Kubernetes
Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere vs AKS Hybrid and Edge (AKS enabled by Azure Arc)
Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes and EKS Anywhere map to AKS Hybrid and Edge (AKS enabled by Azure Arc).
Azure manages on-premises clusters through Arc, while AWS either keeps the control plane in the Region (Hybrid Nodes) or leaves the cluster fully customer-managed (EKS Anywhere).
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere | AKS Hybrid and Edge (AKS enabled by Azure Arc) |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Hybrid Nodes attach your on-premises or edge machines to an EKS control plane running in the Region. EKS Anywhere is customer-managed Kubernetes (Cluster API) for vSphere, bare metal, Nutanix, and CloudStack, including air-gapped sites. | AKS on infrastructure you own (Azure Local, Windows Server, edge sites, other clouds) managed through the Azure control plane with Arc, plus Azure Policy, Defender for Cloud, and Azure Monitor. |
| Pricing model | Hybrid Nodes are billed per vCPU-hour on top of the EKS cluster fee. EKS Anywhere is free to use, with optional paid Enterprise Subscriptions for support. | AKS on Azure Local is included with Azure Local host fees (check current terms). Arc-enabled Kubernetes features such as Defender and Monitor are billed per vCPU or per usage. |
| Docs | Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere docs | AKS Hybrid and Edge (AKS enabled by Azure Arc) docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere pricing | AKS Hybrid and Edge (AKS enabled by Azure Arc) pricing |
| Exams | SAP-C02 Retiring | AZ-305 |
Key differences
- Control plane location. With EKS Hybrid Nodes, the control plane stays in an AWS Region, so you need reliable connectivity. With EKS on Outposts, the control plane is in the Region or local. AKS on Azure Local runs the cluster locally and projects it into Azure through Arc.
- Air-gapped. EKS Anywhere supports air-gapped sites (customer-managed, optional Enterprise Subscription). Azure Local supports disconnected operations with a locally hosted control plane.
- Any cluster. Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes can attach any CNCF-conformant cluster (including EKS) for policy, GitOps, and monitoring. AWS has the EKS Connector for read-only console visibility.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Hybrid Nodes are billed per vCPU-hour on top of the EKS cluster fee. EKS Anywhere is free to use, with optional paid Enterprise Subscriptions for support. Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere pricing →
- Azure
- AKS on Azure Local is included with Azure Local host fees (check current terms). Arc-enabled Kubernetes features such as Defender and Monitor are billed per vCPU or per usage. AKS Hybrid and Edge (AKS enabled by Azure Arc) pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Verification notes
- AKS pricing on Azure Local and other hybrid substrates differs by deployment option and has changed several times. Confirm on the Azure Local and Arc pricing pages.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere?
Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes and EKS Anywhere map to AKS Hybrid and Edge (AKS enabled by Azure Arc). Azure manages on-premises clusters through Arc, while AWS either keeps the control plane in the Region (Hybrid Nodes) or leaves the cluster fully customer-managed (EKS Anywhere).
How does pricing compare between Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes & EKS Anywhere and AKS Hybrid and Edge (AKS enabled by Azure Arc)?
AWS: Hybrid Nodes are billed per vCPU-hour on top of the EKS cluster fee. EKS Anywhere is free to use, with optional paid Enterprise Subscriptions for support. Azure: AKS on Azure Local is included with Azure Local host fees (check current terms). Arc-enabled Kubernetes features such as Defender and Monitor are billed per vCPU or per usage. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) [retiring]; Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).