DEVOPS
2025 Comparison

AWS EKS vs Azure AKS Certification

Compare Kubernetes certifications on AWS EKS and Azure AKS. Which managed Kubernetes platform?

Side-by-Side Comparison
Salary Insights
Expert Verdict

AWS EKS (via Solutions Architect/DevOps)

Amazon Web Services

Difficulty
Professional
Duration180 minutes
Cost$300 USD
Valid For3 years
Salary Range$140,000 - $190,000

Azure AKS (via AZ-104/AZ-400)

Microsoft

Difficulty
Associate/Expert
Duration120-150 minutes
Cost$165 USD
Valid For1 year (renewal)
Salary Range$130,000 - $175,000
Detailed Comparison

Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

Compare all aspects of these certifications side by side

FeatureAWS EKS (via Solutions Architect/DevOps)Azure AKS (via AZ-104/AZ-400)
ProviderAmazon Web ServicesMicrosoft
Difficulty Level
Professional
Associate/Expert
Exam Duration180 minutes120-150 minutes
Exam Cost$300 USD$165 USD
Exam FormatMultiple choiceMultiple choice + labs
PrerequisitesAWS experienceAzure fundamentals
Validity Period3 years1 year (renewal)
Ideal ForDevOps engineers running Kubernetes on AWSDevOps engineers running Kubernetes on Azure
Salary Range$140,000 - $190,000$130,000 - $175,000
Coverage Areas

What Each Certification Covers

Key topics and domains covered in each exam

AWS EKS (via Solutions Architect/DevOps) Focus Areas

  • EKS
  • ECR
  • Fargate
  • Service Mesh
  • Networking

Azure AKS (via AZ-104/AZ-400) Focus Areas

  • AKS
  • ACR
  • Azure Monitor
  • Azure Policy
  • Networking
Expert Verdict

Our Recommendation

Both cover managed Kubernetes. EKS integrates with AWS; AKS with Azure services.

Choose AWS EKS (via Solutions Architect/DevOps)

Choose EKS path if your organization uses AWS.

Choose Azure AKS (via AZ-104/AZ-400)

Choose AKS path if your organization uses Azure and Microsoft tools.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: AWS EKS (via Solutions Architect/DevOps) or Azure AKS (via AZ-104/AZ-400)?

Both cover managed Kubernetes. EKS integrates with AWS; AKS with Azure services.

What are the salary differences between AWS EKS (via Solutions Architect/DevOps)?

AWS EKS (via Solutions Architect/DevOps) typically offers salaries around $140,000 - $190,000, while Azure AKS (via AZ-104/AZ-400) offers $130,000 - $175,000.

Which certification should I get first?

Choose EKS path if your organization uses AWS. Choose AKS path if your organization uses Azure and Microsoft tools.

How long does it take to prepare for these certifications?

Preparation time varies based on experience. Most candidates spend 4-12 weeks studying, depending on their background and the certification difficulty level.

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