Microsoft Azure vs DatabaseMart: The Best Azure Alternative for VPS Hosting

Company Background

Feature	Microsoft Azure	DatabaseMart
Founded	2010	2005
Headquarters	USA	USA
Main Products	VPS, Dedicated Hosts, App Services, Kubernetes, GPU VMs, Storage, AI Services, etc.	Windows/Linux VPS, Dedicated Servers, GPU Servers, GPU VPS, Kubernetes Clusters, Serverless LLM, Domain, SSL, etc.
Data Centers	60+ Global Data Centers	Dallas, Kansas

Hardware & Resource Comparison

Hardware	Microsoft Azure VPS	DatabaseMart VPS
CPU Model / Type	Intel Xeon (Skylake / Cascade Lake), AMD EPYC	Intel Xeon E3-12xx v2 (Ivy Bridge, IBRS)
CPU Cores	1–96 vCPU (depending on VM series)	2–16 vCPU
CPU Dedicated or Shared	Shared vCPU (Dedicated Host available on some plans)	Dedicated
RAM	1GB–768GB (depending on VM series)	4GB–32GB
Disk Type	Premium SSD / Standard SSD / Ultra Disk	SSD
Disk Size	30GB–32TB (expandable with multiple disks)	60GB–400GB
Bandwidth	Metered outbound traffic	100–500 Mbps Unmetered
Root Access	Full root/admin access	Full root/admin access
Operating System	Multiple Linux & Windows OS options	Multiple Linux & Windows OS options
IPs	Public & Private IP	Dedicated IPv4/IPv6

Microsoft Azure — Pros & Cons

✅Pros

1. Advanced hardware with extremely high performance ceilings
   Microsoft Azure is built on modern processor platforms such as Intel Skylake, Cascade Lake, and AMD EPYC. Individual virtual machines can scale to very high vCPU and memory limits, enabling support for high-concurrency workloads, large-scale computing tasks, and IO-intensive scenarios. This makes Azure VPS well suited for businesses that require high performance ceilings and elastic scalability.
2. Strong global deployment capabilities
   With more than 60 data centers worldwide, Azure VPS hosting allows workloads to be deployed close to end users, effectively reducing cross-region latency. This provides a clear advantage for products and services targeting international or multi-regional markets.
3. Comprehensive cloud ecosystem
   Azure offers a full range of cloud services, including Virtual Machines, Kubernetes, AI services, Serverless computing, Storage, and CDN. It is also deeply integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem—such as Active Directory, Office, and SQL Server—making it an excellent choice for building complex, enterprise-grade and platform-level cloud architectures.

⚠️Cons

1. Higher overall cost with complex pricing structure
   Azure uses a fine-grained billing model. Outbound bandwidth is charged on a usage basis and can be expensive, while disks, IP addresses, snapshots, and traffic are all billed separately. As a result, the total cost of long-term operation is often significantly higher than that of traditional VPS solutions, making Azure less suitable for cost-sensitive projects.
2. Shared vCPU by default
   Most Azure virtual machines use a shared vCPU model. Under high load or resource contention, performance fluctuations may occur. While Dedicated Hosts can mitigate this issue, they come at a substantially higher cost.
3. Higher operational and management complexity
   Azure’s account, subscription, resource group, and permission systems are multi-layered and can be challenging for new users. Misconfigurations or operational mistakes can easily lead to unexpected charges or resource management issues.

