Direct answer: at the Azure Retail Prices API on 9 November 2026 (eastus, USD, excluding tax/discounts), Azure VMware Solution (AVS) bills by dedicated host-hour: AV36 $7.35311/hour ($5,367.77/month), AV36P $8.19311 ($5,980.97), AV48 $10.93 ($7,978.90) and AV64 $11.43 ($8,343.90). The 3-host minimum is AV36 $16,103.31/month, AV36P $17,942.91, AV48 $23,936.70 and AV64 $25,031.70. Reservations are per host: AV36P one year $48,209 (32.8% off), AV48 one year $64,781 (32.3%) / three years $125,949 (56.2%), AV64 one year $66,511 (33.6%) / three years $125,739 (58.1%). Key boundary: the AVS price covers Azure infrastructure plus the AVS managed service, not the VMware VCF portable subscription; VCF is bought separately from Broadcom. Each cluster starts at 3 and reaches 16 hosts, with up to 96 hosts/12 clusters per private cloud; AV36P is 36 cores/768 GB/20.70 TB NVMe, AV48 is 48 cores/1 TB/25.60 TB and AV64 is 64 cores/1 TB/19.20 TB.
This guide is for enterprise architects, infrastructure/SRE, finance and procurement teams evaluating VMware migration/exit, a private cloud on Azure, or AVS versus native Azure IaaS/PaaS. It explains AV36/AV36P/AV48/AV64 host specs and prices, 3-host minimum TCO, one-/three-year reservations, VCF BYOL, usable capacity and n+1, external storage/network/Windows licensing and a 90-day assessment checklist. Prices come from the Azure VMware Solution pricing page, the Azure Retail Prices API and Microsoft Learn (eastus, 9 November 2026). Official price facts, editorial calculations and exclusions are kept separate. This is not procurement advice.
(1) The AVS host price is Azure infrastructure plus the managed service, not VCF; the VCF portable subscription comes from Broadcom and can materially change TCO. (2) Three hosts is a hard minimum, and clusters reserve n+1, so raw vSAN capacity is not all usable. (3) One-/three-year reservations save 32%–58%, but external storage, ExpressRoute/VPN, public IP, Windows/SQL licensing and migration are extra.
Four host types: specs, price and reservations
AVS hosts are dedicated bare metal billed hourly; a private cloud uses one host type. AV36 is the older OSA/vSAN architecture, AV36P upgrades to 768 GB RAM and all-NVMe, AV48 offers 48 cores/1 TB/25.6 TB and AV64 offers 64 cores/1 TB/19.2 TB. AV36P costs about 11% more than AV36, AV48 about 33% more than AV36P and AV64 about 4.6% more than AV48; choose by memory/storage density per VM, not hourly price alone.
| Host | Cores/RAM | vSAN raw | Hourly | Monthly | 1-year reserved | 3-year reserved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AV36 | 36 / 576 GB | 18.60 TB | 7.35311 | 5,367.77 | — | — |
| AV36P | 36 / 768 GB | 20.70 TB NVMe | 8.19311 | 5,980.97 | 48,209 | — |
| AV48 | 48 / 1,024 GB | 25.60 TB NVMe | 10.93 | 7,978.90 | 64,781 | 125,949 |
| AV64 | 64 / 1,024 GB | 19.20 TB NVMe | 11.43 | 8,343.90 | 66,511 | 125,739 |
Sources: Azure Retail Prices API (eastus, 9 November 2026) and the Azure VMware Solution pricing page. Monthly = hourly × 730; reservations are per host per term: AV36 none, AV36P one year only, AV48/AV64 one and three years. Excludes VCF, external storage, networking, public IP, Windows/SQL licensing and tax.
