Batch & HPC
AWS Batch vs Azure Batch
AWS Batch maps to Azure Batch.
Both are free schedulers that run jobs on pools of VMs (including Spot) that you pay for.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Batch | Azure Batch |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Managed batch job scheduler. It runs containerized jobs and array jobs on EC2 (including Spot), Fargate, or EKS compute environments, using job queues and fair-share scheduling. | Free job scheduling and pool management for large parallel and HPC jobs on VM pools (including Spot), with tasks, job schedules, and autoscale formulas. You pay for the underlying resources. |
| Pricing model | There's no extra charge for AWS Batch. You pay for the EC2, Fargate, or EKS resources it launches. | Azure Batch is free. You pay for the pool VMs, storage, and networking. Spot VMs reduce pool costs. |
| Docs | AWS Batch docs | Azure Batch docs |
| Pricing page | AWS Batch pricing | Azure Batch pricing |
| Exams | SAA-C03 SAP-C02 Retiring | AZ-305 |
Key differences
- Workload format. AWS Batch jobs are container-based (job definitions) on EC2, Fargate, or EKS compute environments. Azure Batch runs tasks as command lines, with optional containers, on VM pools you define (image, size, start task, application packages).
- Scheduling. AWS Batch has job queues with priorities, fair-share scheduling, array jobs, dependencies, and multi-node parallel jobs. Azure Batch has jobs, tasks, task dependencies, job schedules, multi-instance (MPI) tasks, and pool autoscale formulas.
- Azure Batch accounts use either Batch service or user subscription pool allocation mode. The second puts pool VMs in your subscription, so your quotas and reservations apply.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- There's no extra charge for AWS Batch. You pay for the EC2, Fargate, or EKS resources it launches. AWS Batch pricing →
- Azure
- Azure Batch is free. You pay for the pool VMs, storage, and networking. Spot VMs reduce pool costs. Azure Batch 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 AWS Batch?
AWS Batch maps to Azure Batch. Both are free schedulers that run jobs on pools of VMs (including Spot) that you pay for.
How does pricing compare between AWS Batch and Azure Batch?
AWS: There's no extra charge for AWS Batch. You pay for the EC2, Fargate, or EKS resources it launches. Azure: Azure Batch is free. You pay for the pool VMs, storage, and networking. Spot VMs reduce pool costs. 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).