Certification comparison
AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) and CLF-C02 (AWS Cloud Practitioner) are both vendor fundamentals certifications designed for people new to cloud. They test conceptual knowledge rather than hands-on skills.
| Factor | AZ-900 | CLF-C02 |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud platform | Microsoft Azure | Amazon Web Services |
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Exam length | 45 min, ~60 questions | 90 min, ~65 questions |
| Cost | ~$165 USD | ~$100 USD |
| Validity | Lifetime (no renewal) | 3 years |
| Study time | 20–40 hrs | 20–40 hrs |
| Hands-on required | No | No |
| Target audience | Non-technical + entry technical | Non-technical + entry technical |
Our verdict
If your organisation uses Azure, take AZ-900. If AWS, take CLF-C02. If undecided, AWS CLF-C02 may edge it out on job market volume — AWS has a larger market share in most regions.
Try a sample practice test for each cert. The one that feels more relevant to your work is usually the right call.