Serverless functions
AWS Lambda (Event Functions) vs Azure Functions
The Azure equivalent of AWS Lambda is Azure Functions.
Both run event-triggered code on managed infrastructure, but Azure Functions has several hosting plans, and its declarative bindings have no counterpart on Lambda.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Lambda (Event Functions) | Azure Functions |
| Lifecycle | "Event Functions" is the new name (Oct 2026) for classic Lambda functions. The APIs, ARNs, and SDKs are unchanged. | The Linux Consumption plan retires Sep 30, 2028 (no new features). The Flex Consumption plan is recommended for new serverless apps. |
| What it is | Event-driven functions triggered by 200+ AWS services or API calls. Invocations run up to 15 minutes, with one request per execution environment, billed per request and per GB-second. | Event-driven functions with triggers and input/output bindings. Hosting plans are Flex Consumption, Premium, Dedicated (App Service), Container Apps, and legacy Consumption. |
| Pricing model | Per request plus GB-seconds of duration (x86 or Arm rates), with a monthly free tier. Provisioned concurrency and SnapStart are billed separately. Compute Savings Plans apply. | Flex Consumption bills per execution plus GB-seconds of on-demand instances, with always-ready instances billed at their own rate. Premium bills per vCPU and GB of instances, and Dedicated bills per App Service plan. |
| Docs | AWS Lambda (Event Functions) docs | Azure Functions docs |
| Pricing page | AWS Lambda (Event Functions) pricing | Azure Functions pricing |
| Exams | DVA-C02 Retiring SAA-C03 | AZ-204 Retired AZ-305 |
Key differences
- Hosting. Lambda has one service, with optional Managed Instances. Azure Functions runs on Flex Consumption (recommended serverless), Premium, Dedicated (App Service), Container Apps, or legacy Consumption. The Linux Consumption plan retires Sep 30, 2028.
- Triggers and bindings. Lambda uses event source mappings and service integrations (200+ AWS services). Azure Functions uses triggers plus input and output bindings that read from and write to services declaratively.
- Concurrency. A Lambda Event Function handles one request per environment by default. Flex Consumption has configurable per-instance concurrency.
- Limits. Lambda invocations run up to 15 minutes (up to 90 minutes for some invocations on Managed Instances). Azure timeouts depend on the plan, and Premium and Dedicated allow longer or unbounded runs.
- Naming. AWS now calls classic functions "Event Functions" to separate them from Web Functions and MicroVMs. The APIs are unchanged.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per request plus GB-seconds of duration (x86 or Arm rates), with a monthly free tier. Provisioned concurrency and SnapStart are billed separately. Compute Savings Plans apply. AWS Lambda (Event Functions) pricing →
- Azure
- Flex Consumption bills per execution plus GB-seconds of on-demand instances, with always-ready instances billed at their own rate. Premium bills per vCPU and GB of instances, and Dedicated bills per App Service plan. Azure Functions pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Developer – Associate DVA-C02 | AWS | Associate | retiring Being updated to DVA-C03. Registration for DVA-C03 opens Oct 27, 2026. Last day to take DVA-C02 is Nov 30, 2026. |
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate SAA-C03 | AWS | Associate | current Italian version retires after Dec 31, 2026. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Developer Associate AZ-204 | Azure | Associate | retired The certification and renewal assessment are retired (the page doesn't give a date). The closest current developer credential is AI-200 (Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate). That's our reading, not an official mapping. |
| 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 Lambda (Event Functions)?
The Azure equivalent of AWS Lambda is Azure Functions. Both run event-triggered code on managed infrastructure, but Azure Functions has several hosting plans, and its declarative bindings have no counterpart on Lambda.
How does pricing compare between AWS Lambda (Event Functions) and Azure Functions?
AWS: Per request plus GB-seconds of duration (x86 or Arm rates), with a monthly free tier. Provisioned concurrency and SnapStart are billed separately. Compute Savings Plans apply. Azure: Flex Consumption bills per execution plus GB-seconds of on-demand instances, with always-ready instances billed at their own rate. Premium bills per vCPU and GB of instances, and Dedicated bills per App Service plan. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02) [retiring]; AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); Microsoft Certified – Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) [retired]; Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).