What is the difference between Microsoft Azure and UpCloud?

Microsoft Azure and UpCloud 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: Microsoft Azure or UpCloud?

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 Microsoft Azure and UpCloud?

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

Microsoft Azure vs UpCloud

Compare GPU pricing, features, and specifications between Microsoft Azure and UpCloud cloud providers. Find the best deals for AI training, inference, and ML workloads.

Microsoft Azure

Provider 1

GPUs Available

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UpCloud

Provider 2

GPUs Available

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Comparison Overview

Total GPU Models

Microsoft Azure GPUs

UpCloud GPUs

Direct Comparisons

GPU Pricing Comparison

No GPU pricing data available for comparison between Microsoft Azure and UpCloud.

Features Comparison

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

UpCloud

Dedicated GPUs
No shared hardware — each GPU is always dedicated to a single server with full performance isolation
100% Renewable Energy
Helsinki data center powered entirely by renewable energy with up to 90% waste heat recovery for district heating
European Data Sovereignty
GDPR-compliant infrastructure in Finland with strong jurisdictional protections and no third-party dependencies
Zero-Cost Data Transfer
No egress fees — outbound data transfer is included at no extra cost
Usage-Based Billing
Pay only for active compute time with hourly billing, no rigid contracts or long-term commitments required

Pros & Cons

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

UpCloud

Advantages

100% renewable energy with waste heat recovery — strong sustainability credentials
Zero-cost egress eliminates surprise data transfer bills
GDPR-compliant EU data sovereignty in Finland
Dedicated GPUs with no shared hardware

Considerations

GPU servers only available in Helsinki — no multi-region GPU presence
Limited to NVIDIA L40S for public cloud (H200 NVL only via private cloud)
No NVLink or MIG support — inter-GPU communication limited to PCIe 4.0

Compute Services

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

UpCloud

GPU Servers

On-demand NVIDIA L40S GPU instances with dedicated hardware and AMD EPYC 9575F processors

Private Cloud GPUs

Dedicated private cloud infrastructure with NVIDIA L4, L40S, and H200 NVL GPUs

Pricing Options

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

UpCloud

On-Demand GPU Servers

Hourly billing for L40S GPU instances with no upfront commitment — pay only for active compute time

Private Cloud GPUs

Fixed monthly pricing for dedicated private cloud GPU infrastructure with L4, L40S, and H200 NVL

Getting Started

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

UpCloud

Get Started

1
Create an UpCloud account
Sign up at upcloud.com and complete account verification
2
Select a GPU server plan
Choose from 1x, 2x, or 3x L40S configurations with varying vCPU and RAM options
3
Deploy with AI/ML template
Use pre-configured GPU Ubuntu templates to get started quickly with CUDA and ML frameworks
4
Attach storage
Add block storage devices (1 GB–4 TB each) from any storage tier for your operating system and data

Support & Global Availability

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.

UpCloud

Global Regions

Helsinki, Finland (Telia Helsinki Data Center)

Support

Documentation, API reference, and support team available through the UpCloud control panel