3-host minimum TCO: PAYG vs one-/three-year reservations
An AVS deployment starts with at least 3 hosts of the same type. At 730 hours: AV36 $16,103.31/month, AV36P $17,942.91, AV48 $23,936.70, AV64 $25,031.70. With reservations: AV36P one year is $12,052.25/month; AV48 one year $16,195.25, three years $10,495.75; AV64 one year $16,627.75, three years $10,478.25. Note that AV64 Gen1 requires an AV36P/AV48/AV52 base cluster, so three AV64 hosts cannot form a Gen1 private cloud alone; Gen2 can be standalone in limited regions.
| Host | 3-host PAYG/month | 3-host 1-year/month | 3-host 3-year/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| AV36 | 16,103.31 | — | — |
| AV36P | 17,942.91 | 12,052.25 | — |
| AV48 | 23,936.70 | 16,195.25 | 10,495.75 |
| AV64 (Gen2/expansion) | 25,031.70 | 16,627.75 | 10,478.25 |
Editorial calculation: 730 hours/month; three hosts of the same type; reservation price per host per term ÷12 or ÷36. AV64 Gen1 needs a base cluster, so three AV64 hosts are not standalone; excludes VCF, external storage, networking, public IP, Windows/SQL licensing, migration and tax.
Reservation discounts: about 32%–34% for one year, 56%–58% for three
Against annualised PAYG: AV36P one year $48,209 vs $71,771.64, 32.8% off; AV48 one year $64,781 vs $95,746.80, 32.3% off, three years $125,949 ($41,983/year), 56.2% off; AV64 one year $66,511 vs $100,126.80, 33.6% off, three years $125,739 ($41,913/year), 58.1% off. AV36 has no reservation, so long-running AV36 stays PAYG or moves to another host type.
| Host | PAYG annual | 1-year reserved | 1-year saving | 3-year reserved | 3-year saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AV36 | 64,413.24 | — | — | — | — |
| AV36P | 71,771.64 | 48,209 | 32.8% | — | — |
| AV48 | 95,746.80 | 64,781 | 32.3% | 125,949 | 56.2% |
| AV64 | 100,126.80 | 66,511 | 33.6% | 125,739 | 58.1% |
Sources: Azure Retail Prices API (eastus, 9 November 2026); annual = hourly × 8,760; three-year saving compares total ÷3 with PAYG annual. Reservation scope/exchange rules follow the Azure Reservations page; excludes VCF/storage/network/licensing/tax.
Capacity and HA: 3 hosts minimum, n+1, raw is not usable
An AVS cluster starts at 3 hosts and reaches 16; each private cloud supports up to 96 hosts and 12 clusters. Clusters use n+1 vSphere HA admission control by default, so a 3-host cluster must tolerate one host failure; raw vSAN capacity is not all usable, and usable capacity also depends on RAID/FTT, reservations and replica policy. Each host has 100 Gbps networking; external storage can use Azure NetApp Files, Elastic SAN or Pure Cloud Block Store, all billed separately.
| Item | Rule/limit | Cost implication |
|---|---|---|
| Initial hosts | Minimum 3 | Small clusters still pay for 3 |
| Hosts per cluster | 3–16 | Scale by host |
| Per private cloud | 96 hosts / 12 clusters | Large estates need multiple private clouds |
| HA | n+1 admission control | Usable capacity below raw |
| Network | 100 Gbps/host | Cross-region/egress extra |
| External storage | ANF/Elastic SAN/Pure | Separate capacity/performance bill |
| AV64 Gen1 | Requires AV36P/AV48/AV52 base cluster | No standalone 3-host AV64 |
Sources: Learn "Azure VMware Solution overview" and "Private cloud and cluster concepts" (9 November 2026). n+1 is vSphere HA percentage-based admission control; actual usable capacity follows FTT/RAID/reservation policy.
Hidden costs: VCF, external storage, networking and licensing
At least seven items sit outside the host price: VMware VCF portable subscription (bought separately from Broadcom; not in AVS), external storage (ANF/Elastic SAN/Pure), ExpressRoute/VPN and egress, public IPv4 (per prefix), Windows Server/SQL Server licensing (Azure Hybrid Benefit and free ESU can reduce), HCX migration bandwidth/tooling and the AV64 base cluster. VCF is the biggest unknown: this article does not guess Broadcom pricing; add the annual VCF fee to the 3-host TCO.
