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