Top 10 Azure Developer Tools in 2025

Azure Developer Tools offer all the resources needed to build, test, and deploy applications on Microsoft Azure. Whether you’re a developer, tester, or DevOps engineer, tools such as Azure DevOps, Visual Studio, GitHub Actions, and Azure SDKs help simplify the development process. Supporting a wide range of programming languages, these tools make it easy to create scalable and secure cloud applications.

Why Choose Azure Developer Tools?

Azure developer tools simplify the process of building, deploying, and managing applications. They integrate seamlessly with Azure services, ensuring optimal performance, scalability, and security. Whether you’re working with web apps, AI, or cloud-native solutions, these tools streamline your development workflow.

Effortless Integration with Azure Services Azure tools integrate smoothly with services such as Azure Functions, Kubernetes, and AI models. You can automate deployments with Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions, accelerating your workflow.
Scalability and High Performance Azure ensures your applications can handle increasing traffic with features like autoscaling and managed databases. Services such as Azure App Service and SQL Database maintain performance even under heavy load.
Support for Multiple Programming Languages Azure supports languages including C#, Java, Python, and JavaScript. Tools like Visual Studio and VS Code enhance coding efficiency, boosting productivity and reducing development time.
Built-in Security and Compliance Azure prioritizes security, offering tools like Security Center and Defender to safeguard your applications. It also adheres to industry compliance standards, helping you maintain security and meet regulatory requirements.
Cloud-Native Application Development Azure makes cloud-native development easier with tools like Container Apps and Kubernetes. Additionally, Azure Functions lets you build serverless applications without worrying about managing infrastructure.
AI and Machine Learning Integration Want to integrate AI? Azure’s Azure OpenAI and Cognitive Services simplify deploying machine learning models at scale, enhancing your applications with advanced AI capabilities.
Cost Management and Optimization Azure’s flexible pricing model means you only pay for what you use. With its cost management tools, you can track and optimize your cloud spending efficiently.

Top Azure Developer Tools

Here is a list of top 10 Microsoft Azure developer tools:

1) Azure CLI

Azure CLI is a command-line interface that lets you manage Azure resources quickly through scripts and commands. It allows developers to manage and automate tasks with scripting, making it a quick and efficient way to interact with Azure resources, especially for advanced users and automation scenarios.

Features:

Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering flexibility for developers using different systems.
Automation: Easily automate resource management tasks using scripts and batch operations.
Resource Management: Allows developers to deploy, configure, and manage Azure resources with a few commands.
Simplicity: Simplifies complex tasks by providing simple commands for managing Azure resources.
Customization: Ability to create custom scripts and automate workflows for Azure resource provisioning and management.

2) Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

vs code azure developer tools

A fast, lightweight code editor packed with features to support web development, cloud applications, and Azure-based solutions. VS Code’s lightweight nature, combined with rich Azure integrations, makes it ideal for cloud-based development. It is one of the most widely used & popular azure developer tools.

Features:

Extensions for Azure: Extensions like Azure Functions, Azure App Service, and Azure CLI provide deep integration with Azure services.
IntelliSense: Autocompletion for syntax, variables, and functions boosts productivity and reduces errors.
Debugging: Built-in debugging support for Node.js, Python, JavaScript, and other programming languages.
Git Integration: Built-in Git support, enabling version control and collaboration directly within the editor.
Multi-platform: Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it cross-platform for developers.

3) Azure DevOps

Azure DevOps provides a set of tools for managing the entire software development lifecycle, from planning and development to testing and deployment. It unifies the DevOps pipeline, increasing the speed and consistency of software development.

Features:

CI/CD Pipelines: Automates builds, tests, and deployments, ensuring faster and more reliable software releases.
Version Control: Supports Git repositories for source code management, allowing collaborative code development.
Agile Project Management: Built-in features for Scrum, Kanban, and task boards to manage development cycles.
Testing & Monitoring: Integration with Azure Test Plans and Azure Monitor for thorough testing and real-time monitoring of applications.
Release Management: Facilitates easy tracking and management of releases across multiple environments.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with GitHub, Azure, Jira, and other popular tools.

4) Azure Storage Developer

Azure Storage is a cloud-based storage solution that provides developers with scalable and highly available storage for a variety of data types, including blobs, files, queues, tables, and disks. These tools allow developers to efficiently build, manage, and optimize applications using Azure’s storage solutions.

Features:

Scalability: It supports virtually unlimited scalability for handling large datasets, making it suitable for everything from small applications to enterprise-level systems.
Cost-Effective: With flexible pricing tiers (Hot, Cool, Archive), Azure Storage allows developers to optimize their storage costs based on the data access patterns of their applications.
Security: Azure Storage offers robust security mechanisms such as encryption, firewall rules, and granular access control policies, ensuring your data is protected at all times.

5) Azure Monitor and Application Insights

Monitoring tools to track the health, performance, and usage of applications and services in Azure. These tools allow developers to quickly identify issues and optimize the performance of applications running in Azure.

