Azure OpenAI vs AWS Bedrock: Engineer’s Field Guide
Enterprise AI platformsSeptember 4, 2025
4 min read
Azure OpenAI vs AWS Bedrock: Engineer’s Field Guide
Last reviewed: 2025-09-04.
Executive summary
- Azure OpenAI Service provides managed access to OpenAI models within Azure with enterprise controls, regional deployment, and Azure-native security/governance. See Azure OpenAI overview and model availability notes (as of 2025-09-04).
- AWS Bedrock offers a multi-model platform (Anthropic Claude, Meta Llama, Cohere, Amazon models, etc.) through a unified API, with guardrails and AWS-native integrations. See Amazon Bedrock User Guide and Guardrails (as of 2025-09-04).
- Choice typically hinges on model preference (OpenAI vs multi-vendor), existing cloud alignment (Azure vs AWS), and compliance/governance requirements.
TL;DR — When to choose which
- Choose Azure OpenAI if… you standardize on OpenAI models and want Azure-native identity, networking, and compliance integration. Start with service overview.
- Choose AWS Bedrock if… you need flexibility across multiple foundation models with deep AWS service integration and configurable guardrails. See What is Bedrock and Guardrails.
What they are
Azure OpenAI Service: A Microsoft service that hosts OpenAI models on Azure with enterprise features (authentication, VNets/private endpoints, regional selection, etc.). Overview.
Amazon Bedrock: A fully managed AWS service to access multiple foundation models via unified APIs, with features for safety, governance, and orchestration. User Guide.
Feature comparison
| Area | Azure OpenAI Service | AWS Bedrock |
|---|---|---|
| Model access | OpenAI model families via Azure (Overview) | Multiple FM providers via a single API (What is Bedrock) |
| Governance & security | Azure AD/AAD, private networking, regional deployment (see Overview) | IAM, VPC, KMS, and Guardrails |
| Integrations | Azure ML, Cognitive Services, Microsoft 365, Data/Analytics services | S3, Lambda, Step Functions, SageMaker, Redshift, Glue |
| Pricing model | Usage-based; model/region dependent (see Azure pricing pages) | Usage-based; per-model/provider pricing (see AWS calculators/docs) |
Performance & limits
- Azure OpenAI: Throughput/latency and exact quotas vary by region, model, and subscription. See service overview and Azure documentation for deployment/limits guidance.
- AWS Bedrock: Performance varies by selected model and account settings; AWS provides safety tools and guardrails. See User Guide and Guardrails.
Pricing & licensing
- Azure OpenAI: Usage-based pricing varies by model and Azure region; verify in Azure pricing documentation and your subscription (as of 2025-09-04). Start at Overview.
- AWS Bedrock: Usage-based pricing varies by chosen model/provider and throughput mode; see AWS pricing documentation and calculators (as of 2025-09-04). Start with What is Bedrock.
Security, compliance & data handling
- Azure OpenAI: Azure-native identity, networking, and logging; data handling aligned to Azure enterprise controls. See Overview.
- AWS Bedrock: IAM, VPC isolation, KMS encryption, CloudTrail logging, and guardrails for safer generation. See User Guide and Guardrails.
Ecosystem & integrations
- Azure: Tight coupling with Azure ML, Data services, and Microsoft 365/Power Platform. Overview.
- AWS: Deep integration with the AWS stack (S3, Lambda, Step Functions, SageMaker, etc.). What is Bedrock.
Developer experience
- Azure OpenAI: Azure portal deployment flow, RBAC, private networking options, and Azure SDKs.
- AWS Bedrock: AWS Console/SDKs, Bedrock agent features, and safety configuration via Guardrails.
Decision matrix
| Scenario | Azure OpenAI | AWS Bedrock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standardize on OpenAI models | ✅ | — | If you primarily want OpenAI model families on Azure. |
| Multi-model flexibility | — | ✅ | If you need Claude, Llama, Cohere, Amazon models via one API. |
| Cloud alignment | ✅ Azure-native | ✅ AWS-native | Choose based on existing identity, networking, and ops. |
| Safety/guardrails configuration | ✅ | ✅ | Bedrock provides dedicated Guardrails; Azure relies on platform and app-level controls. |
FAQs
Do I get the same models in Azure OpenAI as OpenAI’s public API?
Azure publishes model availability and regions; verify in Azure docs: Overview.What models can I use with Bedrock?
See the Bedrock User Guide and model/provider sections: What is Bedrock.How are costs calculated?
Both are usage-based and vary by model/region/provider; use each cloud’s pricing documentation.Where do I configure safety and filtering?
Azure: within your application and Azure services. AWS: Guardrails.
Changelog & methodology
- Compiled from primary vendor documentation (service overviews, user guides).
- Avoided hard-coding prices/limits; linked to canonical docs (as of 2025-09-04).