AWS Cloud Practitioner or AZ-900: which cloud basics first
AWS Cloud Practitioner ($100) and Microsoft's AZ-900 ($99), the entry-level certifications for AWS and Microsoft Azure, cost about the same, and both vendors give their official training away free (November 2026). Pick the cloud your employer or target jobs use; the exams cover similar beginner ground. AZ-900 does not expire, while Cloud Practitioner lasts three years. We estimate 2 to 4 weeks of part-time study for Cloud Practitioner and 1 to 3 weeks for AZ-900.
Short answers
- Which is easier, AZ-900 or AWS Cloud Practitioner?
- Both are entry-level. AZ-900 is a shorter exam (45 minutes against 90); both pass at 700.
- Do they expire?
- AZ-900 does not; Cloud Practitioner is valid for three years.
- Is the training free?
- Yes. AWS Skill Builder and Microsoft Learn both offer free official prep.
The two exams compared
| AWS Cloud Practitioner | AZ-900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee (US) | $100 | $99 |
| Free official training | AWS Skill Builder exam prep plan | Microsoft Learn learning paths |
| Exam | 65 questions, 90 minutes, pass 700 of 1,000 | 45 minutes, pass 700; Microsoft gives no exact question count |
| Who it is written for | People with no prior IT or cloud experience, up to 6 months of AWS exposure | Technology professionals with some IT experience |
| Validity | 3 years | Does not expire |
| One-day class | $775 to $995 with the exam | $594 to $794 with the exam |
How to choose
The deciding factor is which cloud you will use. If your company runs on Azure or Microsoft 365, AZ-900 leads naturally to AZ-104. If it runs on AWS, Cloud Practitioner leads to Solutions Architect Associate. Neither is a prerequisite for the next step on its own platform.
If you have no particular cloud in mind, both cost about the same and teach the same core ideas: what cloud computing is, its pricing models, shared security responsibility and the main service types. Taking both costs about $199 in exam fees.
Next step
Sources
- AWS: Certified Cloud Practitioner, checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: Azure Fundamentals, checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.
Class prices come from the named providers, as listed and dated on the certification pages linked above.