Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL

A
A tier on Database SoftwareScore 8.2· #14of 74
Free plan
Yes
Runs on
api, self-hosted
azure.microsoft.com
The Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL homepage

Summary

Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL is a cloud database service that lists JSON documents, transactions, configurable consistency controls, multi-region support, horizontal scaling, and vector search. Its pricing model is freemium, with a Free tier listed at no cost. That tier provides 1,000 RU/s and 25 GB of storage, with one free tier account per Azure subscription. Standard provisioned throughput is billed by the hour and is available for the NoSQL API. Autoscale provisioned throughput has a minimum of 400 RU/s or 10% of maximum. Serverless billing is based on request units used and consumed storage, without a minimum for operations or capacity. A 30-day free trial is also listed, and renewals are available. Prices are not provided here for standard provisioned throughput, autoscale, serverless, or the trial. The named maker is Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, United States, and founded in 1975. These listed options present different approaches to throughput and consumption: a defined free allowance, hourly provisioned throughput, autoscale with a stated minimum, and usage-based serverless billing.

Who it is for

Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL may suit teams building cloud applications that need JSON document storage, configurable consistency, or multi-region support. Its free tier and different throughput billing approaches give teams options to consider based on their usage needs.

What is good

  • Free tier includes 1,000 RU/s and 25 GB storage.
  • Supports vector search and transactions.
  • Offers configurable consistency controls.
  • Supports multi-region deployment and horizontal scaling.
  • Serverless has no minimum operations or capacity.

What to know first

  • Free tier is limited to one account per Azure subscription.
  • Trial lasts 30 days.
  • Prices for several listed plans are not provided.

Verdict

Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL lists a free allowance, provisioned options, autoscale, and serverless billing. Review the account limit and plan pricing details before choosing a deployment approach.

Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL plans and pricing

All plans
Free tier Free 1,000 RU/s · 25 GB storage · 1 free tier account per Azure subscription azure.microsoft.com · 22 Sept 2026
Azure Cosmos DB free tier Free each month for the life of one Azure Cosmos DB account per Azure subscription 1,000 RU/s provisioned throughput · 25 GB storage · One account per Azure subscription azure.microsoft.com · 20 Sept 2026
Standard provisioned throughput Provisioned throughput billed by the hour · Available for the NoSQL API azure.microsoft.com · 22 Sept 2026
30-day free trial Free for 30 days; renewals are available 30 days azure.microsoft.com · 20 Sept 2026
Standard provisioned throughput Provisioned throughput billed by the hour · Available for the NoSQL API azure.microsoft.com · 22 Sept 2026
Autoscale provisioned throughput Minimum 400 RU/s or 10% of maximum azure.microsoft.com · 22 Sept 2026

Compared on database software

Free plan
Yesazure.microsoft.com
Vector search
Yesazure.microsoft.com

Facts

What it does
Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL is a fully managed cloud database using a schema-agnostic JSON document model with SQL-like querying.azure.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026
Global scale
The service supports global data distribution, multi-region writes, and automatic failover.learn.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026
Search
It offers built-in vector and hybrid similarity search for workloads including RAG and AI agents.learn.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026
Scaling
Throughput options include standard provisioned, autoscale provisioned, and serverless models.azure.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026
Developer SDKs
Microsoft lists SDKs for .NET, Java, JavaScript/Node.js, Python, Go, and Rust.learn.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026
Integrations
Change feed supports event-driven architectures and streaming pipelines using Azure Functions and Spark.learn.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026
Analytics
The service supports no-ETL analytical workflows through Azure Synapse Link or Fabric mirroring.learn.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026
Security
Microsoft recommends private endpoints, disabling public network access, and client-side encryption with Always Encrypted for sensitive data.learn.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026
Availability
The product page states that NoSQL data has SLAs including less than 10 millisecond read and write latency and 99.999 percent availability.azure.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026
Free local development
The Azure Cosmos DB emulator provides a no-cost local environment for development and testing on Windows or Linux.azure.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026
Notable limits
The pricing page says the selected compute pricing model and API cannot be changed after selection.azure.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026
Intended workloads
Microsoft identifies flexible-schema, latency-sensitive, elastic, high-throughput, and highly available mission-critical apps as good fits, while describing analytical OLAP and highly relational apps as poor fits.learn.microsoft.com · 11 Oct 2026

Company

Founded
1975azure.microsoft.com · 23 Sept 2026
Headquarters
Redmond, Washington, United Statesazure.microsoft.com · 23 Sept 2026

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