Hybrid, edge & VMware
Amazon Elastic VMware Service (EVS) vs Azure VMware Solution
Amazon Elastic VMware Service (EVS) maps to Azure VMware Solution.
Both run VMware Cloud Foundation on the provider's bare metal, and both now require a portable VCF subscription from Broadcom. The difference is operations. EVS is self-managed (or partner-managed), while Azure VMware Solution is operated by Microsoft.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon Elastic VMware Service (EVS) | Azure VMware Solution |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Self-managed (or partner-managed) VMware Cloud Foundation that AWS deploys onto EC2 bare metal inside your VPC. You bring a portable VCF subscription from Broadcom. | Microsoft-operated VMware vSphere, vSAN, and NSX private clouds on dedicated Azure bare-metal hosts (AV36/AV36P/AV48/AV52/AV64, with a three-node minimum). All SKUs require a portable VCF subscription from Broadcom. Generation 2 (AV64 only) attaches hosts directly to Azure virtual networks. |
| Pricing model | EVS has a service fee plus the EC2 bare-metal instances (On-Demand, 1-year, or 3-year). VCF licenses are your own. | Billed per host (node) by SKU, hourly or with 1-year or 3-year reservations (availability varies by SKU). The infrastructure and managed service are included, but the Broadcom VCF subscription isn't. |
| Docs | Amazon Elastic VMware Service (EVS) docs | Azure VMware Solution docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon Elastic VMware Service (EVS) pricing | Azure VMware Solution pricing |
| Exams | SAP-C02 Retiring | AZ-305 |
Key differences
- Operations. With EVS, AWS deploys VCF into your VPC, then you (or a partner) operate it with full admin access. Azure VMware Solution is a first-party service where Microsoft manages the hosts, vSphere, vSAN, and NSX lifecycle.
- Licensing. Both require you to bring a portable VMware Cloud Foundation subscription from Broadcom. Azure VMware Solution's pricing page lists every host SKU as "VCF BYOL" and says prices exclude the VCF subscription.
- Minimum size. Azure VMware Solution private clouds need at least three nodes. EVS deploys onto EC2 bare-metal hosts (i4i.metal at launch).
- Networking. EVS hosts run inside your VPC. Azure VMware Solution Gen 1 connects to VNets over Microsoft-managed ExpressRoute, and Gen 2 (AV64 only) attaches hosts directly to Azure virtual networks.
- VMware Cloud on AWS is a separate offering sold by Broadcom (VMware), not an AWS-managed service, so it isn't mapped here.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- EVS has a service fee plus the EC2 bare-metal instances (On-Demand, 1-year, or 3-year). VCF licenses are your own. Amazon Elastic VMware Service (EVS) pricing →
- Azure
- Billed per host (node) by SKU, hourly or with 1-year or 3-year reservations (availability varies by SKU). The infrastructure and managed service are included, but the Broadcom VCF subscription isn't. Azure VMware Solution 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
- VMware licensing changed after Broadcom's acquisition, and the BYOL-only model on both sides is recent. Confirm Broadcom subscription terms before costing.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of Amazon Elastic VMware Service (EVS)?
Amazon Elastic VMware Service (EVS) maps to Azure VMware Solution. Both run VMware Cloud Foundation on the provider's bare metal, and both now require a portable VCF subscription from Broadcom. The difference is operations. EVS is self-managed (or partner-managed), while Azure VMware Solution is operated by Microsoft.
How does pricing compare between Amazon Elastic VMware Service (EVS) and Azure VMware Solution?
AWS: EVS has a service fee plus the EC2 bare-metal instances (On-Demand, 1-year, or 3-year). VCF licenses are your own. Azure: Billed per host (node) by SKU, hourly or with 1-year or 3-year reservations (availability varies by SKU). The infrastructure and managed service are included, but the Broadcom VCF subscription isn't. 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).