What is the difference between Azure Static Web App and Azure blob storage static website?

Question

What is the difference between Azure blob storage static website and Azure Static Web Apps

Answer 1

There are lot of other benefits that comes with Azure static web apps that don't come with the static website which is hosted on blob storage.

• Functions in the same repo.
• TLS cert management (free!)
• Automated preview environments
• APIs that are scaled and hosted with your static content
• Content and corresponding APIs logically versioned together
• Simplified build and deployment process

UPDATE : Azure static web apps went GA since May 2021

Here is a great blog on the same.

Answer 2

Azure Static Web Apps is a service that automatically builds and deploys full stack web apps to Azure from a GitHub repository.

Key features

• Web hosting for static content like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images. Integrated API support provided by Azure Functions.

• First-party GitHub integration where repository changes trigger builds and deployments.

• Globally distributed static content, putting content closer to your users.

• Free SSL certificates, which are automatically renewed.

• Custom domains* to provide branded customizations to your app.

• Seamless security model with a reverse-proxy when calling APIs, which requires no CORS configuration.

• Authentication provider integrations with Azure Active Directory, Facebook, Google, GitHub, and Twitter.

• Customizable authorization role definition and assignments.

• Back-end routing rules enabling full control over the content and routes you serve.

• Generated staging versions powered by pull requests enabling preview versions of your site before publishing. Static Web Apps is free during preview. for more info about static web apps visit: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/azure/static-web-apps/

Azure blob storage for static web site Since its uses blob storage you only pay for storage account. But Azure recommends using an App service with a general purpose V2 standard storage account.

IMO the cost for static web app might be slightly higher that the cost for storage account. Since you get additional benefits like Github, Authorization etc.