| Cost item | Included in host price? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Azure infrastructure + AVS managed service | Yes | Bare metal, vSphere/vSAN/NSX/vCenter management |
| VMware VCF subscription | No | Broadcom portable subscription, bought separately |
| External storage | No | ANF/Elastic SAN/Pure billed separately |
| ExpressRoute/VPN/egress | No | Circuit/gateway/data transfer |
| Public IPv4 | No | Public IPv4 prefix pricing |
| Windows/SQL licensing | No | AHB/ESU can reduce |
| HCX migration | Comes with private cloud | Bandwidth/time/tooling extra |
| AV64 Gen1 base cluster | No | Requires AV36P/AV48/AV52 first |
Sources: Azure VMware Solution pricing page and Learn docs (9 November 2026). VCF pricing is a Broadcom quote and is not estimated here; AHB/ESU applicability follows the licence agreement.
AVS vs on-premises VMware vs native Azure
AVS's strength is "keep the VMware operating model while Azure manages the platform": existing vSphere/NSX/vSAN workloads migrate with limited change, HCX handles bulk migration, and vCenter/NSX remain the management plane; the trade-off is the 3-host minimum, n+1 reservation and VCF subscription. Native Azure IaaS/PaaS suits new apps, containers, managed databases and elastic workloads; on-premises VMware suits low latency/data residency or hardware that is not fully depreciated. Compare migration/refactoring, licensing, three-year TCO and staff time on the same basis.
| Scenario | Prefer | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Large existing VMware estate | AVS | VCF subscription, HCX, networking |
| Keep vSphere/NSX/vSAN operating model | AVS | 3-host minimum, n+1 |
| New apps/containers/managed databases | Native Azure | AKS/App Service/SQL |
| Low latency/data residency/dedicated hosts | AVS private cloud | Region/AZ, compliance |
| High-performance external storage | AVS + ANF/Elastic SAN | Separate storage bill |
| Windows/SQL licensing optimisation | AVS + AHB/ESU | SA/licence scope |
| Short-term/burst | PAYG | Hourly/monthly |
| Stable 1/3 years | Reserved | 32%–58% discount |
Editorial selection framework, not a vendor recommendation; validate with migration assessment, performance testing, compliance and a three-year TCO.
90-day assessment checklist
Use 90 days to move through "inventory → host type → capacity → licensing → reservation → review". Weeks 1–2: count existing VMware hosts, vCPU/memory/storage, HA/DR, networking and Windows/SQL licences. Weeks 2–4: confirm AVS region/host availability and whether AV64 Gen1 has a base cluster. Weeks 4–6: size 3/6/12 hosts with n+1 and growth, comparing AV36P/AV48/AV64. Weeks 6–8: add VCF, ANF/Elastic SAN, ExpressRoute/VPN, public IP and AHB/ESU to the TCO. Weeks 8–10: evaluate one-/three-year reservations and migration schedule. Weeks 10–12: run an HCX pilot, performance validation and an exit/rollback plan.
FAQ
How is Azure VMware Solution billed?
By dedicated host-hour: AV36 $7.35311, AV36P $8.19311, AV48 $10.93, AV64 $11.43; monthly at 730 hours. The minimum is 3 hosts of the same type; one-/three-year reservations are available (AV36 none, AV36P one year only). The host price includes Azure infrastructure and the AVS managed service, not VCF, external storage, networking, public IP, Windows/SQL licensing or tax.
How much is the 3-host minimum?
PAYG: AV36 $16,103.31/month, AV36P $17,942.91, AV48 $23,936.70, AV64 $25,031.70. One-year reserved: AV36P $12,052.25, AV48 $16,195.25, AV64 $16,627.75; AV48/AV64 three-year about $10,495.75/$10,478.25. All exclude VCF and external storage/network/licensing.
Is the VCF licence included in the AVS price?
No. The pricing page states that AVS includes Azure infrastructure and the AVS managed service but not the portable VCF subscription from Broadcom. All AVS sizes now require customers to bring a VCF subscription; add the annual VCF fee to the TCO separately.
How much do reservations save?
