How to Host a Website on Microsoft Azure

Updated September 2026 · Written and maintained by the Progression Agency strategy team

Microsoft Azure hosts websites through several services, each suited to a different kind of site: Static Web Apps for static and front-end sites, App Service for web apps in .NET, Node, Python, PHP or Java, Container Apps and AKS for containers, Virtual Machines for custom stacks, and WordPress on App Service. This guide explains each option, cost, setup, integration with Microsoft 365 and Entra ID, and when Azure is the right cloud for a website at all.

On this page · 9 sections

Azure website hosting options at a glance
Hosting a static or front-end site on Azure (Static Web Apps)
Hosting a web application on Azure (App Service)
Hosting WordPress on Azure
Containers on Azure
What Azure website hosting costs
When Azure is the right cloud for a website
Common mistakes
How Progression Agency hosts on Azure

The short answerHost a static or React site on Azure Static Web Apps; host a .NET, Node, Python or PHP application on App Service (the most integrated option for Microsoft-centric organizations); host containers on Container Apps; use Virtual Machines only for custom stacks with an administrator; host WordPress on App Service’s WordPress offering or a managed WordPress host if the organization is not standardized on Azure. Azure is the right choice when the business already runs on Microsoft 365, Entra ID and enterprise agreements; otherwise AWS or a platform is usually simpler.

Comparisons are based on each project’s official documentation as linked in the text. Progression Agency builds with all of the technologies compared and has no affiliate relationship with any of them.

Azure website hosting options at a glance

Azure hosting services compared
Service	What it is	Best for	Effort	Cost model
Static Web Apps	Git-based static and front-end hosting with global CDN, free TLS and serverless API support	Static sites, React, Angular, Vue, Next.js static	Low	Free tier; Standard plan for production (pricing)
App Service	Managed web app hosting (Linux or Windows) with deployment slots and autoscale	ASP.NET Core, Node, Python, PHP, Java apps	Low-medium	Plan tiers (Basic to Premium)
App Service for WordPress	WordPress on App Service with MySQL Flexible Server	WordPress for Azure-standardized organizations	Low-medium	App Service + database
Container Apps	Managed containers with scale to zero	Containerized apps and APIs	Low-medium	Per vCPU-second and request
AKS	Managed Kubernetes	Multi-service systems	High	Nodes
Virtual Machines	Linux or Windows VMs	Custom or legacy stacks	High	Per hour + disk
Azure Front Door / CDN	Global entry point, CDN, WAF	Any of the above	Low-medium	Usage
Azure Database for PostgreSQL / MySQL, Azure SQL	Managed databases	Any app	Low	Compute + storage

Which Azure service for which site — App Service is the center of gravity for Microsoft-centric web hosting.

Hosting a static or front-end site on Azure (Static Web Apps)

Static Web Apps builds from GitHub or Azure DevOps on push, serves through a global CDN with free certificates, supports preview environments, custom domains and an integrated Azure Functions API, and has a free tier suitable for small sites. Documentation: Azure Static Web Apps overview. Compare with Vercel, Netlify and Cloudflare Pages.

Hosting a web application on Azure (App Service)

App Service runs .NET, Node.js, Python, PHP and Java apps on managed Linux or Windows infrastructure with deployment slots (blue-green), autoscale, built-in authentication with Entra ID, and integration with Azure SQL, Key Vault and Application Insights. It is the natural home for ASP.NET Core applications. Documentation: App Service overview. See .NET hosting and backend hosting options.

Hosting WordPress on Azure

Azure offers WordPress on App Service with Azure Database for MySQL Flexible Server and optional Front Door and Blob storage, documented at WordPress on App Service quickstart. It suits organizations that must keep everything in Azure; businesses without that constraint usually get better value from a managed WordPress host. See WordPress hosting guide.

