Microsoft vs AWS vs Google AI Certifications: Which Should You Choose in 2026?

Last updated: August 2026.

TL;DR: Microsoft, AWS and Google each sell a non-coding, entry-level AI certification, Microsoft's AI-901 (Azure AI Fundamentals), AWS's AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) and Google's Generative AI Leader, priced from $99 to $100 (Microsoft's fee varies by country). The right one depends on which cloud your employer uses, not brand loyalty. Microsoft also has two business-facing exams, AB-730 and AB-731, with no direct AWS or Google equivalent.

If you work with Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure or any combination of the three major clouds, you have almost certainly asked the same question: which vendor's AI certification is worth your time and money? Microsoft's AI-901 (Azure AI Fundamentals) exam, AWS's AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) and Google Cloud's Generative AI Leader all launched or refreshed within the past year, and all three now target the same audience, professionals who use AI tools but don't necessarily build them. This guide compares all three certifications, plus Microsoft's business-focused AB-730 and AB-731 exams, using only each vendor's own published exam pages, so you can choose based on facts rather than marketing copy.

What these certifications actually compare

Before comparing tables and prices, it helps to understand that these three vendors are not really competing head-to-head with a single exam each. Microsoft splits its AI catalogue into a technical fundamentals exam (AI-901), a technical associate exam (AI-103) and two business-user exams (AB-730 and AB-731). AWS and Google each offer one non-technical entry point.

The fairest like-for-like comparison sits between Microsoft's AI-901, AWS's AIF-C01 and Google's Generative AI Leader, all three assume no coding background and are aimed at people who use AI-powered products rather than engineer them [1] [9] [11]. Microsoft's AB-730 and AB-731 are closer in spirit to Google's Generative AI Leader than to AI-901, since all three explicitly target business users and decision-makers rather than developers [6] [7] [11]. Keep that distinction in mind: comparing AI-901 against Generative AI Leader on technical depth alone misses that AB-730 is Microsoft's true counterpart to Google's offering.

Microsoft's AI certifications explained

Microsoft retired its long-running AI-900 (Azure AI Fundamentals) exam on 30 June 2026. Anyone who wants that credential now must sit its replacement, AI-901 [3]. The retirement notice on Microsoft Learn states plainly: "The AI-900 exam was retired on June 30, 2026, and has been replaced by AI-901. To earn this certification, candidates must now pass AI-901" [3].

AI-901 (Azure AI Fundamentals) carries a passing score of 700 out of 1,000 and covers two domains after an April 2026 restructure: identifying AI concepts and capabilities (40 to 45% of the exam) and implementing AI solutions using Microsoft Foundry (55 to 60%) [1]. That weighting shift toward Microsoft Foundry, the rebranded successor to Azure AI Studio, signals where Microsoft expects candidates to focus. Microsoft's own exam page recommends candidates have "conceptual knowledge of AI solutions in Azure" plus "knowledge of Python coding syntax and programming techniques" [1], a step up from the old AI-900's looser prerequisites. As a Fundamentals-tier certification, AI-901 never expires and carries no renewal requirement [8].

For developers who actually build AI applications, Microsoft's AI-102 has also retired, replaced by AI-103 (Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate) [5]. AI-103 is a 120-minute, Associate-level exam that expects "experience developing apps by using Python" [4], covering generative AI and agentic solution implementation, computer vision, text analysis and information extraction. Unlike Fundamentals certifications, Associate-level credentials expire after one year and require a free, roughly 45-minute renewal assessment to stay current [8].

Sitting apart from the Azure-branded technical exams are AB-730 (AI Business Professional) and AB-731 (AI Transformation Leader), both 45-minute, Beginner-level exams that Microsoft explicitly markets "without requiring coding or app development skills" [6] [7]. AB-730 targets everyday Microsoft 365 Copilot users and covers generative AI fundamentals, managing prompts and conversations, and drafting or analysing business content with AI [6]. AB-731 targets business decision-makers leading AI adoption, covering the business value of generative AI, Microsoft's AI product capabilities, and implementation strategy [7]. Neither AWS nor Google currently sells a direct equivalent to this pair, which is the clearest gap in the comparison.

AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01)

AWS's entry-level AI credential costs $100 USD, runs for 90 minutes and includes 65 total questions, of which 50 are scored and 15 are unscored calibration questions that AWS does not identify to candidates [9] [10]. The exam guide sets the target candidate as someone with "up to 6 months of exposure to AI/ML technologies on AWS" who "uses but does not necessarily build AI/ML solutions on AWS" [10], a near-perfect match for the audience AI-901 targets on the Azure side.

AIF-C01 explicitly excludes hands-on model building from its scope: "Developing or coding AI/ML models or algorithms" and "performing hyperparameter tuning" both sit outside what the exam tests [10]. Its five domains are weighted as follows: fundamentals of AI and ML (20%), fundamentals of generative AI (24%), applications of foundation models (28%), guidelines for responsible AI (14%), and security, compliance and governance for AI solutions (14%) [10]. The passing score is scaled from 100 to 1,000, with a minimum passing score of 700 [10], the same numeric threshold Microsoft uses for AI-901, though the underlying content and difficulty are not directly comparable just because the scale matches. AIF-C01 has no formal prerequisite gate and remains valid for three years before recertification [9].

Google Cloud Generative AI Leader

Google's Generative AI Leader certification costs $99 USD, runs for 90 minutes and covers 50 to 60 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions [11]. It is the least technical of the three entry-level exams: Google states outright that it is "for anyone in any job role, with or without hands-on technical experience" [11], with no prerequisites at all. The exam covers four domains: fundamentals of generative AI, Google Cloud's generative AI product offerings, techniques for improving model output, and business strategies for a successful generative AI rollout [11]. It remains valid for three years [11].

Readers who want a more technical Google credential should look at the Professional Machine Learning Engineer certification instead, which costs $200 USD, runs for two hours and expects "3+ years of industry experience including 1 or more years designing and managing solutions using Google Cloud" [12]. Google notably has no Associate-level, hands-on AI-specific certification sitting between these two, so the honest comparison against Microsoft's ladder (AI-901, then AI-103) has a wider gap on Google's side.

Side by side: entry-level, non-coding AI certifications

For the more technical track, Microsoft's AI-103 (120 minutes, Associate level, annual renewal) sits opposite Google's Professional Machine Learning Engineer (two hours, Professional level, three-year cycle) [4] [12]. AWS's nearest hands-on equivalent, AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate, functions mainly as a recertification path for AIF-C01 holders rather than a standalone technical credential most beginners sit first [9].

Which certification should you choose?

There is no universally "best" certification among the three, the right choice depends on what your employer runs and what your role actually requires.

Choose Microsoft AI-901 if your organisation runs on Azure or Microsoft 365, or if you're aiming toward AI-103 later and want the Microsoft Foundry ecosystem knowledge that AI-901 already tests [1]. Since AI-901 never expires, it's also a reasonable one-time investment if you're not sure how deep into AI you'll go [8].

Choose AB-730 or AB-731 if your day-to-day work involves Microsoft 365 Copilot rather than Azure development, and you want a credential that proves business fluency with AI tools rather than technical depth [6] [7]. Neither AWS nor Google sells a direct equivalent, so if your organisation is Microsoft 365-first, these two exams have no real substitute.

Choose AWS AIF-C01 if your infrastructure runs on AWS, particularly if your organisation already uses Amazon Bedrock or SageMaker, since the exam explicitly expects familiarity with those services [10]. Its three-year validity and $100 flat fee make it straightforward to budget for.

Choose Google's Generative AI Leader if you want the lowest-friction, zero-prerequisite option, or if your organisation is standardising on Google Cloud's Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform [11]. It's explicitly designed for non-technical roles, so it's a reasonable starting point even if you're completely new to AI concepts.

If you're not tied to a specific vendor and want a broader decision framework across Microsoft's own certification catalogue first, see which Microsoft AI certification to take first.

Cost and renewal: the real total cost of ownership

Sticker price is only part of the picture. Microsoft does not publish a fixed global exam fee for any of its certifications, its Learn pages state that "price is based on the country or region in which the exam is proctored" and instruct candidates to confirm exact pricing with Pearson VUE or Certiport before registering [1] [6] [7]. AWS and Google, by contrast, both quote flat US list prices, $100 and $99 respectively, though local taxes may apply [9] [11].

