Azure Hybrid Benefit (AHB)
Reuse existing Windows Server (or SQL Server) licenses with Software Assurance so Windows VMs are billed at the Linux compute rate.
Azure Hybrid Benefit lets you apply Windows Server licenses you already own (with active Software Assurance or a qualifying subscription) to Azure VMs. The Windows Server license portion of the price is removed, so the VM is billed at the same compute rate as Linux.
In this explorer, turning on the Azure Hybrid Benefit toggle switches the Windows column to the Linux compute rate and shows the AHB saving — the license delta you avoid — as its own percentage. The saving is exactly the gap between the Windows and Linux On-Demand rates for that size.
FAQ
How much does Azure Hybrid Benefit save?
It removes the Windows Server license cost, which is the difference between the Windows and Linux rates for a size — often 30–40% of the Windows price. The AHB saving column shows the exact percentage per size.
Do I need to buy anything to use AHB?
You need Windows Server licenses with Software Assurance (or a qualifying subscription) that you already own. AHB does not sell you licenses; it lets you bring ones you have.