Azure (AKS) vs Aruba Cloud: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Aruba Cloud is 47% cheaper than Azure (AKS) for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€38 vs €72/mo)
The 3-node cost gap is 47% (€34/mo) in Aruba Cloud's favour. On storage throughput, Azure (AKS) leads by ~6×, a meaningful gap for stateful Kubernetes workloads. Aruba Cloud is EU-headquartered and not subject to the CLOUD Act as a US-owned entity; Azure (AKS) is US-owned and falls under US jurisdiction. Choose Aruba Cloud for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose Azure (AKS) for IOPS-intensive stateful applications.
Moving off Azure (AKS) could save ~€34/mo on a 3-node cluster.
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 Azure (AKS) |  Aruba Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | United States | Italy |
| Managed Kubernetes | Yes | No (DIY) |
| Control Plane Cost | Free | Self-managed |
| Cheapest Node | €23.95/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €6.29/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€71.85/mo | ~€37.74/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€143.70/mo | ~€56.61/mo |
| Egress | €0.080/GB | 2 TB free |
| S3 Storage | €0.018/GB | €0.030/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001, SOC2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS | ISO27001, ISO9001 |
| CLOUD Act Exposure | Yes (US-owned) | No |
* Estimated using cheapest available node. DIY providers include 3 additional control plane nodes. Use the calculator for exact pricing with your specs.
Data freshness: Azure (AKS) as of May 2026, Aruba Cloud as of May 2026.
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