DNS & DNS-based routing
Amazon Route 53 (DNS hosting and domains) vs Azure DNS (public zones)
Route 53 public hosted zones map to Azure DNS public zones.
Both support DNSSEC and alias records that point at cloud resources.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon Route 53 (DNS hosting and domains) | Azure DNS (public zones) |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Authoritative DNS hosting with public hosted zones, DNSSEC signing, and domain registration. | Authoritative DNS hosting on Azure's anycast name servers, with DNSSEC signing, alias records, and Azure RBAC. Domain registration is separate (for example, App Service domains). |
| Pricing model | Per hosted zone per month plus per million queries (alias queries to AWS resources are free). | Per zone per month plus per million queries. |
| Docs | Amazon Route 53 (DNS hosting and domains) docs | Azure DNS (public zones) docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon Route 53 (DNS hosting and domains) pricing | Azure DNS (public zones) pricing |
| Exams | CLF-C02 SAA-C03 ANS-C01 Retiring | AZ-104 AZ-700 |
Key differences
- Domains. Route 53 also registers domains. Azure DNS hosts zones only (domains can be bought through App Service domains or any registrar).
- Routing. Route 53 combines hosting with routing policies and health checks. Azure splits routing into Traffic Manager (see the DNS-based routing row).
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per hosted zone per month plus per million queries (alias queries to AWS resources are free). Amazon Route 53 (DNS hosting and domains) pricing →
- Azure
- Per zone per month plus per million queries. Azure DNS (public zones) pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 | AWS | Foundational | current Italian and German versions retire after Dec 31, 2026. |
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate SAA-C03 | AWS | Associate | current Italian version retires after Dec 31, 2026. |
| AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty ANS-C01 | AWS | Specialty | retiring The exam is being retired. The last day to take it is Dec 31, 2026. Existing certifications stay active for their three-year period. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104 | Azure | Associate | current |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Network Engineer Associate AZ-700 | Azure | Associate | current |
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 Amazon Route 53 (DNS hosting and domains)?
Route 53 public hosted zones map to Azure DNS public zones. Both support DNSSEC and alias records that point at cloud resources.
How does pricing compare between Amazon Route 53 (DNS hosting and domains) and Azure DNS (public zones)?
AWS: Per hosted zone per month plus per million queries (alias queries to AWS resources are free). Azure: Per zone per month plus per million queries. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02); AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty (ANS-C01) [retiring]; Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104); Microsoft Certified – Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700).