Kubernetes
Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) vs Azure Red Hat OpenShift
Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) maps to Azure Red Hat OpenShift (ARO).
Both are jointly supported by Red Hat and the cloud provider and billed on the cloud bill.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) | Azure Red Hat OpenShift |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Managed OpenShift jointly supported by Red Hat and AWS, documented primarily as ROSA with hosted control planes (HCP). Billing goes through AWS, with service fees per 4 vCPUs of worker nodes plus a cluster fee for HCP. | Fully managed OpenShift jointly engineered, operated, and supported by Red Hat and Microsoft, billed on your Azure bill. Comes in standard and hosted control plane architectures. |
| Pricing model | ROSA service fees per 4 vCPUs of worker nodes (hourly or under annual contracts), plus a cluster fee for HCP, plus EC2 and other AWS resources. | VM costs plus OpenShift license fees for worker nodes (hourly or reserved). Control-plane cost depends on architecture. |
| Docs | Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) docs | Azure Red Hat OpenShift docs |
| Pricing page | Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) pricing | Azure Red Hat OpenShift pricing |
| Exams | SAP-C02 Retiring | AZ-305 |
Key differences
- Both offer a hosted control plane architecture. ARO also keeps a standard (self-contained) architecture.
- Operations. ARO is jointly engineered and operated by Microsoft and Red Hat. ROSA is operated by Red Hat SRE with AWS integration.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- ROSA service fees per 4 vCPUs of worker nodes (hourly or under annual contracts), plus a cluster fee for HCP, plus EC2 and other AWS resources. Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) pricing →
- Azure
- VM costs plus OpenShift license fees for worker nodes (hourly or reserved). Control-plane cost depends on architecture. Azure Red Hat OpenShift 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.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA)?
Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) maps to Azure Red Hat OpenShift (ARO). Both are jointly supported by Red Hat and the cloud provider and billed on the cloud bill.
How does pricing compare between Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) and Azure Red Hat OpenShift?
AWS: ROSA service fees per 4 vCPUs of worker nodes (hourly or under annual contracts), plus a cluster fee for HCP, plus EC2 and other AWS resources. Azure: VM costs plus OpenShift license fees for worker nodes (hourly or reserved). Control-plane cost depends on architecture. 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).