Hosting Sitecore On Azure
Update: Pricing has been updated to Reflect the EXM Master and Messaging databases included as of 9.0.1 and the CM server increase to B3s. (November 8, 2018)
Update #2: Check this out for updated pricing on Azure pricing on Sitecore 9.2 XP.
Update #3: If you're after hosting costs for Sitecore 10 XM, click here.
As you may know, Sitecore Experience Cloud can be deployed on Azure. Sitecore's commitment to Azure has resulted in an excellent PaaS (Platform As A Service) offering with a collection standard configurations. Otherwise known as topologies.
We'll be looking at the XP Scaled (XP1) topology - this is recommended for production environments using the full Sitecore Experience Platform (XP).
This topology can be deployed in 5 different sizes (SKUs), defined in Sitecore's ARM templates:
- Extra Small (100,000 visits per month*)
- Small (200,000 visits per month*)
- Medium (1,000,000 visits per month*)
- Large (5,000,000 visits per month*)
- Extra Large (10,000,000 visits per month*)
Each SKU was created to support a particular volume of traffic per month. That said, take the numbers with a grain of salt as Sitecore offers the following qualifier:
The Performance rating sizes were determined by performance testing a simple marketing site and finding the smallest resource sizes required to hit the associated visits per month. The simple marketing site was mainly read-only, with no login activity and few xDB interactions. Dependent requests were not tested (for example, images, JS, CSS) and it is assumed these assets will be served by a CDN.
Let's take a look at what each SKU costs per month out of the box.
Overview of Sitecore XP1 Azure Costs
This is the per-month pricing of each SKU for the XP1 topology.
| SKU | USD/Month | CAD/Month |
| Extra Small | $1,098.36 USD | $1,339.11 CAD |
| Small | $1,252.10 USD | $1,526.36 CAD |
| Medium | $2,086.78 USD | $2,541.35 CAD |
| Large | $4,613.38 USD | $5,614.43 CAD |
| Extra Large | $7,670.69 USD | $9,335.31 CAD |
And the fine print.
These numbers are based on Azure USD and CAD pricing using Sitecore XP1 topology available as of May 7, 2018. Resources are based in Azure's US East Region. Monthly cost is average monthly cost per year (365 / 12 x 24 = Hours Per Month). These numbers do not include Sitecore licensing fees. These numbers do not include fees associated with data transfer, logging or back-up fees. This pricing also excludes additional Azure resources not included in the XP1 topology. Regional taxes are not included.
Below find the detailed breakdown the resources per month for each SKU.
Sitecore SKU: Extra Small Pricing
Visits per month: 0 to 100,000
| Component | Resource | USD/month | CAD/month |
| Azure Web App Service More Info | |||
| Content Management server | 1 x B3 | $219.00 | $266.45 |
| Content Delivery server | 1 x B2 | $109.50 | $133.59 |
| xDB Processing service | 1 x B1 | $54.75 | $67.16 |
| xDB Reporting service | 1 x B1 | $54.75 | $67.16 |
| Marketing Operations | 1 x B1 | $54.75 | $67.16 |
| Marketing Automation reporting | |||
| xConnect Collection search | |||
| xConnect Collection | 1 x B1 | $54.75 | $67.16 |
| xConnect Reference data | |||
| SQL Azure More Info | |||
| Core database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Master database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Web database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Reporting database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Pools database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Tasks database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Forms database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| EXM Master database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Messaging database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Marketing Automation database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Reference data database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Shard map management | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Shard 0/1 databases | 2 x S0 | $29.49 | $35.92 |
| Azure Search More Info | |||
| Search | 1 x S1 | $245.28 | $298.57 |
| Redis Cache More Info | |||
| Session State | 1 x C1 | $40.15 | $48.91 |
| Application Insights More Info | |||
| Monitoring, Sitecore Logging | 1 x Basic | $2.30/GB | $2.80/GB |
Extra Small - Price USD: $1,098.36/month
Extra Small - Price CAD: $1,339.11/month
Sitecore SKU: Small Pricing
Visits per month: 100,000 to 200,000
| Component | Resource | USD/month | CAD/month |
| Azure Web App Service More Info | |||
| Content Management server | 1 x B3 | $219.00 | $266.45 |
| Content Delivery server | 2 x B2 | $219.00 | $267.18 |
| xDB Processing service | 1 x B1 | $54.75 | $67.16 |
| xDB Reporting service | 1 x B1 | $54.75 | $67.16 |
| Marketing Operations | 1 x B1 | $54.75 | $67.16 |
| Marketing Automation reporting | |||
| xConnect Collection search | |||
| xConnect Collection | 1 x B1 | $54.75 | $67.16 |
| xConnect Reference data | |||
| SQL Azure More Info | |||
| Core database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Master database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Web database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Reporting database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Pools database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Tasks database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Forms database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| EXM Master database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Messaging database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Marketing Automation database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Reference data database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Shard map management | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Shard 0/1 databases | 2 x S1 | $58.98 | $71.96 |
| Azure Search More Info | |||
