What is the difference between Akamai Cloud and Microsoft Azure?

Akamai Cloud and Microsoft Azure are both cloud GPU providers offering different pricing models, features, and GPU availability. Use our comparison tool to see real-time pricing and feature differences.

Which is cheaper: Akamai Cloud or Microsoft Azure?

Pricing varies by GPU model and usage requirements. Check our real-time comparison table to find the best deals for your specific needs.

Can I switch between Akamai Cloud and Microsoft Azure?

Yes, both providers offer flexible cloud GPU services. However, consider factors like data transfer costs, setup time, and specific features when switching between providers.

How many GPU models are available for comparison?

We track pricing for 6 different GPU models across both Akamai Cloud and Microsoft Azure, with 0 models available from both providers.

Akamai Cloud vs Microsoft Azure GPU Cloud Pricing 2026

GPU Pricing Comparison

Total GPUs: 6Both available: 0Akamai Cloud: 0Microsoft Azure: 6

Showing 6 of 6 GPUs

Last updated: 5/12/2026, 9:52:14 PM

GPU Model ↑	Akamai Cloud Price	Microsoft Azure Price	Price Diff ↕	Sources
A10 24GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$0.59/hr★ Best	—	Microsoft Azure
A10 24GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $0.59/hour Updated: 5/10/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$0.68/hr★ Best	—	Microsoft Azure
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $0.68/hour Updated: 4/27/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure
A100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$0.75/hr★ Best	—	Microsoft Azure
A100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $0.75/hour Updated: 5/10/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$2.19/hr★ Best	—	Microsoft Azure
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $2.19/hour Updated: 5/10/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure
Tesla T4 16GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$0.20/hr★ Best	—	Microsoft Azure
Tesla T4 16GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $0.20/hour Updated: 5/10/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure
Tesla V100 32GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$0.51/hr★ Best 8x GPU	—	Microsoft Azure
Tesla V100 32GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $0.51/hour 8x GPU configuration Updated: 5/10/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure

A10 24GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$0.59/hr★ Best	—	Microsoft Azure
A10 24GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $0.59/hour Updated: 5/10/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$0.68/hr★ Best	—	Microsoft Azure
A100 PCIE 40GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $0.68/hour Updated: 4/27/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure
A100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$0.75/hr★ Best	—	Microsoft Azure
A100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $0.75/hour Updated: 5/10/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$2.19/hr★ Best	—	Microsoft Azure
H100 SXM 80GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $2.19/hour Updated: 5/10/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure
Tesla T4 16GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$0.20/hr★ Best	—	Microsoft Azure
Tesla T4 16GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $0.20/hour Updated: 5/10/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure
Tesla V100 32GB VRAM • Microsoft Azure	Not Available	$0.51/hr★ Best 8x GPU	—	Microsoft Azure
Tesla V100 32GB VRAM • Not Available Microsoft Azure $0.51/hour 8x GPU configuration Updated: 5/10/2026 ★Best Price Microsoft Azure

Features Comparison

Akamai Cloud

RTX-Class GPU Plans
Workstation and Blackwell-generation RTX cards exposed as predictable GPU Linodes
Global Akamai Backbone
GPU instances available across the broader Akamai compute and CDN footprint
Predictable Monthly Pricing
Flat monthly pricing on GPU Linodes with hourly fallback

Microsoft Azure

Azure AI
Comprehensive suite of AI services and tools for building intelligent applications
Enterprise Integration
Seamless integration with Microsoft ecosystem and enterprise tools
Hybrid Capabilities
Strong hybrid and multi-cloud support with Azure Arc
Advanced Security
Industry-leading security features and compliance certifications
Global Scale
Extensive worldwide network of data centers and edge locations

Pros & Cons

Akamai Cloud

Advantages

Predictable flat-rate pricing model
Global region coverage inherited from the Akamai network
Blackwell-generation RTX PRO 6000 available alongside older RTX SKUs

Considerations

Catalog focused on RTX cards; H100/H200/B200 are not part of the public lineup
Limited multi-GPU and large-cluster offerings versus dedicated neoclouds
Less optimized for frontier-scale training

Microsoft Azure

Advantages

Strong enterprise integration and support
Comprehensive AI and machine learning services
Advanced security and compliance features
Extensive hybrid cloud capabilities

Considerations

Complex pricing and billing structure
Can be expensive for certain workloads
Steeper learning curve for new users

Compute Services

Akamai Cloud

Microsoft Azure

Azure Virtual Machines

GPU-enabled VMs for various workloads

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Managed Kubernetes service with GPU support

Integrated GPU node pools
Automated scaling and updates

Azure Machine Learning

End-to-end ML platform with GPU acceleration

Automated ML capabilities
Integrated MLOps

Pricing Options

Akamai Cloud

Monthly GPU Linodes

Flat monthly pricing for GPU-equipped virtual machines

Hourly Billing

Hourly billing fallback when instances run for less than a month

Microsoft Azure

Pay-as-you-go

Flexible pricing with no upfront commitment

Reserved VM Instances

Save up to 72% with 1 or 3-year commitments

Spot VMs

Up to 90% savings for interruptible workloads

Azure Hybrid Benefit

Cost savings for existing Windows Server and SQL Server licenses

Azure savings plan for compute

Save money across select compute services globally by committing to spend a fixed hourly amount for 1 or 3 years

Getting Started

Akamai Cloud

Get Started

1
Create an account
Sign up at the Akamai Cloud / Linode console
2
Choose a GPU Linode plan
Select RTX 4000 Ada, Quadro RTX 6000 or RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell with the desired GPU count
3
Deploy and connect
Provision the instance via console, CLI or API and connect over SSH

Microsoft Azure

Get Started

1
Create an Azure account
Sign up for Azure and get started with free credits
2
Set up your environment
Configure your subscription, resource groups, and access controls
3
Choose compute services
Select from VMs, containers, or serverless based on your needs
4
Deploy resources
Launch your first GPU-enabled instance or AI service

Support & Global Availability

Akamai Cloud

Global Regions

Global region coverage across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia

Support

Documentation, community resources and 24/7 paid support tiers

Microsoft Azure

Global Regions

60+ regions worldwide with multiple availability zones

Support

Basic, Developer, Standard, and Professional Direct support plans with 24/7 options. Extensive documentation and community resources.