ACE vs AZ-104 vs SAA-C03: which associate-level cloud certification to choose in 2026
We compare the associate certifications from Google Cloud, Azure, and AWS: focus, duration, cost, validity, and which profile each one suits.
After a foundational certification, the next step is usually an associate-level one. Across the three major clouds, the most sought-after are Google Cloud’s Associate Cloud Engineer (ACE), Microsoft’s AZ-104 Azure Administrator, and AWS’s SAA-C03 Solutions Architect Associate. All three are technical, but they do not test the same things.
Quick comparison
| ACE (Google Cloud) | AZ-104 (Azure) | SAA-C03 (AWS) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Implementing and operating | Administering | Designing architectures |
| Duration | 2 hours | 100 minutes | 130 minutes |
| Questions | 50-60 | Varies | 65 |
| Reference cost | USD 125 | Varies by country | USD 150 |
| Validity | 3 years | 1 year, with free online renewal | 3 years |
| Recommended experience | 6+ months | Experience with Azure, PowerShell, and the CLI | 1+ year designing on AWS |
All three exams are offered in several languages, including Spanish.
What each one tests
ACE. The most hands-on: how to create and operate resources on Google Cloud. It asks about gcloud and kubectl commands, VPC and firewall configuration, GKE, Cloud Run, service accounts, and Cloud Logging. Kubernetes carries a lot of weight.
AZ-104. Focuses on administering an Azure environment: identity and governance with Microsoft Entra ID and Azure Policy, storage, virtual machines, virtual networks, monitoring, and backup. It includes questions on PowerShell, the Azure CLI, and templates.
SAA-C03. Tests your ability to design: choosing the most secure, resilient, efficient, or cost-effective architecture for a scenario. It asks fewer command questions and more design decisions between AWS services.
Which one is harder?
It depends on your experience more than on the exam:
- ▸The ACE is harder if you have never used Kubernetes or the command line.
- ▸The AZ-104 is broad and detailed; people coming from Windows Server and Active Directory usually find it easier.
- ▸The SAA-C03 requires comparing many AWS options in long scenarios; it rewards experience designing solutions the most.
Which one should you choose?
- ▸Choose the ACE if your company uses Google Cloud, if you work with containers and Kubernetes, or if you are interested in data analytics (BigQuery) and Google’s AI.
- ▸Choose the AZ-104 if your environment is Microsoft-based (Microsoft 365, Active Directory, Windows Server) or if you are aiming for a systems administration role at companies that use Azure.
- ▸Choose the SAA-C03 if you want the certification with the most demand in job postings overall, or if your role is in architecture or consulting.
If you do not know yet which cloud you will use, look at job postings where you live: demand for each cloud varies a lot by country and industry.
How to prepare with Brains4Cloud
- ▸ACE: ACE cheat sheet with commands, comparisons, and the most-asked topics.
- ▸AZ-104: AZ-104 guide and AZ-104 cheat sheet.
- ▸SAA-C03: SAA-C03 guide and SAA-C03 cheat sheet.
- ▸Glossary with terms from all three clouds and their equivalents.
- ▸Practice exams with original questions and an explanation for every option. Create your free account and try the one for the cloud you care about.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a foundational certification first? It is not required for any of the three. It helps if you are new to the cloud: CDL for Google Cloud, AZ-900 for Azure, and CLF-C02 for AWS.
Should I get all three? For most people, not at first. It is better to go deep in one cloud and add another when your job calls for it; the concepts transfer easily.
What happens if I do not renew the AZ-104? It expires after a year. Renewal is free and done online from Microsoft Learn, unlike the ACE and the SAA-C03, which last three years.
Put what you learned to the test
Original practice exams with detailed explanations. No brain dumps.