Azure Follows AWS with IPv4 Surcharge: Multi-Cloud IPv4 Costs Compared
Azure has joined AWS in charging for public IPv4 addresses. If you use multiple clouds, IP costs across AWS, Azure, and GCP can add up. This post covers what Azure’s surcharge means, how multi-cloud costs compare, and when buying makes sense.
Azure IPv4 Surcharge: What It Means
Azure charges for public IPv4 addresses similar to AWS: per-address charges that make multi-cloud costs visible.
Cloud Provider IPv4 Pricing Comparison
| Provider | Rate | Monthly Cost (per IP) | Annual Cost (per IP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS | $0.005/hour | ~$3.60 | ~$43.80 |
| Azure (Standard) | $0.005/hour | ~$3.60 | ~$43.80 |
| GCP | $0.005/hour | ~$3.60 | ~$43.80 |
| GCP (Spot/Preemptible) | $0.0025/hour | ~$1.80 | ~$21.90 |
All three major cloud providers now charge approximately $0.005/hour for public IPv4 addresses. AWS and GCP announced changes effective February 1, 2024. Azure retired its cheaper Basic SKU on September 30, 2025, with Standard pricing ($0.005/hour) now the default.
Multi-cloud impact. A /24 block (256 addresses) costs roughly $921 per month per provider. Organizations running workloads across AWS, Azure, and GCP pay this on each platform. Multi-cloud planning becomes essential for cost management.
For a 100-address deployment across all three providers, that’s approximately $1,080/month or $12,960/year in IPv4 fees alone.
Buy vs Pay-As-You-Go
When cloud pricing and Azure cost are high, buying and BYOIP can change the economics.
Buy IPv4. Acquire a block and complete an RIR transfer. Bring it to Azure, AWS, or GCP via BYOIP where supported. Multi-cloud costs on those addresses can fall or disappear. Our how to buy IPv4 guide walks through the process.
Lease IPv4. Medium-term use without large upfront cost. Leasing and BYOIP can also reduce Azure and multi-cloud charges when you bring your own block.
Rent IPv4. Short-term or flexible need. Renting fits when you need space for a project or burst; cloud pricing may still apply if you use provider-assigned addresses.
So Azure and multi-cloud costs make buying (or leasing) plus BYOIP attractive for sustained high use.
What to Do Next
If Azure or multi-cloud costs are affecting your budget:
- Count your addresses. How many public IPv4 do you use across AWS, Azure, and GCP? Pricing per provider adds up.
- Model buy and lease. Get quotes for IPv4 blocks in your region and size. Compare to projected Azure and multi-cloud spend over 2–5 years.
- Check BYOIP. Azure, AWS, and GCP support BYOIP in many regions. Buy or lease and bring the block to reduce cloud pricing.
For the leasing path, see IPv4 Leasing in 2024: Pricing Update and When to Choose Lease vs Buy. For the ROI of buy vs lease vs rent, see The ROI of IPv4 Investment: Buy, Lease, or Rent — Which Makes Financial Sense?.
Azure and multi-cloud costs make cloud pricing visible. When the numbers favor ownership, buying and BYOIP can cut multi-cloud spend; our buy guide walks through the steps.