Two of Microsoft's most popular Azure certifications — but they're very different. Here's the full comparison to help you decide.
✔ Last updated: August 2026 · Sources: official Microsoft Learn & Microsoft exam outline
Take AZ-900 first, then AZ-104. AZ-900 is the beginner-friendly fundamentals exam; AZ-104 is the professional administrator exam. Most people take AZ-900 as the stepping stone, and many employers expect it before AZ-104.
| Factor | AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) | AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Entry-level, no experience needed | Associate — requires hands-on Azure experience |
| Difficulty | Low (conceptual) | High (practical, scenario-heavy) |
| Exam cost | $99 USD | $165 USD |
| Questions | 40–60 | 40–60 |
| Duration | 45 minutes (no case studies) | 100–120 min + case studies |
| Passing score | 700/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Renewal | Never expires | Expires — renew annually |
| What it proves | You understand cloud concepts, Azure services (incl. AI), and governance | You can implement, manage, and monitor Azure solutions |
| Study time | 1–2 weeks | 2–4 months with hands-on labs |
For beginners, students, business stakeholders, sales/marketing people, and anyone who needs to understand what Azure is and what it can do. It's a great first certification to build confidence.
For IT professionals who will actually manage Azure: virtual networks, VMs, storage, identities, and monitoring. It's the most popular Azure certification among employers and a prerequisite for advanced certifications like AZ-305 (Architect).
No, it's not required. Microsoft doesn't require AZ-900 as a prerequisite for AZ-104. But it's strongly recommended: AZ-900 introduces the concepts and vocabulary that make AZ-104 study much easier, and it's a low-cost, low-risk way to get comfortable with Microsoft's exam format.
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