Features:

Real-Time Monitoring: Monitor applications, services, and infrastructure in real-time for insights into performance and usage.
Application Telemetry: Application Insights provides deep insights into user interactions, exceptions, dependencies, and overall application health.
Alerting: Set up automatic alerts for failures or performance degradation.
Custom Dashboards: Create custom dashboards to visualize important metrics and logs.
Integration with Azure Services: Tight integration with Azure services like Azure Functions, AKS, and others for holistic monitoring.

6) Azure Container Registry

container registry value 3

A private Docker container registry for storing and managing Docker container images. It simplifies container image management and deployment in Azure, making it an integral part of modern cloud-native application workflows.

Features:

Private Image Storage: Securely store and manage your container images.
Integrated with Azure Services: Directly integrates with Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and other Azure container tools.
Geo-replication: Replicate your registry to multiple regions to ensure high availability.
Security: Provides robust security features, including access control and vulnerability scanning of container images.

7) Cloud Combine

cloud combine

Cloud Combine is popular among Azure DevTools for teaching because of its simplicity and beginner-friendly UI. It is compatible with top cloud providers’ cloud storage services like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud.

Features:

It helps in easier browsing, downloading, upload, and transfer of files between cloud storage services.
It helps in easier logging into all the cloud services and management of storage resources.
It enables Windows Explorer-style browsing of your cloud storage. Data of any kind and size can be downloaded and uploaded using Cloud Combine.

8) Azure DevTest Labs

Azure DevTest Labs

A tool to quickly create test environments in Azure for development, experimentation, and testing. DevTest Labs makes it easy to create isolated test environments without impacting production resources.

Features:

Quick Provisioning: Spin up virtual machines (VMs) on-demand for quick testing and development.
Cost Management: Set up policies to control the costs associated with running VMs, helping to manage cloud expenses.
Environment Customization: Create and save configurations for repeatable test environments.
Integration with Azure DevOps: Integrates with Azure DevOps for continuous testing and development cycles.

9) Azure Resource Manager (ARM) Templates

resource manager template use condition diagram

A service for deploying and managing Azure resources using declarative templates written in JSON. ARM templates enable efficient and repeatable infrastructure deployments, essential for large-scale environments and teams.

Features:

Infrastructure as Code: ARM templates allow developers to define and deploy Azure resources in a repeatable and consistent manner.
Automation: Simplifies resource provisioning and management by automating the entire deployment process.
Version Control: ARM templates can be versioned and stored in source control repositories like GitHub for easy collaboration.
Dependency Management: ARM templates handle resource dependencies, ensuring resources are deployed in the correct order.
Parameterization: Templates can be parameterized to customize deployments based on the environment.

10) Azure Functions

Azure Functions

A serverless compute service that enables developers to run event-driven code without managing infrastructure. Azure Functions simplifies event-driven programming and enables fast, scalable solutions with minimal overhead.

Features:

Scalability: Automatically scales to handle traffic, from a few requests to thousands, without requiring manual intervention.
Event-Driven: Triggers can be set up for a variety of events (HTTP requests, file uploads, database changes, etc.).
Multiple Language Support: Supports languages like C#, JavaScript, Python, and Java.
Cost-Effective: You only pay for the compute time your functions consume, making it cost-efficient.
Integrations: Deep integration with other Azure services like Azure Storage, Event Grid, and Logic Apps.

How to Choose the Right Azure Tool?

Choosing the right Azure tool can be a challenge, as there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for every development and monitoring requirement. Whether you’re managing a small set of resources or a complex infrastructure, the right tool depends on your specific objectives and goals. Here are some factors to consider:

Integration Capabilities: Ensure the Azure tool you select is compatible with your existing systems, software, and devices.
Ease of Setup: Avoid tools that are difficult to set up, especially if you’re just getting started. Opt for tools that are easy to install and configure.
Pricing Options: Azure tool pricing varies based on the level of service and features you choose. Pick a pricing plan that aligns with your project needs and budget.
Security & Protection: Choose Azure tools that come with robust security features to help detect and mitigate threats early.
Support & Assistance: Opt for a tool with reliable customer support, so you can easily get help if any issues arise.

Conclusion

Each of these azure developer tools plays a crucial role in the Azure development ecosystem. Mastering them will not only improve efficiency and scalability but also ensure you’re equipped to leverage the latest capabilities in Azure cloud development. Whether you’re working with serverless functions, managing containers, or deploying infrastructure-as-code, these tools will be fundamental to your success in 2025 and beyond

Frequently Asked Questions

What is developer tools in Azure?

Azure Developer Tools are a set of services, SDKs, and integrations that help developers build, test, debug, and deploy applications on Azure. These include Azure DevOps, Visual Studio, Azure CLI, Azure SDKs, GitHub Actions, and more, enabling efficient cloud development and automation.

How can Azure tools benefit users?

Azure tools allow users to create a centralised dashboard to monitor all the resources hosted in the prem or the cloud. Customised dashboards and integration capabilities with notifying channels like PageDuty, Slack, etc., benefit users in staying aware of all the ins and outs of the system.

Are Azure tools free to use?

Most built-in Azure tools are free unless you don’t extend the advanced options. For instance, Azure monitor offers free every 5 GB/month, but the pricing starts as you go beyond the primary offerings.