Renewal cadence is where the three vendors diverge most sharply. Microsoft's Fundamentals-tier exams, including AI-901, never expire [8]. AWS and Google both use three-year validity windows for their entry-level certifications [9] [11]. Microsoft's Associate-tier AI-103 is the outlier: it expires annually, though Microsoft's free, roughly 45-minute renewal assessment keeps the ongoing cost at zero, just an annual time commitment [8]. If you're comparing total cost of ownership over five years rather than a single exam fee, AI-901's zero-expiry status and AI-103's free renewal both compare favourably against a hypothetical vendor that charged for recertification, even though AWS and Google don't currently charge for their own three-year renewals either.

One point worth flagging for UK readers specifically: Examinotion's own AI-901, AI-103, AB-730 and AB-731 preparation products are priced in GBP, but the underlying Microsoft exam fee itself is set and typically displayed in USD by Pearson VUE or Certiport at the point of booking, and that fee varies by region [1]. These are two separate, differently denominated costs, don't assume Examinotion's product price and Microsoft's exam fee are the same figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Microsoft AI-901 harder than AWS AI Practitioner or Google Generative AI Leader?

None of the three vendors publish a direct difficulty comparison, and their domain structures differ too much for a fair "harder or easier" verdict. AI-901 expects some familiarity with Python syntax and Azure resources, while AWS's AIF-C01 and Google's Generative AI Leader explicitly exclude coding from their scope, making them arguably more accessible to complete beginners.

Which of these AI certifications is cheapest?

Google's Generative AI Leader is the cheapest at $99 USD, with AWS's AI Practitioner one dollar higher at $100 USD. Microsoft doesn't publish a single fixed price for AI-901, since the fee varies by the country where you sit the exam, so you'll need to check current pricing with Pearson VUE at the time of booking.

Do I need to know how to code for any of these certifications?

No. AI-901, AB-730, AB-731, AWS's AI Practitioner and Google's Generative AI Leader are all designed for non-developers. AWS's exam guide explicitly states that coding AI/ML models sits outside its scope. Only Microsoft's more advanced AI-103 and Google's Professional Machine Learning Engineer expect genuine development experience.

Which certification expires fastest?

Microsoft's AI-103 is the only one on a short cycle, it expires annually, though renewal is free and takes about 45 minutes. AI-901, AWS's AI Practitioner and Google's Generative AI Leader all last considerably longer: AI-901 never expires, while the AWS and Google credentials are both valid for three years.

Can I hold certifications from more than one vendor?

Yes, there's no restriction preventing you from holding Microsoft, AWS and Google certifications simultaneously. Many professionals working in multi-cloud organisations do exactly this, since each certification only demonstrates competence within that vendor's specific tools and services.

Which certification should I choose if I only use Microsoft 365 Copilot at work?

AB-730 (AI Business Professional) is built specifically for this scenario. It assumes no Azure or coding knowledge and instead tests your ability to use generative AI productivity tools and core Microsoft 365 apps effectively, which is a closer match to daily Copilot use than any Azure-focused technical exam.

Conclusion

Microsoft, AWS and Google each offer a legitimate, non-coding entry point into AI certification, and none of them is objectively "the best" in isolation. The honest answer is that your choice should follow your employer's cloud platform and your day-to-day tools, not marketing claims about which vendor's AI is more advanced. If your work already runs through Microsoft 365 or Azure, AI-901, AB-730 and AB-731 are the natural starting points, and each has a clear, well-documented path to the next credential up the ladder. For a wider view of how these fit together, see Examinotion's Microsoft AI certification roadmap and the case for whether Microsoft AI certification is worth it.

Ready to start preparing? Browse Examinotion's Microsoft AI exam preparation courses, read the AI-901 exam guide, or jump straight into AI-901 practice questions if Azure AI Fundamentals is your target.

Sources

1. AI-901: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals — Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-08-26
2. Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals — Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-08-26
3. AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (retired) — Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-08-26
4. Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate — Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-08-26
5. AI-102: Azure AI Engineer Associate (retired) — Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-08-26
6. Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional — Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-08-26
7. Microsoft Certified: AI Transformation Leader — Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-08-26
8. Renew your Microsoft Certification FAQ — Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-08-26
9. AWS Certified AI Practitioner — Amazon Web Services, accessed 2026-08-26
10. AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) Exam Guide — AWS Documentation, accessed 2026-08-26
11. Generative AI Leader Certification — Google Cloud, accessed 2026-08-26
12. Professional Machine Learning Engineer Certification — Google Cloud, accessed 2026-08-26
13. Gartner Top Predictions for IT Organizations and Users in 2026 and Beyond — CIO Dive, accessed 2026-08-26