🎯 Suitable Users / Scenarios

• SaaS and platform-level products
• Globally distributed businesses
• Workloads requiring high concurrency and automatic scaling
• Enterprises with strict requirements for compliance, reliability, and stability

DatabaseMart VPS — Pros & Cons

✅Pros

1. Truly dedicated CPU with stable, predictable performance
   DatabaseMart VPS provides dedicated vCPU, meaning computing resources are not shared with other users. This ensures consistent and stable performance without interference from neighboring workloads, making it particularly suitable for databases, backend services, and applications that require long-term, stable operation.
2. Unmetered bandwidth with a straightforward network model
   DatabaseMart VPS plans offer unmetered bandwidth, which is highly advantageous for bandwidth-intensive applications such as video streaming, media distribution, file downloads, and high-frequency API delivery. The pricing structure is clear and predictable, with no risk of traffic overage charges.
3. High cost-effectiveness with controllable long-term expenses
   Under comparable configurations, DatabaseMart VPS is typically priced significantly lower than Azure VPS. Its simple billing model eliminates complex or hidden charges, making it a strong choice for projects with well-defined budgets and a focus on long-term stability.
4. Simple and direct operations model
   DatabaseMart uses a traditional VPS architecture and provides full root / administrator access. Deployment and management are straightforward, aligning well with technical teams that value system control, simplicity, and maintainability.

⚠️Cons

1. Relatively older hardware platform
   DatabaseMart VPS primarily relies on earlier-generation server hardware. While single-core performance remains practical, overall computing power and energy efficiency lag behind modern cloud platforms.
2. Limited data center locations
   DatabaseMart VPS data centers are mainly located in Dallas and Kansas, offering limited options for global latency optimization. This makes it less suitable for applications with strong requirements for low latency across multiple geographic regions.

🎯 Suitable Users / Scenarios

• Video streaming and media delivery
• Stable databases and backend systems
• Long-running, non-elastic workloads
• Bandwidth-intensive applications with minimal cloud ecosystem requirements
• Technical teams seeking control, simplicity, and predictable performance

Pricing Comparison

Linux VPS

Configuration	Microsoft Azure	DatabaseMart Pricing
2 vCore 4GB RAM 60GB SSD	$24.5280/month	$6.99/month
4 vCore 8GB RAM 140GB SSD	$86.8700/month	$12.99/month
8 vCore 18GB RAM 240GB SSD	$173.7400/month(16GB RAM)	$23.99/month
16 vCore 32GB RAM 400GB SSD	$347.4800/month	$63.99/month

Windows VPS

Configuration	Microsoft Azure	DatabaseMart Pricing
2 vCore 4GB RAM 60GB SSD	$30.3680/month	$9.99/month
4 vCore 8GB RAM 140GB SSD	$107.3100/month	$18.99/month
8 vCore 18GB RAM 240GB SSD	$215.3500/month(16GB RAM)	$35.99/month
16 vCore 32GB RAM 400GB SSD	$429.9700/month	$79.99/month

Cost Comparison

From the Linux and Windows VPS configuration comparison, it is evident that, under the same vCore and memory specifications, the monthly cost of Microsoft Azure VPS hosting is generally 3–7 times higher than that of DatabaseMart VPS, and the gap widens as the configuration increases.
In mid-to-high configurations (8 vCore and above), Azure pricing clearly reflects a "platform cloud" pricing model, while DatabaseMart pricing curve is much flatter, making it more suitable for workloads that require long-term stable operation.

The cost difference is even more pronounced in Windows Server VPS scenarios, where Azure pricing premium increases further due to the inclusion of Windows license and the inherent cloud platform markup, resulting in a significantly higher total cost compared to traditional VPS solutions.

Core Reasons Behind the Price Difference

Different pricing models: cloud platform vs resource-based VPS
Azure pricing not only covers the computing resources themselves but also includes:

1. Global data center network
2. High availability and disaster recovery capabilities
3. Auto-scaling and elastic resource management
4. Cloud-native monitoring and management systems
5. A rich ecosystem of PaaS, AI, and Serverless services

In contrast, DatabaseMart VPS pricing primarily reflects:

1. Dedicated CPU
2. Fixed memory and storage specifications
3. Unmetered bandwidth
4. Direct delivery of resources through a traditional VPS architecture

Therefore, Azure charges for platform capabilities, while DatabaseMart is closer to a pure hardware resource pricing model.

