Container Hosting Options
While Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) offers the most flexibility and control for running containerized workloads, it’s not the only option available on Azure. Depending on your use case, there are other services that may be simpler to use, faster to deploy, or better suited for specific scenarios.
Below is a comparison of common container hosting options in Azure:
| Service | Description | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service) | Full-featured managed Kubernetes | Complex, scalable workloads, microservices | Full control, extensibility, ecosystem support | Steeper learning curve, more operational overhead |
| AKS Automatic | Streamlined AKS with automated operations | Quick-start scenarios, reduced management overhead | Simplified setup, automated scaling | Less control over configuration and networking |
| Azure Red Hat OpenShift | Managed OpenShift on Azure | Enterprises needing OpenShift features | Enterprise-grade features, integrated developer tools, strong security | Higher cost, more complex than AKS |
| Azure App Service | Platform-as-a-Service for web apps and APIs | Web apps, APIs, REST services | Easy deployment, built-in scaling, integrated CI/CD | Limited features, less flexibility, less scale |
| Azure Container Apps | Serverless containers with built-in autoscaling | Microservices, event-driven apps | No cluster management, scale to zero, DAPR support, pay-per-second billing | Less Flexibility, missing some Kubernetes concepts |
| Azure Container Instances (ACI) | Run containers directly without orchestration | Short-lived tasks, batch jobs | Fast startup, pay-per-second billing | No orchestration, limited networking and scaling |
| App Service for Containers | Deploy containerized web apps on Azure App Service | Web apps, APIs, REST services | Easy deployment, built-in scaling, integrated CI/CD | Limited features, less flexibility, less scale |
| Azure Functions | Event-driven serverless compute with container support | Background jobs, event processing | Auto-scaling, pay-per-execution | Limited runtime duration, not ideal for long-running apps |
Selecting the right container hosting service depends on your workload’s complexity, operational needs, and team expertise. Lightweight tasks or event-driven functions may benefit from serverless platforms like Azure Container Apps or Azure Functions, while more complex, scalable applications may require the control and flexibility of AKS. You can find more guidance on choosing the right service in the Azure Architecture Guidance documentation .
One of the advantages of containerized workloads is their portability. Because containers encapsulate application code and dependencies, you can start with a simpler platform and migrate to a more advanced as your needs evolve. This flexibility allows teams to adapt their infrastructure strategy without rewriting applications from scratch.