Standard_B16als_v2vsStandard_B16pls_v2

Standard_B16pls_v2 is 11% cheaper than Standard_B16als_v2 on demand in East US, saving $41.61 a month. They use different processor architectures (x86_64 and arm64), so software built for one may need rebuilding to run on the other.

At a glanceStandard_B16als_v2Standard_B16pls_v2
On-demand$0.533/hr$0.476/hr11% less
Lowest rate$0.2024/hr3-yr reserved, no upfront$0.1809/hr11% less3-yr reserved, no upfront
Size16 vCPUs, 32 GiB16 vCPUs, 32 GiB
ProcessorAMD EPYC 7763v (Milan)Ampere Altra
Architecturex86_64arm64

Prices in East US

“Off” is the discount against each type’s own on-demand price. Linux, USD per hour.

OptionStandard_B16als_v2Standard_B16pls_v2Standard_B16pls_v2 vs Standard_B16als_v2
On-demandPay by the hour$0.533$0.476▼ 11%
SpotCan be interrupted10% off$0.479710% off$0.4284▼ 11%
1-yr reservedNo upfront41% off$0.314341% off$0.2808▼ 11%
3-yr reservedNo upfront62% off$0.202462% off$0.1809▼ 11%
1-yr savings planHourly commitment33% off$0.357133% off$0.3189▼ 11%
3-yr savings planHourly commitment55% off$0.239955% off$0.2142▼ 11%

Key differences

The biggest lead each one has.

Where Standard_B16als_v2 leads

No clear lead on the measures we compare.

Where Standard_B16pls_v2 leads
On-demand price$0.476 vs $0.533 per hour
11% cheaper
Physical cores16 vs 8
2× higher

Specs

6 of 20 specs differ. Those are in bold.

Compute4 of 5 differStandard_B16als_v2Standard_B16pls_v2
vCPUs1616
Physical cores816
Threads per core21
Architecturex86_64arm64
ProcessorAMD EPYC 7763v (Milan)Ampere Altra
MemoryAll 1 matchStandard_B16als_v2Standard_B16pls_v2
Memory (GiB)3232
NetworkingAll 3 matchStandard_B16als_v2Standard_B16pls_v2
Network6,250 Mbps6,250 Mbps
Accelerated networkingYesYes
Max network interfaces44
StorageAll 5 matchStandard_B16als_v2Standard_B16pls_v2
Max data disks3232
Premium SSDYesYes
Max disk IOPS (uncached)25,60025,600
Max disk throughput (uncached)600 MB/s600 MB/s
Ephemeral OS diskNoNo
Instance details1 of 4 differStandard_B16als_v2Standard_B16pls_v2
FamilyBalsv2Bplsv2
CategoryGeneral purposeGeneral purpose
VM generationsV1, V2V1, V2
Encryption at hostYesYes
Other1 of 2 differStandard_B16als_v2Standard_B16pls_v2
Seriesbasv2-seriesbpsv2-series
Specs sourceAzure Resource SKUs APIAzure Resource SKUs API

On-demand prices by region

Cheapest for Standard_B16als_v2 first. Linux, USD per hour.

RegionStandard_B16als_v2Standard_B16pls_v2Difference
Central Indiacentralindia$0.349$0.317▼ 9%
Jio India Centraljioindiacentral$0.349$0.317▼ 9%
Jio India Westjioindiawest$0.349$0.317▼ 9%
East USUsed in summaryeastus$0.533$0.476▼ 11%
East US 2eastus2$0.533$0.476▼ 11%
North Central USnorthcentralus$0.533$0.476▼ 11%
West US 2westus2$0.533$0.476▼ 11%
West US 3westus3$0.533$0.425▼ 20%
Sweden Centralswedencentral$0.551$0.487▼ 12%
North Europenortheurope$0.578$0.521▼ 10%
Canada Centralcanadacentral$0.592$0.521▼ 12%
Central UScentralus$0.602$0.538▼ 11%
France Centralfrancecentral$0.602$0.533▼ 11%
UK Southuksouth$0.602$0.533▼ 11%
Germany West Centralgermanywestcentral$0.612$0.544▼ 11%
West Europewesteurope$0.612$0.544▼ 11%
West USwestus$0.632$0.567▼ 10%
South Central USsouthcentralus$0.639$0.571▼ 11%
West Central USwestcentralus$0.639$0.571▼ 11%
Southeast Asiasoutheastasia$0.669$0.601▼ 10%
Australia Eastaustraliaeast$0.673$0.601▼ 11%
Switzerland Northswitzerlandnorth$0.673$0.598▼ 11%
Japan Eastjapaneast$0.694$0.612▼ 12%
East Asiaeastasia$0.745$0.657▼ 12%

Keep exploring

Each type’s own page, and how it compares with others.

Standard_B16als_v2General purpose, Balsv2 family
Standard_B16als_v2 prices and specsEvery size in the Balsv2 family

Compare Standard_B16als_v2 with

Standard_B16ls_v2
Standard_B16pls_v2General purpose, Bplsv2 family
Standard_B16pls_v2 prices and specsEvery size in the Bplsv2 family

Compare Standard_B16pls_v2 with

Standard_B16ls_v2

Pay the committed rate, with commitment protection

The best committed rate on these two is 62% below on-demand. Connect your cloud accounts to unlock greater savings with commitment protection.

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Azure VM Linux prices in USD. Monthly figures use 730 hours. Prices last updated 12 Nov 2026.