Azure or AWS ?

Since you’re a .NET / Microsoft ecosystem developer, the short, practical answer is: Azure is usually the better default choice — but AWS can still make sense in some cases.

Why Azure fits best for a .NET developer

1. First-class .NET support

Azure is built by Microsoft, so the integration is native:

• ASP.NET / ASP.NET Core, Entity Framework

• Azure App Service (deploy in minutes)

• Azure Functions (excellent serverless for C#)

• Visual Studio & VS Code integration (publish directly)

You’ll feel “at home” very quickly.

2. Identity & security (huge advantage)

If you use:

Active Directory, Entra ID (Azure AD), Role-based access control

Azure makes this almost effortless compared to AWS.

3. DevOps experience

• Azure DevOps (Repos, Pipelines, Boards)

• GitHub Actions (Microsoft-owned, great Azure support)

• Native CI/CD for .NET projects

AWS requires more manual setup and configuration for similar workflows.

4. PaaS over infrastructure

Azure excels at Platform-as-a-Service, which is ideal for most app developers:

• App Service, Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, Functions

You write code, Azure handles scaling, patching, and OS updates.

Where AWS can be better (even for .NET devs)

AWS may be a better choice if:

1. You need maximum service maturity

AWS often:

• Releases new services first

• Has deeper tooling for massive-scale systems

2. You’re targeting cloud-agnostic architecture

If you:

• Use Docker + Kubernetes

• Deploy mostly via Terraform

• Avoid vendor-specific services

AWS (or GCP) can feel more “neutral”.

3. Company ecosystem already uses AWS

Sometimes the decision is organizational, not technical.

Learning curve comparison (for .NET devs)

Recommendation

If you are:

• Building web APIs, creating enterprise apps, Using C#, ASP.NET, EF Core, Working with Microsoft identity & tools

>> Choose Azure first.

If you want:

• Broad cloud knowledge, Work in startups or multi-cloud environments

>> Learn Azure deeply, then AWS basics later.