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Microsoft Azure Functions VS AWS Lambda

Compare Microsoft Azure Functions VS AWS Lambda and see what are their differences

Microsoft Azure Functions logo Microsoft Azure Functions

Serverless, also known as FaaS (Function-as-a-Service), is a new approach to application development. FaaS is a form of serverless computing with an infrastructure managed by the provider to upload functions and use them on a pay-per-request basis.

AWS Lambda logo AWS Lambda

Automatic, event-driven compute service
  • Microsoft Azure Functions Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-09
  • AWS Lambda Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-29

Microsoft Azure Functions features and specs

  • Scalability
    Azure Functions automatically scale based on demand, allowing you to handle massive workloads without manual intervention.
  • Cost-Effectiveness
    You are billed only for the time your code runs, making it cost-effective compared to maintaining always-on servers.
  • Simplified Deployment
    Azure Functions support a variety of languages and have integrations that simplify deployment and development.
  • Integrations
    Built-in integrations with Azure services, third-party services, and APIs make it easier to build complex workflows.
  • Event-Driven
    Triggers and bindings for a wide range of events (HTTP requests, database changes, event queues) make it versatile for different use cases.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Azure Functions

  • Cold Start Latency
    Functions can experience latency issues during 'cold starts' when they haven't been invoked for a while.
  • Debugging Challenges
    Debugging serverless functions can be more challenging compared to traditional applications due to the distributed nature of the architecture.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Relying heavily on Azure-specific services and integrations may make it difficult to migrate to another platform.
  • Resource Limits
    There are limits on execution time, memory usage, and other resources which can impact performance for some applications.
  • Complexity in Monitoring
    Monitoring and logging require more setup and understanding compared to traditional applications, which might complicate operational workflows.

AWS Lambda features and specs

  • Scalability
    AWS Lambda automatically scales your application by running your code in response to each trigger. This means no manual intervention is required to handle varying levels of traffic.
  • Cost-effectiveness
    You only pay for the compute time you consume. Billing is metered in increments of 100 milliseconds and you are not charged when your code is not running.
  • Reduced Operations Overhead
    AWS Lambda abstracts the infrastructure management layer, so there is no need to manage or provision servers. This allows you to focus more on writing code for your applications.
  • Flexibility
    Supports multiple programming languages such as Python, Node.js, Ruby, Java, Go, and .NET, which allows you to use the language you are most comfortable with.
  • Integration with Other AWS Services
    Seamlessly integrates with many other AWS services such as S3, DynamoDB, RDS, SNS, and more, making it versatile and highly functional.
  • Automatic Scaling and Load Balancing
    Handles thousands of concurrent requests without managing the scaling yourself, making it suitable for applications requiring high availability and reliability.

Possible disadvantages of AWS Lambda

  • Cold Start Latency
    The first request to a Lambda function after it has been idle for a certain period can take longer to execute. This is referred to as a 'cold start' and can impact performance.
  • Resource Limits
    Lambda has defined limits, such as a maximum execution timeout of 15 minutes, memory allocation ranging from 128 MB to 10,240 MB, and temporary storage up to 512 MB.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Using AWS Lambda ties you into the AWS ecosystem, making it difficult to migrate to another cloud provider or an on-premises solution without significant modifications to your application.
  • Complexity of Debugging
    Debugging and monitoring distributed, serverless applications can be more complex compared to traditional applications due to the lack of direct access to the underlying infrastructure.
  • Cold Start Issues with VPC
    When Lambda functions are configured to access resources within a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), the cold start latency can be exacerbated due to additional VPC networking overhead.
  • Limited Execution Control
    AWS Lambda is designed for stateless, short-running tasks and may not be suitable for long-running processes or tasks requiring complex orchestration.

Microsoft Azure Functions videos

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AWS Lambda videos

AWS Lambda Vs EC2 | Serverless Vs EC2 | EC2 Alternatives

More videos:

  • Tutorial - AWS Lambda Tutorial | AWS Tutorial for Beginners | Intro to AWS Lambda | AWS Training | Edureka
  • Tutorial - AWS Lambda | What is AWS Lambda | AWS Lambda Tutorial for Beginners | Intellipaat

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microsoft Azure Functions and AWS Lambda)
Cloud Hosting
10 10%
90% 90
Cloud Computing
7 7%
93% 93
Developer Tools
18 18%
82% 82
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Microsoft Azure Functions and AWS Lambda

Microsoft Azure Functions Reviews

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AWS Lambda Reviews

Top 7 Firebase Alternatives for App Development in 2024
AWS Lambda is suitable for applications with varying workloads and those already using the AWS ecosystem.
Source: signoz.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, AWS Lambda seems to be a lot more popular than Microsoft Azure Functions. While we know about 273 links to AWS Lambda, we've tracked only 22 mentions of Microsoft Azure Functions. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Microsoft Azure Functions mentions (22)

  • Azure Functions with Python: Triggers
    Python developers can use Azure Functions to create lightweight, scalable, and efficient serverless applications. In this post, we will focus on triggers. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Deploying Azure Functions with Python: A Step-by-Step Guide
    Azure Functions is a serverless computing service provided by Microsoft Azure, enabling developers to run event-driven code without worrying about server management. In this article, we’ll walk through how to deploy Azure Functions using Python. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • A Brief History Of Serverless
    The FaaS platform gained a lot of popularity which resulted in many competitors. There was OSS providers like OpenFaaS or Fission. There were of course the commercial versions to like Azure Functions and Google Cloud Functions. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Implementing serverless architecture in React Native apps
    Serverless technology helps React Native developers create more robust, adaptable, and efficient mobile applications that meet the demands of today's dynamic digital landscape. By seamlessly integrating cloud functions from providers like AWS Lambda or Azure Functions, developers can tap into a world of possibilities to enrich their mobile apps. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Decoupler and future implications for legacy-proof UI code
    Azure Functions: Here’s the official Azure Functions product page, where you can learn about the features, benefits, and pricing of Microsoft’s serverless computing service. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
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AWS Lambda mentions (273)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microsoft Azure Functions and AWS Lambda, you can also consider the following products

Google App Engine - A powerful platform to build web and mobile apps that scale automatically.

Amazon S3 - Amazon S3 is an object storage where users can store data from their business on a safe, cloud-based platform. Amazon S3 operates in 54 availability zones within 18 graphic regions and 1 local region.

AWS Elastic Beanstalk - Quickly deploy and manage applications in the AWS cloud.

Amazon API Gateway - Create, publish, maintain, monitor, and secure APIs at any scale

Docker - Docker is an open platform that enables developers and system administrators to create distributed applications.

Google Cloud Functions - A serverless platform for building event-based microservices.