Quick Answer
Last verified:

Microsoft Azure pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $1 to $12 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: No free tier available
  • Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
  • Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Last verified: February 2026 | Sources: 1 pricing pages and reviews
Forever Free plan type
Forever Free

Microsoft Azure's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit.

What's Included in the Free Plan

  • $200 credit for first 30 days
  • 750 hours/month B1s, B2pts v2, and B2ats v2 VMs (12 months)
  • 5 GB Blob Storage (12 months)
  • 250 GB SQL Database (12 months)
  • 15 GB outbound data transfer/month
  • 55+ always-free services including Functions and Cosmos DB
  • Azure DevOps with 5 users free
  • Azure Active Directory free tier

What's NOT Included (Paid Only)

  • 1 vCPU, 1 GiB memory
  • Burstable CPU performance
  • Per-second billing
  • No upfront commitment
  • Linux or Windows OS options
  • Available in 60+ regions worldwide
  • Integrated with Azure Monitor

You'll Need to Upgrade When...

  • You exceed the user limit
  • You need features like 1 vCPU, 1 GiB memory or Burstable CPU performance
  • You require premium support or SLA guarantees
  • You need to remove branding or watermarks
  • You need advanced integrations or API access

Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan

  • ! Microsoft Azure branding may appear on your content or communications
  • ! Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
  • ! Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
  • ! API access is typically limited or not available
  • ! Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans

Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?

Free Plan is Enough If...

  • You're an individual or very small team
  • You need only basic features
  • You don't mind usage limits
  • Branding on output is acceptable
  • Community support is sufficient

Free vs Pay-As-You-Go (B1s) Plan Comparison

Free Tier $0
Features 8 included 7+ included
Support Community/Email Priority Support
Branding Microsoft Azure branding Your branding
Best For Developers and startups exploring Azure or building initial prototypes Lightweight workloads, development servers, and testing environments

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Is Microsoft Azure free?

Yes, Microsoft Azure offers a forever free plan with 8 core features included. However, there are limits on users and features that may require upgrading.

02 What's included in Microsoft Azure's free plan?

Microsoft Azure's free plan includes: $200 credit for first 30 days, 750 hours/month B1s, B2pts v2, and B2ats v2 VMs (12 months), 5 GB Blob Storage (12 months), 250 GB SQL Database (12 months), 15 GB outbound data transfer/month, and 3 more features. Key limits include basic usage caps.

03 What's NOT included in Microsoft Azure's free plan?

The free plan excludes: 1 vCPU, 1 GiB memory, Burstable CPU performance, Per-second billing, No upfront commitment, Linux or Windows OS options. You'll also have Microsoft Azure branding and limited support options.

04 When should I upgrade from Microsoft Azure's free plan?

Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like 1 vCPU, 1 GiB memory or Burstable CPU performance, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $7.59/month.

05 Is Microsoft Azure's free plan really free forever?

Yes, Microsoft Azure's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.

Get Microsoft Azure pricing updates

We'll notify you when pricing changes or new free features are added.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.