COMPARE / MICROSOFT AZURE VS RUNPOD
Microsoft Azure vs RunPod
Like-for-like on-demand GPU pricing from each provider's own published rates, refreshed hourly. No reserved or committed-use pricing on either side.
HEAD TO HEAD
0 - 6
chips where Microsoft Azure is cheaper - chips where RunPod is cheaper, of 6 shared
| GPU model | Microsoft Azure from | RunPod from | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| V100 | $3.060/hr | $0.190/hr | RunPod (94% less) |
| A100 40GB SXM | $3.400/hr | $1.000/hr | RunPod (71% less) |
| MI300X | $6.000/hr | $0.500/hr | RunPod (92% less) |
| H100 NVL | $6.980/hr | $2.590/hr | RunPod (63% less) |
| H200 SXM | $10.600/hr | $3.590/hr | RunPod (66% less) |
| H100 SXM | $11.061/hr | $2.690/hr | RunPod (76% less) |
MICROSOFT AZURE VS RUNPOD - FAQ
Is Microsoft Azure or RunPod cheaper?
Across the 6 GPU models both providers publish, Microsoft Azure has the lower rate on 0 and RunPod on 6. It varies chip by chip - the table above compares like-for-like per-GPU hourly rates from each provider's own published prices, refreshed hourly.
What can I rent at both Microsoft Azure and RunPod?
Both publish rates for: V100, A100 40GB SXM, MI300X, H100 NVL, H200 SXM, H100 SXM. Microsoft Azure lists 10 models total; RunPod lists 45.
Does Compute Cafe earn from Microsoft Azure or RunPod links?
Microsoft Azure: no affiliate arrangement. RunPod: yes - disclosed referral links (Referral link: credits, not cash, at this tier - 5% of Serverless spend and 3% of Pod spend for the referred user's first 6 months. The 10% cash affiliate tier unlocks after 25 paying referrals (verified against the live program page 2026-09-21; the record previously said 12%).). Referral status never changes the numbers or the order on this page.