AWS Secrets Manager vs Azure Key Vault(2026)
AWS Secrets Manager is better for teams that need deep aws integration. Azure Key Vault is the stronger choice if deep azure integration. AWS Secrets Manager is paid (from $0.40/secret/month) and Azure Key Vault is paid (from $0.03/10,000 operations).
Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.
By Bikram Nath
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AWS Secrets Manager
AWS Secrets Manager stores, rotates, and retrieves credentials, API keys, and other secrets with automatic rotation.
Starting at $0.40/secret/month
Visit AWS Secrets ManagerAzure Key Vault
Azure Key Vault safeguards cryptographic keys, certificates, and secrets for cloud applications on Azure.
Starting at $0.03/10,000 operations
Visit Azure Key VaultHow Do AWS Secrets Manager and Azure Key Vault Compare on Features?
| Feature | AWS Secrets Manager | Azure Key Vault |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | paid | paid |
| Starting price | $0.40/secret/month | $0.03/10,000 operations |
| Automatic rotation | ✓ | — |
| IAM-based access | ✓ | — |
| CloudFormation integration | ✓ | — |
| Lambda rotation | ✓ | — |
| Cross-account access | ✓ | — |
| Audit via CloudTrail | ✓ | — |
| Secret storage | — | ✓ |
| Key management | — | ✓ |
| Certificate management | — | ✓ |
| Azure AD integration | — | ✓ |
| HSM-backed | — | ✓ |
| Managed identity support | — | ✓ |
AWS Secrets Manager Pros and Cons vs Azure Key Vault
AWS Secrets Manager
Azure Key Vault
Should You Use AWS Secrets Manager or Azure Key Vault?
For most teams, AWS Secrets Manager is the better default: it offers deep aws integration and is paid (from $0.40/secret/month). Choose Azure Key Vault instead if deep azure integration matters more than aws lock-in. There is no universal winner — the right pick depends on your budget, team size, and whether you value deep aws integration or deep azure integration more.
Choose AWS Secrets Manager if…
- •Deep AWS integration
- •Automatic credential rotation
- •Managed by AWS
Choose Azure Key Vault if…
- •Deep Azure integration
- •HSM-backed security
- •Managed identity (no credentials)