Azure AZ-900 vs AZ-104: Complete Beginner's Guide 2026
I knew nothing about Azure. 90 days later I had both certs. Here's which one to take first.
Ninety days ago I'd never touched Azure. Not once.
Today I hold both AZ-900 (Fundamentals) and AZ-104 (Administrator). And honestly? I could've done it in 60 days if I'd known what I know now.
So let me save you some time. Here's the exact path that worked—and which exam you should tackle first in 2026.
The Short Answer
If you're brand new to cloud: Start with AZ-900. It's $99, takes 3 weeks, and teaches you cloud fundamentals without overwhelming you.
If you already have AWS/GCP experience: Skip AZ-900. Go straight to AZ-104. You already know the cloud concepts; you just need Azure-specific knowledge.
If you want to get hired fast: AZ-104 is the minimum for Azure admin roles. AZ-900 alone won't cut it, but it's a great confidence builder.
AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals Explained
AZ-900 is Microsoft's entry-level Azure cert. It covers the absolute basics—what cloud computing is, Azure's core services, pricing, security, compliance.
What AZ-900 Actually Tests
- Cloud concepts: IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS, public/private/hybrid cloud
- Core Azure services: VMs, App Service, Storage, Networking basics
- Security & compliance: Azure AD, RBAC, Defender, Trust Center
- Pricing & support: Azure pricing calculator, SLAs, support plans
Questions are multiple choice. No hands-on labs. No complex scenarios. Just "What service would you use to..." or "Which Azure tool provides..."
Exam Format
- 40-60 questions in 85 minutes
- Pass score: 700/1000
- Cost: $99 USD
- Difficulty: Easy—3 weeks of study for complete beginners
AZ-104: Azure Administrator Explained
AZ-104 is the first real Azure certification. This is what employers actually care about. It tests your ability to manage Azure resources, configure virtual networks, implement security, and troubleshoot production environments.
What AZ-104 Actually Tests
- Identity & governance: Azure AD, users/groups, RBAC, policies
- Virtual networking: VNets, subnets, NSGs, routing, VPN Gateway
- Compute: VMs, VM Scale Sets, App Service, containers
- Storage: Blob, File, Disk storage, access tiers, replication
- Monitoring: Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, alerts
- Backup & disaster recovery: Azure Backup, Site Recovery
Questions are scenario-based. "A company needs to ensure their VMs in East US can access a database in West Europe. What should you configure?" You need to understand how services work together.
Exam Format
- 40-60 questions including hands-on labs
- Pass score: 700/1000
- Cost: $165 USD
- Difficulty: Moderate—6-8 weeks of study + hands-on practice
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | AZ-900 | AZ-104 |
|---|---|---|
| Target | Complete cloud beginners | Azure administrators |
| Study Time | 2-4 weeks | 6-8 weeks |
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
| Cost | $99 | $165 |
| Hands-On Labs | No | Yes |
| Job Relevance | Low (foundation only) | High (required for admin roles) |
| Pass Rate | ~75% | ~50% |
My 90-Day Journey: What Actually Worked
Here's exactly what I did, start to finish.
Days 1-21: AZ-900 (Fundamentals)
Week 1: Watched John Savill's AZ-900 study cram on YouTube (free, 3 hours). Took notes on cloud concepts, core services, pricing.
Week 2: Created a free Azure account. Poked around the portal. Deployed a VM, created a storage account, played with Azure AD.
Week 3: Took 3 full practice exams on ExamCert's AZ-900 practice test. Reviewed every wrong answer. Scored 85%+ consistently.
Day 21: Took the exam. Passed with 880/1000. Felt great. Confidence boosted.
Days 22-90: AZ-104 (Administrator)
Weeks 4-7: Watched Scott Duffy's AZ-104 course on Udemy. Followed along in my Azure account—created VNets, configured NSGs, deployed VMs, set up Azure AD users.
Week 8: Hands-on labs. I built a complete environment: VNet with multiple subnets, VM Scale Set with Load Balancer, Azure Backup configured, monitoring alerts set up.
Weeks 9-10: Practice exams. Took 5 full AZ-104 practice tests. First score? 65%. Brutal. Reviewed weak areas (networking and monitoring). Retook exams until I hit 80%+.
Week 11: Final review + hands-on practice. Focused on topics I kept getting wrong (VNet peering, NSG rules, RBAC assignments).
Day 90: Took AZ-104. The lab questions were harder than expected, but I passed with 790/1000.
Should You Skip AZ-900?
Depends. Here's when you should skip it:
- You already passed AWS Cloud Practitioner or GCP Cloud Digital Leader
- You've worked with any cloud platform for 6+ months
- You're in a rush to get AZ-104 for a job requirement
Here's when you should take AZ-900:
- You've never touched cloud before
- You want a confidence boost before tackling AZ-104
- You have 3 weeks to spare and $99 to invest
- Your employer is paying for it (why not?)
Honestly? I'm glad I took AZ-900 first. It made AZ-104 feel less overwhelming because I already understood the fundamentals.
