Microsoft Azure vs AWS Certification: A 2026 Comparison

By Macdara Ó Murchú · Founder, AzurePrep·Last reviewed ·9 min read·1,893 words

Azure or AWS is usually the first certification decision a cloud professional makes. This comparison sets the two programmes side by side on exam structure, cost, salary, study resources and career fit.

Aspect Azure AWS Verdict
Fundamentals exam $99 $100 Similar cost
Associate exam $165 $150 AWS slightly cheaper
Expert/Pro exam $165 $300 Azure much cheaper
Renewal cost Free 50% off Azure wins
Validity period 1 year 3 years AWS wins
Free learning Excellent Good Azure wins
Enterprise demand Very High High Azure strong
Startup demand High Very High AWS strong
Learning resources Microsoft Learn AWS Skill Builder Both strong

The cloud certification market

Azure and AWS are the two largest cloud providers, and their certification programmes are organised quite differently.

Demand for each certification

Job posting analysis shows:

Certification paths compared

Both platforms have tiered certification paths running from foundational to expert level.

Foundational level

Aspect Azure (AZ-900) AWS (CLF-C02)
Name Azure Fundamentals Cloud Practitioner
Duration 45 minutes 90 minutes
Questions 40-60 65
Cost $99 $100
Difficulty Easy Easy
Validity Lifetime 3 years

AZ-900 covers:

CLF-C02 covers:

Recommendation: Either is a good starting point. Pick the one that matches the cloud platform your target employer uses.

Associate level

Associate certifications are the first level that employers weigh in hiring decisions.

Administrator and SysOps:

Aspect Azure (AZ-104) AWS (SOA-C03)
Name Azure Administrator CloudOps Engineer (formerly SysOps Administrator)
Focus Resource management Operations automation
Duration 100 minutes 130 minutes
Difficulty Moderate Moderate-Hard
Hands-on Minimal Multiple choice and multiple response only

Developer:

Aspect Azure (AZ-204) AWS (DVA-C02)
Name Azure Developer Developer Associate
Focus Building solutions Developing applications
Duration 100 minutes 130 minutes
Prerequisites Coding experience Coding experience

Solutions architect:

Aspect Azure (AZ-305) AWS (SAA-C03)
Name Solutions Architect Solutions Architect
Level Expert Associate
Focus Design decisions Architecture patterns
Difficulty Hard Moderate
Note that Azure's architect certification (AZ-305) is Expert level, while AWS's SAA is Associate level.

Expert level

Azure Expert certifications:

AWS Professional certifications:

On both platforms, expert certifications attract higher salaries and qualify you for senior positions.

Specialty certifications

Both platforms have specialty tracks:
Domain Azure AWS
Security AZ-500 (retired 31 August 2026) SCS-C02
Data/Analytics DP-203 (retired 31 March 2025) DAS-C01 (retired April 2024)
Machine Learning AI-102 (retired 30 June 2026) MLS-C01 (retired 31 March 2026)
Networking AZ-700 ANS-C01
Database DP-300 DBS-C01

Salaries

Salaries for certified professionals vary with role, location and experience, far more than with which platform's certification they hold. Neither Microsoft nor AWS publishes role-level pay data for certification holders, and no independent source reliably isolates a platform-specific pay difference. For context, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, May 2025) reports national median annual pay of $99,130 for network and computer systems administrators, $134,050 for computer network architects and $135,980 for software developers, the closest occupations it tracks to administrator, architect and developer roles on either platform. Source: BLS, network and computer systems administrators; computer network architects; software developers. Regional pay differences are large on both platforms. Check local job postings for current figures rather than relying on a fixed premium percentage. On either platform, certified professionals earn noticeably more than those without certification.

Study resources

The study materials you choose affect your chance of passing.

Official resources

Microsoft Learn (Azure):

AWS Skill Builder:

Verdict: Microsoft Learn has more free content; AWS Skill Builder has better hands-on labs.

Third-party resources

For Azure:

For AWS:

Practice exams

Practice exams are an important part of preparing on either platform:

The exams themselves

The two platforms use different exam formats.

Question types

Azure exams:

AWS exams:

AWS has added hands-on labs to some exams, which makes them more practical and also harder.

Exam delivery

Both use Pearson VUE:

Retake policies

Azure:

AWS:

Which suits your career

Choose Azure if:

Choose AWS if:

Consider both if:

Keeping a certification current

Both platforms require you to renew.

Azure renewal

AWS recertification

Verdict: Azure's free renewal makes its certifications cheaper to keep current.

Recommendations by situation

Career changers

Start with the fundamentals exam for your target platform:

Experienced IT professionals

Go straight to associate level:

Architects and technical leaders

Expert certifications set you apart:

The widest range of job options

Combine certifications that complement each other:

Frequently asked questions

Which certification has more job opportunities?

The balance of Azure and AWS openings varies by location and industry. Check job boards in your target location for current figures.

Can I switch between Azure and AWS careers?

Yes. Cloud concepts carry across platforms. Moving from one to the other typically takes 2-4 weeks of dedicated study to learn the equivalent services and pass an associate-level certification.

Are multi-cloud certifications valuable?

Yes, and more so each year. Organisations with multi-cloud strategies value people who can work across platforms, so an associate-level certification on both is worth considering.

How long do certifications take to earn?

Level Study Time Experience Required
Fundamentals 2-4 weeks None
Associate 4-8 weeks 6-12 months
Expert 8-12 weeks 2+ years

Should I get certified before having work experience?

A fundamentals certification is useful without experience. Associate and higher certifications are worth most when combined with practical experience.

Summary

Azure and AWS certifications both help a cloud career. Base the choice on four things:

  1. Target employer's platform - Research companies you want to join
  2. Regional market demand - Check local job postings
  3. Career goals - Enterprise vs. startup environments
  4. Existing skills - Microsoft background suggests Azure; Linux suggests AWS

Cloud skills transfer between platforms, and many professionals go on to earn certifications in both, so the first choice is not permanent. For Azure preparation, browse the practice exams, which cover every certification level from AZ-900 to specialty exams.

Last updated: April 2026