Standard_B8als_v2vsStandard_B8pls_v2

Standard_B8pls_v2 is 11% cheaper than Standard_B8als_v2 on demand in East US, saving $20.44 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_B8als_v2Standard_B8pls_v2
On-demand$0.266/hr$0.238/hr11% less
Lowest rate$0.1013/hr3-yr reserved, no upfront$0.0904/hr11% less3-yr reserved, no upfront
Size8 vCPUs, 16 GiB8 vCPUs, 16 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_B8als_v2Standard_B8pls_v2Standard_B8pls_v2 vs Standard_B8als_v2
On-demandPay by the hour$0.266$0.238▼ 11%
SpotCan be interrupted10% off$0.239410% off$0.2142▼ 11%
1-yr reservedNo upfront41% off$0.157241% off$0.1404▼ 11%
3-yr reservedNo upfront62% off$0.101362% off$0.0904▼ 11%
1-yr savings planHourly commitment33% off$0.178233% off$0.1595▼ 10%
3-yr savings planHourly commitment55% off$0.119755% off$0.1071▼ 11%

Key differences

The biggest lead each one has.

Where Standard_B8als_v2 leads
Max network interfaces4 vs 2
2× higher
Where Standard_B8pls_v2 leads
On-demand price$0.238 vs $0.266 per hour
11% cheaper
Physical cores8 vs 4
2× higher

Specs

7 of 20 specs differ. Those are in bold.

Compute4 of 5 differStandard_B8als_v2Standard_B8pls_v2
vCPUs88
Physical cores48
Threads per core21
Architecturex86_64arm64
ProcessorAMD EPYC 7763v (Milan)Ampere Altra
MemoryAll 1 matchStandard_B8als_v2Standard_B8pls_v2
Memory (GiB)1616
Networking1 of 3 differStandard_B8als_v2Standard_B8pls_v2
Network6,250 Mbps6,250 Mbps
Accelerated networkingYesYes
Max network interfaces42
StorageAll 5 matchStandard_B8als_v2Standard_B8pls_v2
Max data disks1616
Premium SSDYesYes
Max disk IOPS (uncached)12,80012,800
Max disk throughput (uncached)290 MB/s290 MB/s
Ephemeral OS diskNoNo
Instance details1 of 4 differStandard_B8als_v2Standard_B8pls_v2
FamilyBalsv2Bplsv2
CategoryGeneral purposeGeneral purpose
VM generationsV1, V2V1, V2
Encryption at hostYesYes
Other1 of 2 differStandard_B8als_v2Standard_B8pls_v2
Seriesbasv2-seriesbpsv2-series
Specs sourceAzure Resource SKUs APIAzure Resource SKUs API

On-demand prices by region

Cheapest for Standard_B8als_v2 first. Linux, USD per hour.

RegionStandard_B8als_v2Standard_B8pls_v2Difference
Central Indiacentralindia$0.174$0.159▼ 9%
Jio India Centraljioindiacentral$0.174$0.159▼ 9%
Jio India Westjioindiawest$0.174$0.159▼ 9%
East USUsed in summaryeastus$0.266$0.238▼ 11%
East US 2eastus2$0.266$0.238▼ 11%
North Central USnorthcentralus$0.266$0.238▼ 11%
West US 2westus2$0.266$0.238▼ 11%
West US 3westus3$0.266$0.213▼ 20%
Sweden Centralswedencentral$0.275$0.244▼ 11%
North Europenortheurope$0.289$0.261▼ 10%
Canada Centralcanadacentral$0.296$0.261▼ 12%
Central UScentralus$0.301$0.269▼ 11%
France Centralfrancecentral$0.301$0.266▼ 12%
UK Southuksouth$0.301$0.266▼ 12%
Germany West Centralgermanywestcentral$0.306$0.272▼ 11%
West Europewesteurope$0.306$0.272▼ 11%
West USwestus$0.316$0.283▼ 10%
South Central USsouthcentralus$0.32$0.286▼ 11%
West Central USwestcentralus$0.32$0.286▼ 11%
Southeast Asiasoutheastasia$0.334$0.3▼ 10%
Australia Eastaustraliaeast$0.337$0.3▼ 11%
Switzerland Northswitzerlandnorth$0.337$0.299▼ 11%
Japan Eastjapaneast$0.347$0.306▼ 12%
East Asiaeastasia$0.372$0.329▼ 12%

Keep exploring

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

Standard_B8als_v2General purpose, Balsv2 family
Standard_B8als_v2 prices and specsEvery size in the Balsv2 family

Compare Standard_B8als_v2 with

Standard_B8ls_v2
Standard_B8pls_v2General purpose, Bplsv2 family
Standard_B8pls_v2 prices and specsEvery size in the Bplsv2 family

Compare Standard_B8pls_v2 with

Standard_B8ls_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.