and security services. Disk encryption and confidential computing support security-focused deployments, while regional deployment and availability zones support distributed architectures. Organizations seeking broad Azure integration and both Windows and Linux options should consider it; teams wanting a narrowly scoped hosting product with simpler pricing or less platform dependence may prefer an alternative.
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Azure Virtual Machines pricing
Azure Virtual Machines fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Regions available | Not verified |
| Autoscaling | Yes |
| Load balancing | Yes |
| Monthly bandwidth | Not verified |
| Object storage | Yes |
| Managed databases | Yes |
| Support level | Premium |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, Linux |
| Compliance & security | SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SSO/SAML, 2FA |
| Support | Tickets, Community, Docs · 24/7 |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 7 integrations: Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets, Azure Load Balancer, Azure Managed Disks, Azure Backup, Azure Monitor, Azure Blob Storage … |
| Pricing | Paid (source) |
| Website | azure.microsoft.com |
| Facts checked | 23 Sep 2026 |
Azure Virtual Machines integrations
Azure Virtual Machines lists 7 integrations on its own site.
- Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets
- Azure Load Balancer
- Azure Managed Disks
- Azure Backup
- Azure Monitor
- Azure Blob Storage
- Azure SQL Database
Alternatives to Azure Virtual Machines
- Amazon EC2Flexible virtual compute for AWS workloads, with usage-based pricing and broad service integration.9.4
- Google Compute EngineA broad-control VM platform for enterprise workloads across Linux and Windows.9.3
- Oracle Cloud ComputeA broad Oracle Cloud compute service with flexible infrastructure and usage-based pricing.9.0
See all Azure Virtual Machines alternatives →
Azure Virtual Machines vs the competition
- Azure Virtual Machines vs Amazon EC2
- Azure Virtual Machines vs Google Compute Engine
- Azure Virtual Machines vs Oracle Cloud Compute
- Azure Virtual Machines vs Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Azure Virtual Machines vs Alibaba Cloud Elastic Compute Service (ECS)
- Azure Virtual Machines vs Tencent Cloud CVM
Compare Azure Virtual Machines with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Azure Virtual Machines is ranked in 8 of our directories; the 6 strongest besides Cloud Hosting.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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