How do Azure AKS and AWS EKS differ in terms of pricing for control plane and worker nodes?

Organizations adopting cloud-native applications often rely on managed Kubernetes services. Among the leading platforms, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) stand out. Both offer robust infrastructure for hosting containerized applications but differ significantly in their pricing for control planes and worker nodes. Here's a detailed look at how these services compare.

Control Plane Pricing

The control plane handles cluster management, monitoring, and orchestration of worker nodes. Azure AKS and AWS EKS take contrasting approaches to billing for this service layer.

Azure AKS
Azure AKS provides the control plane at no additional cost. This includes features like cluster management and API access, making it a cost-effective choice for businesses aiming to optimize their budget while leveraging Kubernetes capabilities. The absence of control plane charges can be advantageous for startups or smaller organizations seeking efficient cloud utilization.

AWS EKS
AWS EKS incurs a fixed fee of $0.10 per hour per cluster for the control plane. This translates to approximately $73 per month for each active cluster. The predictable pricing is beneficial for enterprises needing advanced scalability and integration with AWS's ecosystem but may pose a financial burden for teams running multiple clusters.

Worker Node Pricing

Worker nodes execute application workloads and are the primary resources consumers pay for in Kubernetes hosting. Both Azure AKS and AWS EKS use node pricing models tied to virtual machine (VM) sizes and regions, including popular hubs like Bangalore's data centers.

Azure AKS
Azure charges for worker nodes based on the virtual machine sizes selected. For example, a standard D2 v3 VM in Bangalore’s data center costs approximately ₹5.30/hour, offering predictable expenditure. Azure's flexibility allows businesses to mix and match VM types based on workload requirements, reducing operational costs for hosting Kubernetes clusters.

AWS EKS
AWS follows a similar approach, charging based on EC2 instances provisioned as worker nodes. The cost depends on instance type and region. In Bangalore, a t3.medium instance costs around ₹4.50/hour, making it a competitive option for businesses leveraging Kubernetes in regions with dense data center infrastructure. AWS also provides savings plans, enabling discounts for organizations with consistent workloads.

Cost Management Features

Both Azure and AWS offer unique pricing tools to help organizations manage expenses effectively.

Azure AKS

Azure Reserved VM Instances allow up to 72% savings compared to pay-as-you-go pricing.

Spot VM pricing reduces costs for non-critical workloads.

Integration with Azure Cost Management enables detailed budget tracking.

AWS EKS

Savings Plans and Reserved Instances provide discounts for long-term commitments.

Spot Instances offer low-cost compute options for fault-tolerant workloads.

AWS Cost Explorer gives visibility into cluster-related spending.

Hidden Costs and Considerations

While Azure AKS eliminates control plane fees, organizations must account for other potential expenses. Managed add-ons like Azure Monitor for containers and Azure Advisor insights incur separate charges. Similarly, AWS EKS users may face additional costs for services like CloudWatch, load balancers, and network traffic between availability zones.

Selecting the right Kubernetes hosting solution often depends on workload type, budget, and integration needs. The proximity of a reliable data center, such as those in Bangalore, can influence cost-effectiveness and application performance, especially for latency-sensitive deployments.

Why Data Center Infrastructure Matters

Bangalore has become a central hub for cloud and server infrastructure. Hosting workloads in this region ensures access to low-latency connections, which enhances the performance of distributed applications. The region's growing prominence in data center capacity makes it an ideal choice for businesses leveraging Azure AKS or AWS EKS.

Organizations hosting Kubernetes clusters should weigh the importance of proximity to a robust data center against the pricing nuances of control planes and worker nodes. With the right strategy, these platforms can enable efficient cloud operations tailored to modern business needs.

Both Azure AKS and AWS EKS have strengths depending on your priorities. While AKS offers cost efficiency with its free control plane, EKS ensures predictable expenses and seamless integration with AWS services. Evaluate your workloads and budget requirements to choose the Kubernetes service that aligns best with your operational goals.