Against annualised PAYG: AV36P one year 32.8%, AV48 one year 32.3%/three years 56.2%, AV64 one year 33.6%/three years 58.1%. AV36 has no reservation. Reservations suit a stable baseline; scope/exchange rules follow Azure Reservations.
How is usable capacity calculated?
Do not treat raw vSAN as usable. A 3-host cluster uses n+1 vSphere HA admission control and must tolerate one host failure; usable capacity also depends on FTT/RAID, reservations and replica policy. Set the business SLA first, then estimate "raw × usable ratio"; do not use 3× single-host capacity as usable.
How do I choose AV36P, AV48 or AV64?
AV36P suits general VMware workloads at 36 cores/768 GB/20.7 TB; AV48 suits higher core/memory density (48 cores/1 TB/25.6 TB); AV64 suits the highest core density (64 cores/1 TB/19.2 TB), but Gen1 requires an AV36P/AV48/AV52 base cluster and Gen2 is standalone only in limited regions. Choose by memory/storage density per VM, not price alone.
How are external storage, networking and Windows licensing charged?
ANF/Elastic SAN/Pure, ExpressRoute/VPN and public IPv4 are separate bills; Windows Server/SQL Server can use Azure Hybrid Benefit and free ESU to reduce licensing. HCX comes with the private cloud for migration, but bandwidth, schedule and tooling are extra.
AVS vs on-premises VMware vs native Azure?
Choose AVS for a large existing VMware estate, keeping the vSphere/NSX/vSAN operating model, or for dedicated hosts/data residency; choose native Azure for new apps, containers, managed databases and elastic workloads; on-premises VMware suits low latency/data residency or hardware not fully depreciated. Compare migration/refactoring, VCF, storage, networking, licensing and staff time over three years.
Research method and limitations
This article separates "official price facts" from "editorial calculations": AV36 $7.35311, AV36P $8.19311, AV48 $10.93, AV64 $11.43, AV36P one year $48,209, AV48 one/three years $64,781/$125,949 and AV64 one/three years $66,511/$125,739 come from the Azure Retail Prices API (eastus, 9 November 2026); host specs, the 3-host minimum/16-host cluster limit/96 hosts/12 clusters, n+1, VCF BYOL, the AV64 Gen1 prerequisite and external storage/public IP/AHB/ESU come from the Azure VMware Solution pricing page and Microsoft Learn (overview, private cloud/cluster concepts).
Eight limitations: (1) only eastus list prices, excluding tax/CSP/enterprise discounts; (2) 730-hour months; (3) the main TCO excludes VCF, external storage, ExpressRoute/VPN, public IP, Windows/SQL licensing, migration and tax; (4) VCF pricing is a Broadcom quote and is not estimated; (5) three-year savings compare total ÷3 with PAYG annual, and exchange/scope rules follow Azure Reservations; (6) AV64 Gen1/Gen2 regional availability differs, so three AV64 hosts are not always standalone; (7) no vSAN/HA/performance benchmark, so usable capacity must follow FTT/RAID policy; (8) prices/host types/regions change, so recheck official pages and bills before purchase.
Sources and basis
- Microsoft Azure, Azure VMware Solution Pricing: azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/azure-vmware. AV36/AV36P/AV48/AV64, 3-host minimum, VCF BYOL, reservations, AHB/ESU, public IP. Accessed 9 November 2026.
- Azure Retail Prices API (productName contains Azure VMware Solution, eastus): prices.azure.com/api/retail/prices. $7.35311/$8.19311/$10.93/$11.43, $48,209, $64,781/$125,949, $66,511/$125,739. Accessed 9 November 2026.
- Microsoft Learn, Azure VMware Solution overview: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/introduction. Host specs, 3-host minimum/16-host limit, vSAN/NSX/vCenter/HCX. Accessed 9 November 2026.
- Microsoft Learn, Private cloud and cluster concepts: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/concepts-private-clouds-clusters. n+1, cluster/private-cloud limits, external storage support. Accessed 9 November 2026.
Data cut-off 9 November 2026; prices/availability follow Microsoft official pages and bills; this is not procurement, commercial or legal advice.