Certification comparison
AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) and SAA-C03 (AWS Solutions Architect Associate) are both mid-level cloud credentials but with different emphases. AZ-104 focuses on day-to-day administration; SAA-C03 focuses on architecture decisions.
| Factor | AZ-104 | SAA-C03 |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud platform | Microsoft Azure | Amazon Web Services |
| Focus | Administration (ops) | Architecture (design) |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate |
| Exam length | ~100 questions, 120 min | ~65 questions, 130 min |
| Cost | ~$165 USD | ~$150 USD |
| Validity | Annual renewal (free online assessment) | 3 years |
| Study time | 100–200 hrs | 80–150 hrs |
| Prerequisite | AZ-900 recommended | CLF-C02 recommended |
Our verdict
Both are valuable. SAA-C03 typically has more demand in the job market due to AWS's market share lead, but AZ-104 is the right choice if your role is Azure-focused. Consider which cloud your team actually uses.
Try a sample practice test for each cert. The one that feels more relevant to your work is usually the right call.