Azure Automation vs Tines
Azure Automation
azure.microsoft.com
Tines
tines.comSide by side
| Figure | Azure Automation | Tines |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 8 | 5 |
| Spec score · Runbook Automation Software | 9.1 (#1) | 8.2 (#2) |
| API extensibility | Automation can connect to any online service exposing an API and can be extended with imported PowerShell modules or custom C# and Windows PowerShell code. | The API includes endpoints for listing AI providers and models available to an authenticated user. |
| Rating on G2 | 4.4 out of 5 from 66 reviews | 4.7 out of 5 from 431 reviews |
| Rating on Gartner Peer Insights | 4.3 out of 5 from 26 ratings | 4.9 out of 5 from 57 reviews |
| What it does | Azure Automation runs recurring cloud and IT-management tasks in Azure, on-premises systems and other clouds. | Tines Stories lets teams build, run, and monitor automated workflows for security, IT, and other operations. |
Plans
Azure Automation
- Process automation — job run timePriced on request
- Process automation — watchersFree
- Configuration management — Azure nodePriced on request
- Configuration management — non-Azure nodePriced on request
- Update managementPriced on request
- Update managementFree
- Configuration management non-Azure nodePrice not published
- Process automation job runtimePrice not published
Tines
- Free editionFree
- Business EditionPrice not published
- Enterprise EditionPrice not published
- Explore (Free edition)Free
- Paid editionsPriced on request
In their own words
Azure Automation
Azure Automation is a cloud service for process automation, configuration management, patch management, and remediation automation on Windows and Linux. Process automation is divided into job run time and watchers: the job run time plan includes 500 minutes per month, while the watchers plan is listed at free with 744 hours included monthly. Configuration management has separate Azure-node and non-Azure-node plans. The Azure-node option includes a configuration pull service and change tracking; the non-Azure-node option includes five nodes per month. An Update management plan lists update visibility and update deployment. These options cover automating processes, managing configuration, and handling updates across both supported operating systems. Azure Automation uses a cloud deployment model. The pricing model is listed as freemium, although the facts also state there is no free plan.
Tines
Tines 3B is an AI-native platform for building, running and monitoring AI agents, apps and automated workflows. Builders can create processes with natural language, code, Git integration and branching, including conditional logic and webhook triggers. The platform supports connected LLM chat, AI skills and coding assistants such as Claude Code or Codex. Tines says it can connect to any API or Model Context Protocol service, rather than relying only on a fixed catalogue of integrations. Each workflow step runs in an isolated sandbox; connector credentials are supplied at runtime rather than exposed to builders or stored in code. Deployment options include self-hosted, on-premises and hybrid setups. Monitoring covers AI spend, access, duplicate work, workflow savings, frontend routes and package dependencies. The platform is intended for business-team builders, with Security and IT governing the work. Tines states it maintains SOC 2 Type II compliance and undergoes annual audits. Its Free edition costs nothing and permits three live workflows.