Control Panel Comparison

Control Panel Feature	Microsoft Azure	DatabaseMart
Server Reboot/Restart/Stop	✅ Supported	✅ Supported
Server Reinstall / OS Rebuild	✅ Supported	✅ Supported
Snapshots	⚠️ Plan / billing dependent	⚠️ Limited / plan-dependent
Resource Scaling	✅ Supported	✅ Supported
Monitoring	✅ Real-time monitoring	✅ Real-time monitoring
Support Ticket Access	✅ Enterprise-grade, multi-channel	✅ Integrated ticket system
API / Automation Support	✅ Rich, supports IaC	⚠️ Limited
DNS Management	✅ Built-in DNS management	✅ Built-in DNS management
Third-Party Control Panel Support	✅ Supported, client-provided license required	✅ Supported, client-provided license required

Microsoft Azure

Geared toward enterprise or platform-level applications, excelling in automated operations, resource elasticity, and cloud-native management.

DatabaseMart Hosting Control Panel:

Geared toward traditional VPS workloads with stable long-term operation, excelling in simplicity, predictable performance, and manual management.
Database Mart Control Panel Guidance: https://www.databasemart.com/doc/customer-panel

Features Comparison

Feature	Microsoft Azure	DatabaseMart
Hidden Fees	❌ Possible additional costs (bandwidth, storage, services)	✅ No Hidden Fees
Add-on Limits	Scales via Azure resource limits and pricing tiers	16 vCore/32GB RAM/400GB SSD (Higher configurations are available with an upgrade to a dedicated server, 32 vCore/256GB RAM/120GB SSD + 12 x 8TB SATA)
Upgrade to Dedicated Servers	Yes	Yes
24/7 Support	Yes	Yes
Billing Flexibility	Monthly billing	Monthly billing
Trial	✅ Free trial (limited credits & duration)	✅ Free Trial
Refund Policy	❌ Generally no refunds after usage	New users registered within 30 days are eligible for a refund if unsatisfied with the VPS
Uptime	99.9% SLA	Enterprise-grade infrastructure with 99.9% uptime
Use Case	Large-scale cloud applications, enterprise workloads, DevOps, global services, etc.	Stable long-term hosting, database hosting, streaming, business-critical workloads, etc.

1. Pricing Transparency
   Microsoft Azure VPS: Azure VPS hosting offers flexible pricing, but billing can be complex. Bandwidth, storage, and additional services may incur hidden costs, making it difficult to fully predict total expenses.
   DatabaseMart VPS: Fixed monthly pricing with no hidden fees, making budgeting straightforward. For cost-sensitive users, DatabaseMart is a more reliable Azure VPS alternative.

2. Add-on & Upgrade Limits
   Microsoft Azure VPS: Supports horizontal scaling with virtually unlimited resources, suitable for large-scale cloud-native applications and global deployments.
   DatabaseMart VPS: Vertical upgrades are clearly defined, with VPS able to upgrade to dedicated servers (up to 32 vCore / 256GB RAM + large-capacity storage). Performance is stable, but horizontal elasticity is not as flexible as Azure.

3. Upgrade to Dedicated Servers
   Microsoft Azure VPS: Offers dedicated hosts or premium instances for physical isolation, but costs are relatively high.
   DatabaseMart VPS: Directly upgrade to high-performance dedicated servers. The process is simple, cost-effective, and ideal for database workloads, streaming services, or I/O-intensive applications.

4. 24/7 Technical Support
   Microsoft Azure VPS: Provides round-the-clock support, but standard plans have limited human assistance. Complex issues may require premium support packages.
   DatabaseMart VPS: Offers one-on-one human support with rapid response times (within minutes). Problems can be resolved directly, making it more suitable for small businesses or individual users.

5. Trial & Refund Policy
   Microsoft Azure VPS: Offers a free trial, but refund policies are strict; refunds are rarely granted after usage.
   DatabaseMart VPS: Provides a free trial, and new users can request a refund within 30 days, reducing the risk of trying the service.