| Search | 1 x S1 | $245.28 | $298.57 |
| Redis Cache More Info | |||
| Session State | 1 x C1 | $40.15 | $48.91 |
| Application Insights More Info | |||
| Monitoring, Sitecore Logging | 1 x Basic | $2.30/GB | $2.80/GB |
Small - Price USD: $1,252.10/month
Small - Price CAD: $1,526.36/month
Sitecore SKU: Medium Pricing
Visits per month: 200,000 to 1,000,000
| Component | Resource | USD/month | CAD/month |
| Azure Web App Service More Info | |||
| Content Management server | 1 x B3 | $219.00 | $266.45 |
| Content Delivery server | 3 x B2 | $328.50 | $400.77 |
| xDB Processing service | 1 x B1 | $54.75 | $67.16 |
| xDB Reporting service | 1 x B2 | $109.50 | $133.59 |
| Marketing Operations | 1 x B2 | $109.50 | $133.59 |
| Marketing Automation reporting | |||
| xConnect Collection search | |||
| xConnect Collection | 1 x B3 | $219.00 | $266.45 |
| xConnect Reference data | |||
| SQL Azure More Info | |||
| Core database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Master database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Web database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Reporting database | 1 x S2 | $73.66 | $89.57 |
| Pools database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Tasks database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Forms database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| EXM Master database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Messaging database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Marketing Automation database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Reference data database | 1 x S2 | $73.66 | $89.57 |
| Shard map management | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Shard 0/1 databases | 2 x S2 | $147.31 | $179.14 |
| Azure Search More Info | |||
| Search | 2 x S1 | $490.56 | $597.14 |
| Redis Cache More Info | |||
| Session State | 1 x C1 | $40.15 | $48.91 |
| Application Insights More Info | |||
| Monitoring, Sitecore Logging | 1 x Basic | $2.30/GB | $2.80/GB |
Medium - Price USD: $2,068.78/month
Medium - Price CAD: $2,541.35/month
Sitecore SKU: Large Azure Pricing
Visits per month: 1,000,000 to 5,000,000
| Component | Resource | USD/month | CAD/month |
| Azure Web App Service More Info | |||
| Content Management server | 1 x B3 | $219.00 | $266.45 |
| Content Delivery server | 4 x S3 | $1,168.00 | $1,422.04 |
| xDB Processing service | 1 x B2 | $109.50 | $133.59 |
| xDB Reporting service | 1 x B2 | $109.50 | $133.59 |
| Marketing Operations | 1 x B3 | $219.00 | $266.45 |
| Marketing Automation reporting | |||
| xConnect Collection search | |||
| xConnect Collection | 2 x S3 | $584.00 | $712.02 |
| xConnect Reference data | |||
| SQL Azure More Info | |||
| Core database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Master database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Web database | 1 x S2 | $73.66 | $89.57 |
| Reporting database | 1 x S2 | $73.66 | $89.57 |
| Pools database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Tasks database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Forms database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| EXM Master database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Messaging database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Marketing Automation database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Reference data database | 1 x S3 | $147.24 | $179.00 |
| Shard map management | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Shard 0/1 databases | 2 x P1 | $912.65 | $1,109.60 |
| Azure Search More Info | |||
| Search | 3 x S1 | $735.84 | 895.71 |
| Redis Cache More Info | |||
| Session State | 1 x C1 | $40.15 | $48.91 |
| Application Insights More Info | |||
| Monitoring, Sitecore Logging | 1 x Basic | $2.30/GB | $2.80/GB |
Large - Price USD: $4,613.38/month
Large - Price CAD: $5,614.43/month
Sitecore SKU: Extra Large Azure Pricing
Visits per month: 5,000,000 to 10,000,000
| Component | Resource | USD/hr | CAD/hr |
| Azure Web App Service More Info | |||
| Content Management server | 1 x B3 | $219.00 | $266.45 |
| Content Delivery server | 8 x S3 | $2,336.00 | $2,844.08 |
| xDB Processing service | 1 x B2 | $109.50 | $133.59 |
| xDB Reporting service | 1 x B2 | $109.50 | $133.59 |
| Marketing Operations | 1 x S3 | $292.00 | $355.51 |
| Marketing Automation reporting | |||
| xConnect Collection search | |||
| xConnect Collection | 4 x S3 | $1,168.00 | $1,422.04 |
| xConnect Reference data | |||
| SQL Azure More Info | |||
| Core database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Master database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Web database | 1 x S3 | $147.24 | $179.00 |
| Reporting database | 1 x S3 | $147.24 | $179.00 |
| Pools database | 1 x S2 | $73.66 | $89.57 |
| Tasks database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Forms database | 1 x S2 | $73.66 | $89.57 |
| EXM Master database | 1 x S2 | $73.66 | $89.57 |
| Messaging database | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Marketing Automation database | 1 x S1 | $29.49 | $35.84 |
| Reference data database | 1 x S3 | $147.24 | $179.00 |
| Shard map management | 1 x S0 | $14.75 | $17.96 |
| Shard 0/1 databases | 2 x P2 | $1,825.00 | $2,219.05 |
| Azure Search More Info | |||
| Search | 3 x S1 | $735.84 | 895.71 |
| Redis Cache More Info | |||
| Session State | 1 x C2 | $65.70 | $80.30 |
| Application Insights More Info | |||
| Monitoring, Sitecore Logging | 1 x Basic | $2.30/GB | $2.80/GB |
Extra Large - Price USD: $7,670.69/month
Extra Large - Price CAD: $9,335.31/month
Conclusion on Sitecore Azure Pricing
With so many moving pieces priced individually, it's difficult to understand how much hosting Sitecore PaaS on Azure will cost. So I hope this overview is helpful in understanding the cost and value of going the platform as a service route.
We've spent a lot of time with Sitecore on Azure so if you have any further questions, feel free to reach out by email, Twitter or connect on LinkedIn.
