Routing & internet access
VPC route tables vs User-defined routes (route tables)
VPC route tables map to Azure user-defined routes (UDRs) in route tables associated with subnets.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | VPC route tables | User-defined routes (route tables) |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Routes associated with subnets, gateways (edge association), or a VPC's main table, directing traffic to gateways, endpoints, peering connections, and network interfaces. | Custom static routes in route tables associated with subnets, overriding Azure's default system routes (for example, to send traffic through a firewall). |
| Pricing model | Free. | Free. |
| Docs | VPC route tables docs | User-defined routes (route tables) docs |
| Pricing page | VPC route tables pricing | User-defined routes (route tables) pricing |
| Exams | SAA-C03 ANS-C01 Retiring | AZ-104 AZ-700 |
Key differences
- Defaults. A VPC has a main route table, and only routes you add send traffic out. Azure adds system routes automatically (including to the internet), and UDRs override them.
- Next hops. AWS routes target gateways, endpoints, peering connections, and network interfaces. Azure UDRs target a virtual appliance IP, virtual network gateway, internet, or none (drop).
- Gateway routing. AWS can attach route tables to internet and virtual private gateways (ingress routing). Azure uses UDRs on the GatewaySubnet for similar designs.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Free. VPC route tables pricing →
- Azure
- Free. User-defined routes (route tables) 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. |
| 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 VPC route tables?
VPC route tables map to Azure user-defined routes (UDRs) in route tables associated with subnets.
How does pricing compare between VPC route tables and User-defined routes (route tables)?
AWS: Free. Azure: Free. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
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).