User Reviews & External Feedback Comparison

Microsoft Azure — Trustpilot Review Summary

Overall Rating: ~1.2 / 5 ⭐ on Trustpilot with ~3298+ reviews.
👍 Positive Feedback:

Although Microsoft Azure has an overall low rating on Trustpilot (with most reviews being 1⭐), some positive aspects can still be identified from a small number of favorable reviews:

• Stability and Reliability: Some users acknowledge Azure VPS hosting basic reliability in core services, particularly data storage, noting that their data remains safe and intact without loss.
• Rich Features and Ecosystem Integration: While this point is not frequently mentioned directly in Trustpilot reviews, broader feedback from other review platforms indicates that users appreciate Azure deep integration with existing Microsoft products, its wide range of services, and its scalability for enterprise-level deployments.

👎 Negative Feedback:

• Pricing and Billing Issues: Users commonly complain that Azure pricing structure is complex, with many hidden or unexpected costs. Billing statements are often difficult to understand. Example: Some users report being charged high base fees for SSL binding features.
• Poor Customer Support Experience: A large number of reviews criticize Azure’s customer support, citing difficulties in reaching real human agents. Support responses are often slow or nonexistent, and support tickets may be closed without proper follow-up.
• Poor Platform Usability: Users report that the Azure portal and control panel are difficult to use, prone to interface errors, and lack smooth operational workflows. Examples include incorrect error messages and failed operations.
• Post-Billing Service and Refund Disputes: Some users state that they continued to be charged even after services were canceled, and that refund requests were not properly handled or resolved by support.

DatabaseMart — Trustpilot Review Summary

Overall Rating: ~4.3 / 5 ⭐ on Trustpilot with ~207+ reviews.

👍 Positive Feedback:

• Affordable pricing & value for money: Many reviewers praise low costs and good performance given the price point.
• Reliable uptime and stability: Users frequently mention consistent uptime and stable servers.
• Fast and helpful support: Support via live chat or tickets is often described as responsive and effective.
• Easy setup & non‑technical friendly: Several customers note that setup is fast and straightforward, even for beginners.
• Good for long‑term use: Many long‑term users report consistent service and ongoing support satisfaction.

👎 Negative Feedback:

• Performance inconsistency: A few reviewers report slow connections, hardware limitations, or reliability concerns for certain workloads.
• Support delays in some cases: While most praise support, occasional reviews mention delays in response or inconsistent help for complex issues.

Conclusion

When comparing Microsoft Azure VPS and DatabaseMart VPS, the key difference lies in their positioning and target audiences.

Microsoft Azure is a full-featured cloud platform built for enterprise and cloud-native workloads. It offers global scalability, deep ecosystem integration, and advanced services for DevOps, containers, and microservices. However, for many users, Microsoft Azure VPS hosting come with complex and often unpredictable costs. Azure VPS pricing can be difficult to estimate due to bandwidth charges, storage fees, and additional services. As a result, many users actively search for a Microsoft Azure alternatives that offer simpler pricing models.

DatabaseMart, by contrast, focuses on performance-oriented VPS and dedicated servers with clear configurations and fixed monthly pricing. As an effective Microsoft Azure alternatives, it appeals to users who value cost predictability, one-on-one human technical support, and stable long-term hosting. For workloads such as databases, streaming services, business-critical systems, and always-on applications, DatabaseMart often delivers better cost-to-performance value than traditional Azure VPS hosting.

In summary:

• Choose Microsoft Azure if you require elastic cloud scalability, cloud-native architecture, and deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem—and are comfortable managing complex Azure VPS pricing.

• Choose DatabaseMart if you are looking for a reliable Microsoft Azure alternatives with transparent pricing, stable performance, and direct technical support.

For users searching for Microsoft Azure alternatives, especially those frustrated by unpredictable billing and limited support access, DatabaseMart stands out as a practical and cost-effective option.