Azure SQL Database vs. Amazon RDS for SQL Server

July 15, 2021

Azure SQL Database vs. Amazon RDS for SQL Server

Choosing between Azure SQL Database and Amazon RDS for SQL Server can be a tough decision. Both cloud-based services offer managed SQL Server databases that support scalable workloads. To help you make an informed decision, we have compared the two services based on their features, pricing, and performance. Let's dive right in!

Features

Both Azure SQL Database and Amazon RDS for SQL Server offer similar features. They both have automatic backups and restore, automated patching, and security features like encryption and firewall rules. However, Azure SQL Database has some unique features like automatic tuning, which uses AI to optimize the performance of your database.

On the other hand, Amazon RDS for SQL Server has some unique features like customizable parameter groups and Elastic Block Storage (EBS) snapshots for data backups.

Overall, both services offer robust features that can match your specific needs.

Pricing

The pricing of Azure SQL Database and Amazon RDS for SQL Server is another significant factor to consider.

Azure SQL Database's pricing is based on the amount of vCore and storage used. The pricing ranges from $0.0184 per hour for a single-core database to $4.736 per hour for a 128-core database. Additionally, there is a charge for data transfer between regions.

Amazon RDS for SQL Server's pricing is based on the instance type and storage used. The pricing ranges from $0.017 per hour for a db.t2.micro instance to $90.240 per hour for a db.m5.24xlarge instance. Additionally, there is a charge for data transfer between regions.

Overall, the pricing of both services varies based on usage and requirements.

Performance

Performance is a crucial factor when deciding between Azure SQL Database and Amazon RDS for SQL Server. Based on tests, we have found that both services offer comparable performance. However, the performance may vary based on the configuration used, so benchmarking is crucial to get an accurate comparison.

In terms of uptime, both services have an SLA of 99.99%, ensuring high availability of your database.

Conclusion

To summarize, Azure SQL Database and Amazon RDS for SQL Server are both excellent services that offer managed SQL Server databases that support scalable workloads. The choice between the two ultimately depends on your specific needs and requirements, as both services differ in features, pricing, and performance.

We hope that our comparison has provided you with valuable insights to help you make an informed decision.

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