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Azure Load Balancer
What Azure Load Balancer is
Azure Load Balancer is a managed, web-accessible service for distributing network traffic across backend resources. It supports Layer 4 routing and global traffic management, with a listed limit of 5,000 backends. It does not provide Layer 7 routing or TLS termination. The listed offerings are Standard Load Balancer in Regional and Global tiers, plus Gateway Load Balancer. Regional tier bills the first five rules hourly and additional rules per rule per hour; processed data is billed per GB, while inbound NAT rules are free. Global tier uses the same rule billing, has no additional charge for processed data, and includes inbound NAT rules at no charge. Gateway Load Balancer bills gateway hours and chain hours hourly, along with processed data per GB. The service is paid and has no free plan, with a 30-day trial listed. Prices for the tiers are not provided, so costs depend on the applicable billing units rather than a stated flat price.
Who it suits
Azure Load Balancer suits users who need managed Layer 4 traffic distribution across backend resources or global traffic management. Buyers should check whether their needs require Layer 7 routing or TLS termination, which are not provided.
What it does well
- Managed service for distributing traffic across backends
- Supports Layer 4 routing and global traffic management
- Listed limit of 5,000 backends
- Inbound NAT rules are free in both Standard tiers
- 30-day trial
What to know first
- Does not provide Layer 7 routing
- Does not provide TLS termination
- No free plan
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Load Balancer — Regional Tier | First 5 rules billed hourly · Additional rules billed per rule per hour · Data processed billed per GB · Inbound NAT rules are free | On request |
| Standard Load Balancer — Global Tier | First 5 rules billed hourly · Additional rules billed per rule per hour · No additional charge for data processed · Inbound NAT rules are free | On request |
| Gateway Load Balancer | Gateway hours billed hourly · Chain hours billed hourly · Data processed billed per GB | On request |
As azure.microsoft.com lists them, read 20 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Azure Load Balancer offers managed Layer 4 distribution and global traffic management, with billing based on rules, data, or hours according to the tier. It is not suited to requirements for Layer 7 routing or TLS termination.
Where Azure Load Balancer stands on Freedom251
- Load Balancing Software#25 of 30