How to Prepare for AZ-900 (Fast Track)
If you're going for AZ-900, here's the fastest path:
Week 1: Learn the concepts
- Watch John Savill's AZ-900 study cram (YouTube, free, 3.5 hours)
- Read Microsoft Learn's AZ-900 learning path (official, free)
- Focus on: IaaS/PaaS/SaaS, Azure core services, pricing calculator
Week 2: Hands-on practice
- Create a free Azure account ($200 credit for 30 days)
- Deploy a VM, create a storage account, configure Azure AD users
- Explore the Azure Portal—just click around and learn where things are
Week 3: Practice exams
- Take practice tests on ExamCert or MeasureUp
- Aim for 85%+ before booking your exam
- Review weak areas (usually pricing and compliance for most people)
How to Prepare for AZ-104 (The Right Way)
AZ-104 requires real hands-on practice. You can't cram this one.
Weeks 1-4: Core learning
- Take Scott Duffy's AZ-104 course (Udemy, $15 when on sale)
- Or use Microsoft Learn's AZ-104 learning path (free but drier)
- Follow along in your Azure account—don't just watch, DO
Weeks 5-6: Hands-on projects
- Build a complete environment from scratch
- Configure a VNet with multiple subnets and NSGs
- Deploy a VM Scale Set with Load Balancer
- Set up Azure Backup and disaster recovery
- Create Azure Monitor alerts and dashboards
Weeks 7-8: Practice exams & review
- Take full AZ-104 practice exams (expect 60-70% on your first try)
- Spend 2 hours reviewing each exam—understand WHY you got answers wrong
- Focus on weak areas (networking and RBAC trip up most people)
- Retake practice exams until you hit 80%+ consistently
The Optimal Azure Certification Path (2026)
Here's the path I recommend based on your background:
Complete Beginner (No Cloud Experience):
- AZ-900 — 3 weeks, build confidence
- AZ-104 — 6-8 weeks, get job-ready
- Land an Azure admin job
- Pursue specialty certs (AZ-500 Security, AZ-305 Solutions Architect) based on your role
Cloud-Experienced (AWS/GCP Background):
- Skip AZ-900
- AZ-104 — 4-6 weeks (faster with cloud knowledge)
- Add AZ-305 for architect roles or AZ-500 for security roles
Already Working with Azure (No Cert):
- Skip AZ-900
- Take AZ-104 practice exam to gauge readiness
- If 70%+: study weak areas for 2-3 weeks, then test
- If <70%: full 6-week study plan
Cost Analysis: Is AZ-900 Worth It?
Let's be real about ROI:
- AZ-900: $99 exam + $20 study materials = $119 total
- AZ-104: $165 exam + $50 study materials = $215 total
- Total for both: $334
Value: AZ-900 alone doesn't get you hired. But combined with AZ-104? You'll qualify for Azure admin roles paying $70-90k (entry-level) or $90-120k (mid-level).
If you're on a budget: skip AZ-900, invest that $119 into more practice resources for AZ-104.
If you have the budget: take both. AZ-900 makes AZ-104 easier.
Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Mistake #1: Only watching videos
You can't pass AZ-104 by watching courses alone. Hands-on practice is mandatory. Build stuff. Break stuff. Fix stuff.
Mistake #2: Skipping practice exams
Practice exams expose your weak areas. Without them, you're flying blind. Take at least 3 full practice tests before the real exam.
Mistake #3: Memorizing without understanding
Don't just memorize "Standard LRS has 3 copies within a datacenter." Understand when to use it vs. ZRS vs. GRS.
Mistake #4: Rushing to AZ-104 without fundamentals
If you skip AZ-900 and struggle with AZ-104, it's probably because you don't have the foundational cloud concepts down. Go back and learn the basics.
My Honest Take: Which Path Is Right for You?
After getting both certs, here's what I'd recommend:
Take AZ-900 if:
- You're brand new to cloud (no AWS/GCP/on-prem experience)
- You want a low-risk way to test if Azure is right for you
- You have the time and budget for both exams
Skip AZ-900 if:
- You already know cloud fundamentals from other platforms
- You're on a tight timeline (job requirement, career change)
- You're confident in your ability to self-learn basics
Ready to start? Try free AZ-900 practice questions or jump straight to AZ-104 practice tests to gauge your readiness.
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AZ-900 Practice → AZ-104 Practice →FAQ: Your Azure Questions Answered
Only if you already have 6+ months of cloud experience (AWS/GCP counts). AZ-900 covers foundational concepts that AZ-104 assumes you know. Skipping it means learning both exams at once. For complete beginners, take AZ-900 first.
AZ-900: 2-4 weeks (30-40 hours total). AZ-104: 6-8 weeks (60-80 hours total). If you have cloud experience, cut study time in half for both.
For complete cloud beginners: yes. It's $99, takes 3 weeks, and teaches fundamentals. For people with AWS/GCP certs: skip it, go straight to AZ-104. It won't get you hired alone, but it's a solid foundation.
Unlikely. AZ-900 proves you know Azure basics, but employers want hands-on skills. AZ-104 is the minimum for Azure admin roles. Use AZ-900 as a stepping stone, not the destination.