Cloud-native, serverless & distributed SQL
Amazon Aurora MySQL-Compatible Edition vs Azure Database for MySQL (flexible server)
Azure has no Aurora MySQL-style engine.
The closest option is Azure Database for MySQL (flexible server), using the Business Critical tier with zone-redundant HA and read replicas.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon Aurora MySQL-Compatible Edition | Azure Database for MySQL (flexible server) |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | MySQL-compatible engine on Aurora's shared, three-AZ storage volume, with up to 15 read replicas, Backtrack, Global Database, and Serverless v2. | Managed MySQL Community Edition (5.7, 8.0, and 8.4) in Burstable, General Purpose, and Business Critical tiers, with same-zone or zone-redundant HA, read replicas, and stop/start. |
| Pricing model | Per instance-hour or ACU-hour, plus storage and I/O (Standard) or a higher I/O-Optimized price. | Per vCore-hour by tier, plus storage and IOPS. |
| Docs | Amazon Aurora MySQL-Compatible Edition docs | Azure Database for MySQL (flexible server) docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon Aurora MySQL-Compatible Edition pricing | Azure Database for MySQL (flexible server) pricing |
| Exams | SAA-C03 SAP-C02 Retiring | AZ-305 |
Key differences
- Storage. Aurora MySQL keeps data on a shared cluster volume copied across three AZs, and replicas read the same volume. MySQL flexible server uses a primary and standby with their own storage, and read replicas use asynchronous MySQL replication.
- Features. Aurora MySQL adds Backtrack, fast cloning, Global Database, and Serverless v2. Flexible server has no equivalents for those.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per instance-hour or ACU-hour, plus storage and I/O (Standard) or a higher I/O-Optimized price. Amazon Aurora MySQL-Compatible Edition pricing →
- Azure
- Per vCore-hour by tier, plus storage and IOPS. Azure Database for MySQL (flexible server) pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate SAA-C03 | AWS | Associate | current Italian version retires after Dec 31, 2026. |
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional SAP-C02 | AWS | Professional | retiring Being updated to SAP-C03. Registration for SAP-C03 opens Oct 27, 2026. Last day to take SAP-C02 is Nov 16, 2026. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 | Azure | Expert | current English version updated Apr 17, 2026. |
Relevance is based on each exam's published scope, not a line-by-line objective match. Check the official study guide.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of Amazon Aurora MySQL-Compatible Edition?
Azure has no Aurora MySQL-style engine. The closest option is Azure Database for MySQL (flexible server), using the Business Critical tier with zone-redundant HA and read replicas.
How does pricing compare between Amazon Aurora MySQL-Compatible Edition and Azure Database for MySQL (flexible server)?
AWS: Per instance-hour or ACU-hour, plus storage and I/O (Standard) or a higher I/O-Optimized price. Azure: Per vCore-hour by tier, plus storage and IOPS. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) [retiring]; Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).