Microsoft Azure vs Cloudflare

Microsoft's cloud behemoth meets the internet's swiss army knife. Here's our take.

Microsoft Azure

Nice Pick

Microsoft's cloud behemoth. It's like AWS, but with more enterprise baggage and a confusing portal.

Pros

• Seamless integration with Microsoft ecosystem (Active Directory, Office 365, etc.)
• Strong enterprise support and compliance certifications
• Excellent hybrid cloud capabilities
• Competitive pricing with reserved instances and spot VMs

Cons

• Azure Portal is notoriously clunky and slow
• Documentation can be scattered and inconsistent
• Some services feel like afterthoughts compared to AWS equivalents

Cloudflare

The internet's Swiss Army knife. From DNS to DDoS protection, it does everything except make your coffee.

Pros

• Free, fast DNS with built-in DDoS protection
• Easy-to-use CDN that caches static content globally
• Workers platform for serverless functions at the edge
• WAF and security features that are simple to configure

Cons

• Can get expensive quickly with high traffic or advanced features
• Some advanced settings require navigating a complex dashboard

The Verdict

Use Microsoft Azure if: You want seamless integration with microsoft ecosystem (active directory, office 365, etc.) and can live with azure portal is notoriously clunky and slow.

Use Cloudflare if: You prioritize free, fast dns with built-in ddos protection over what Microsoft Azure offers.

The Bottom Line

Microsoft Azure wins

Microsoft's cloud behemoth. It's like AWS, but with more enterprise baggage and a confusing portal.