Azure Virtual Machines vs DO Droplets: Pricing Comparison (2026)
Updated Apr 4, 2026AzureDO
Overall Winner
Azure
Azure Wins
11
DO Wins
1
Ties
0
Pricing Analysis
Azure wins 11 of 12 price comparisons, averaging 62.1% lower prices in categories where it leads.
Prices range from $0.005200/hr to $0.3750/hr across comparable tiers.
- ●Azure leads in Burstable (6/7 tiers, avg 51% difference)
- ●Azure leads in General Purpose (3/3 tiers, avg 77% difference)
- ●Azure leads in Memory Optimized (2/2 tiers, avg 80% difference)
Choose Azure
Best for Burstable workloads
Choose Azure
Best for General Purpose workloads
Choose Azure
Best for Memory Optimized workloads
Side-by-Side Pricing
Comparing Azure Virtual Machines and DO Droplets across 12 equivalent tiers. On-demand hourly rates are shown in USD for the default region.
Sort by:
Family:
| Category | Azure Azure Virtual Machines | DO Droplets | Diff | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Burstable - 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM | $0.0052/hr Standard_B1ls ($3.80/mo) | $0.0179/hr s-1vcpu-2gb ($13.04/mo) | +70.9% | Azure |
Burstable - 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | $0.0187/hr Standard_B2als_v2 ($13.65/mo) | $0.0357/hr s-2vcpu-4gb ($26.07/mo) | +47.6% | Azure |
Burstable - 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | $0.0338/hr Standard_B2as_v2 ($24.67/mo) | $0.0625/hr c-2vcpu-4gb ($45.63/mo) | +45.9% | Azure |
Burstable - 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM | $0.0606/hr Standard_B4als_v2 ($44.24/mo) | $0.0714/hr s-4vcpu-8gb ($52.14/mo) | +15.2% | Azure |
Burstable - 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM | $0.0301/hr Standard_B4as_v2 ($21.97/mo) | $0.1250/hr c-4vcpu-8gb ($91.25/mo) | +75.9% | Azure |
Burstable - 8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM | $0.3030/hr Standard_B8als_v2 ($221.19/mo) | $0.1429/hr s-8vcpu-16gb ($104.29/mo) | +52.9% | DO |
Burstable - 8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM | $0.1350/hr Standard_B8as_v2 ($98.55/mo) | $0.2500/hr c-8vcpu-16gb ($182.50/mo) | +46.0% | Azure |
General Purpose - 2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM | $0.0158/hr Basic_A2 ($11.53/mo) | $0.0938/hr g-2vcpu-8gb ($68.44/mo) | +83.1% | Azure |
General Purpose - 4 vCPU, 16 GB RAM | $0.0704/hr Basic_A4 ($51.39/mo) | $0.1875/hr g-4vcpu-16gb ($136.88/mo) | +62.5% | Azure |
General Purpose - 8 vCPU, 32 GB RAM | $0.0550/hr NC8dsxlRTX6Kv6 ($40.15/mo) | $0.3750/hr g-8vcpu-32gb ($273.75/mo) | +85.3% | Azure |
Memory Optimized - 2 vCPU, 16 GB RAM | $0.0252/hr Standard_E2_v3 ($18.40/mo) | $0.1250/hr m-2vcpu-16gb ($91.25/mo) | +79.8% | Azure |
Memory Optimized - 4 vCPU, 32 GB RAM | $0.0504/hr Standard_E4_v3 ($36.79/mo) | $0.2500/hr m-4vcpu-32gb ($182.50/mo) | +79.8% | Azure |
When to Choose Azure Azure Virtual Machines
- ✓Burstable - 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM - saves $9.27/mo (70.9% cheaper)
- ✓Burstable - 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM - saves $12.41/mo (47.6% cheaper)
- ✓Burstable - 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM - saves $20.95/mo (45.9% cheaper)
- ✓Burstable - 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM - saves $7.88/mo (15.2% cheaper)
- ✓Burstable - 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM - saves $69.28/mo (75.9% cheaper)
- ✓Burstable - 8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM - saves $83.95/mo (46% cheaper)
- ✓General Purpose - 2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM - saves $56.87/mo (83.1% cheaper)
- ✓General Purpose - 4 vCPU, 16 GB RAM - saves $85.48/mo (62.5% cheaper)
- ✓General Purpose - 8 vCPU, 32 GB RAM - saves $233.60/mo (85.3% cheaper)
- ✓Memory Optimized - 2 vCPU, 16 GB RAM - saves $72.85/mo (79.8% cheaper)
- ✓Memory Optimized - 4 vCPU, 32 GB RAM - saves $145.71/mo (79.8% cheaper)
When to Choose DO Droplets
- ✓Burstable - 8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM - saves $116.87/mo (52.9% cheaper)
Monthly Cost Examples
Burstable - 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM
Azure Standard_B1ls$3.80/mo
DO s-1vcpu-2gb$13.04/mo
Burstable - 8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM
Azure Standard_B8as_v2$98.55/mo
DO c-8vcpu-16gb$182.50/mo
Memory Optimized - 4 vCPU, 32 GB RAM
Azure Standard_E4_v3$36.79/mo
DO m-4vcpu-32gb$182.50/mo
Individual Pricing Details
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