Object access, file access & analytics
Amazon S3 Files / Mountpoint for Amazon S3 vs NFS 3.0 protocol support for Blob Storage / BlobFuse2
Amazon S3 Files (a managed shared file system over a bucket) and Mountpoint for Amazon S3 map to NFS 3.0 support for Blob Storage and BlobFuse2.
Azure has no managed file-system layer over Blob comparable to S3 Files.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon S3 Files Mountpoint for Amazon S3 | NFS 3.0 protocol support for Blob Storage BlobFuse2 |
| Lifecycle | Launched Apr 7, 2026. Built on Amazon EFS technology. Generally available | Generally available BlobFuse v1 support ends in September 2026, so migrate to v2. |
| What it is | A shared file system linked to an S3 bucket or prefix. It mounts on EC2, Lambda, EKS, and ECS, caches actively used data on high-performance storage, and keeps the file system and bucket in sync in both directions. An open-source FUSE client that mounts a bucket as a local file system on Linux, optimized for high-throughput reads and sequential writes. Not fully POSIX. It's designed for reading large files and writing new ones, not for in-place edits. | Mount a Blob container over NFS 3.0 from Linux clients in Azure or on premises (over a private network). Requires the hierarchical namespace and suits large, sequential, read-heavy workloads. Open-source libfuse3 client that mounts Blob containers as a Linux file system, with file, metadata, and attribute caching and preload. Not fully POSIX (for example, renames aren't atomic). |
| Pricing model | S3 Files charges for data on its high-performance storage, small-file reads and all writes, and S3 requests made during sync. Mountpoint is free; you pay for S3 requests. | NFS 3.0 and BlobFuse2 are free. You pay normal Blob storage and transaction charges. |
| Docs | Amazon S3 Files docs Mountpoint for Amazon S3 docs | NFS 3.0 protocol support for Blob Storage docs BlobFuse2 docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon S3 Files pricing Mountpoint for Amazon S3 pricing | NFS 3.0 protocol support for Blob Storage pricing BlobFuse2 pricing |
| Exams | SAA-C03 | AZ-104 |
Key differences
- Semantics. S3 Files provides full file-system semantics with a managed high-performance layer and two-way sync to the bucket. Mountpoint, BlobFuse2, and NFS 3.0 on Blob are thinner layers that aren't fully POSIX (for example, renames aren't atomic in BlobFuse2).
- Where it mounts. S3 Files mounts on EC2, Lambda, EKS, and ECS. NFS 3.0 on Blob mounts from Linux clients in Azure or on premises over a private network. BlobFuse2 and Mountpoint are client-side FUSE drivers on Linux.
- Prerequisites. NFS 3.0 on Blob needs the hierarchical namespace. BlobFuse2 works with flat or hierarchical accounts.
- Workload fit. NFS 3.0 on Blob is tuned for large, sequential, read-heavy jobs. For general shared file workloads on Azure, use Azure Files or Azure NetApp Files.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- S3 Files charges for data on its high-performance storage, small-file reads and all writes, and S3 requests made during sync. Mountpoint is free; you pay for S3 requests. Amazon S3 Files pricing → Mountpoint for Amazon S3 pricing →
- Azure
- NFS 3.0 and BlobFuse2 are free. You pay normal Blob storage and transaction charges. NFS 3.0 protocol support for Blob Storage pricing → BlobFuse2 pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate SAA-C03 | AWS | Associate | current Italian version retires after Dec 31, 2026. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104 | Azure | Associate | current |
Relevance is based on each exam's published scope, not a line-by-line objective match. Check the official study guide.
Verification notes
- S3 Files launched Apr 7, 2026, so current AWS exams may not cover it yet.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of Amazon S3 Files and Mountpoint for Amazon S3?
Amazon S3 Files (a managed shared file system over a bucket) and Mountpoint for Amazon S3 map to NFS 3.0 support for Blob Storage and BlobFuse2. Azure has no managed file-system layer over Blob comparable to S3 Files.
How does pricing compare between Amazon S3 Files and Mountpoint for Amazon S3 and NFS 3.0 protocol support for Blob Storage and BlobFuse2?
AWS: S3 Files charges for data on its high-performance storage, small-file reads and all writes, and S3 requests made during sync. Mountpoint is free; you pay for S3 requests. Azure: NFS 3.0 and BlobFuse2 are free. You pay normal Blob storage and transaction charges. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104).