Azure (AKS) vs gridscale: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Azure (AKS) is 48% cheaper than gridscale for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€72 vs €138/mo)
At the cluster level, Azure (AKS) runs 48% cheaper, roughly €67/mo less than its competitor. Data sovereignty matters here: gridscale is EU-based and not a CLOUD Act subject as a US-owned entity; Azure (AKS) operates under US law. Egress is cheaper with gridscale: 20 TB free egress. Choose Azure (AKS) for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose gridscale for full AWS ecosystem and global reach.
 Azure (AKS) |  gridscale | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | United States | Germany |
| Managed Kubernetes | Yes | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | Free | Free |
| Cheapest Node | €23.95/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €46.14/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€71.85/mo | ~€138.42/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€143.70/mo | ~€276.84/mo |
| Egress | €0.080/GB | 20 TB free |
| S3 Storage | €0.018/GB | €0.060/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001, SOC2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS | ISO27001 |
| 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, gridscale as of Jan 2026.
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