Azure Files Pricing
Azure Files offers fully managed cloud file shares that are accessible via the industry-standard Server Message Block (SMB) protocol and Network File System (NFS) protocol. This means you can "lift and shift" applications that rely on file shares to Azure. Pricing for Azure Files is based on the following factors:
Storage Tiers
Azure Files offers different storage tiers to meet your performance and cost requirements.
Transaction Optimized
- Ideal for workloads with high transaction volumes and moderate I/O.
- Lower transaction costs compared to Premium.
- Supports both SMB and NFS protocols.
- Pay-per-use pricing.
Premium SSD
- High performance for demanding workloads.
- Low latency, high IOPS and throughput.
- SSD-backed storage.
- Supports SMB and NFS protocols.
- Priced per provisioned capacity and transactions.
Key Pricing Components
- Data Storage: The amount of data stored in your file shares (billed per GB per month).
- Transactions: The number of read, write, and other operations performed on your file shares (billed per 10,000 transactions).
- Snapshot Storage: Storage consumed by snapshots of your file shares (billed per GB per month).
- Early Deletion Fees: Incurs charges for deleting shares or snapshots before the end of the billing cycle.
Cost Breakdown Example (Illustrative)
The following table provides an estimated cost breakdown. Actual costs may vary based on region, usage patterns, and chosen configuration. For precise pricing, please refer to the official Azure pricing calculator.
| Component | Description | Estimated Price (per GB/month) | Estimated Price (per 10,000 transactions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage | Transaction Optimized (Hot) | ~$0.023 | $0.00004 |
| Premium SSD | ~$0.20 | ||
| Snapshots | Per GB/month | ~$0.023 | N/A |
Note: Prices are indicative and for illustration purposes only. They may change and vary by region.
Factors Influencing Cost
- Region: Azure services are priced differently across various geographical regions.
- Redundancy Options: Locally Redundant Storage (LRS), Zone-Redundant Storage (ZRS), Geo-Redundant Storage (GRS), and Geo-Zone-Redundant Storage (GZRS) affect storage costs.
- Provisioned IOPS and Throughput: For Premium SSD, you provision IOPS and throughput, which directly impacts cost.
- Data Transfer: Egress data transfer out of Azure regions incurs costs.