Containers on Azure

Container Apps runs containerized web apps and APIs with scale-to-zero, Dapr integration and managed ingress, the Azure equivalent of Google Cloud Run; AKS is for multi-service systems with a platform team. See DevOps services.

What Azure website hosting costs

Static Web Apps: free tier for small sites, Standard plan for production. App Service: Basic plans for small apps up to Premium plans for production, plus the database. Container Apps: usage-based with a free allowance. Use the Azure pricing calculator and Cost Management budgets; enterprise agreements and credits change the picture for Microsoft customers. See website hosting cost.

SWA — Static Web Apps. Free tier, CDN, previews..

AS — App Service. Slots, autoscale, identity..

WP — WordPress on Azure. For Azure-only orgs..

When Azure is the right cloud for a website

The organization runs Microsoft 365, Entra ID and wants single sign-on and identity in one place.
The application is ASP.NET Core or uses SQL Server.
An enterprise agreement or Azure credits make it cheaper than alternatives.
Compliance or data-residency requirements are already met in Azure.

Otherwise, AWS has the broader ecosystem and platforms such as Vercel or managed WordPress hosts are simpler; see AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud and cloud hosting explained.

Common mistakes

Running production on the free or shared App Service tiers.
Windows App Service plans for apps that run fine on Linux (cheaper).
No Front Door, CDN or Cloudflare in front, so every request hits the app.
Owner-role accounts for daily work instead of scoped RBAC.
No budgets on a usage-billed subscription.

How Progression Agency hosts on Azure

For Microsoft-centric clients we deploy on App Service or Container Apps with Azure Database or Azure SQL, Front Door or Cloudflare in front, infrastructure as code (Bicep or Terraform) and budgets, in the client’s subscription. See cloud migration services.

Hosting on Azure?

We will pick the right Azure service for your site or app, set it up in your subscription and estimate the monthly cost.

Get an Azure hosting plan

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Choosing and working with an agency

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By industry and by situation

Frequently asked questions

Can I host a website on Azure?

Yes: Static Web Apps for static and front-end sites, App Service for web apps, Container Apps for containers, Virtual Machines for custom stacks, and WordPress on App Service.

Is Microsoft Azure cloud hosting good for a business website?

Microsoft Azure cloud hosting fits businesses already on Microsoft 365, Entra ID or .NET; Static Web Apps and App Service cover most websites, and WordPress on App Service exists for Azure-standardized organizations.

Is Azure good for website hosting?

Yes, especially for organizations already on Microsoft 365, Entra ID or .NET; for others, AWS or a platform may be simpler.

How much does Azure web app hosting cost?

Static Web Apps has a free tier; App Service ranges from small Basic plans to Premium production plans plus the database; check the calculator.

Can I host WordPress on Azure?

Yes, on App Service with Azure Database for MySQL; managed WordPress hosts are usually better value outside Azure-standardized organizations.

What is Azure Static Web Apps?

Git-based hosting for static and front-end sites with a global CDN, free TLS and an integrated serverless API.

What is Azure App Service?

Managed hosting for .NET, Node, Python, PHP and Java web apps with slots, autoscale and identity integration.

Can I host a Next.js app on Azure?

Yes, on Static Web Apps (static or hybrid), App Service (Node) or Container Apps.

Azure or AWS for hosting?

Azure for Microsoft-centric organizations; AWS for the broader ecosystem; see AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud.

Is Azure hosting free?

Static Web Apps and some services have free tiers; production hosting is billed.

Do I need Front Door or Cloudflare?

For production, yes: caching, WAF and global entry; either works.

Can you migrate our site to Azure?

Yes; see cloud migration services.

Does Progression Agency manage Azure hosting?

Yes, under DevOps agreements, in your subscription.

Need help choosing or moving hosting?We recommend, set up, migrate and manage hosting for the sites and apps we build, and for sites built elsewhere.

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How to Host a Website on Microsoft Azure: Static Web Apps, App Service, Azure VMs, Container Apps and WordPress on Azure