Simple hosting & virtual desktops
Amazon WorkSpaces Applications (formerly AppStream 2.0) vs Azure Virtual Desktop
Amazon WorkSpaces Applications (formerly AppStream 2.0) maps to RemoteApp in Azure Virtual Desktop, which publishes individual apps from session hosts.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon WorkSpaces Applications (formerly AppStream 2.0) | Azure Virtual Desktop |
| Lifecycle | Renamed from Amazon AppStream 2.0. API namespaces still use "appstream". | Azure Virtual Desktop (classic) retired Sep 30, 2026. Only ARM-based host pools are supported. |
| What it is | Managed application streaming. Desktop apps run on AWS fleets and stream to a client or HTML5 browser. | Desktop and app virtualization on session hosts you run in Azure (or on Azure Local). Windows 11/10 Enterprise multi-session is exclusive to it. Supports RemoteApp. |
| Pricing model | Per-instance-hour fleet pricing plus per-user Microsoft RDS SAL fees for Windows fleets (unless you bring your own). | Session-host VM, storage, and network costs plus user access rights. Per-user access pricing is available for external users. |
| Docs | Amazon WorkSpaces Applications (formerly AppStream 2.0) docs | Azure Virtual Desktop docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon WorkSpaces Applications (formerly AppStream 2.0) pricing | Azure Virtual Desktop pricing |
| Exams | SAA-C03 | AZ-104 |
Key differences
- WorkSpaces Applications is a managed fleet service (always-on, on-demand, or elastic fleets) with HTML5 browser access. RemoteApp in Azure Virtual Desktop runs on session-host VMs that you manage.
- WorkSpaces Applications now offers MCP tools so AI agents can operate desktop apps. Azure Virtual Desktop has no equivalent built in.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per-instance-hour fleet pricing plus per-user Microsoft RDS SAL fees for Windows fleets (unless you bring your own). Amazon WorkSpaces Applications (formerly AppStream 2.0) pricing →
- Azure
- Session-host VM, storage, and network costs plus user access rights. Per-user access pricing is available for external users. Azure Virtual Desktop 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.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of Amazon WorkSpaces Applications (formerly AppStream 2.0)?
Amazon WorkSpaces Applications (formerly AppStream 2.0) maps to RemoteApp in Azure Virtual Desktop, which publishes individual apps from session hosts.
How does pricing compare between Amazon WorkSpaces Applications (formerly AppStream 2.0) and Azure Virtual Desktop?
AWS: Per-instance-hour fleet pricing plus per-user Microsoft RDS SAL fees for Windows fleets (unless you bring your own). Azure: Session-host VM, storage, and network costs plus user access rights. Per-user access pricing is available for external users. 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).