What’s Behind Your Rising Azure Data Factory Costs?

If you’re all-in on Azure, there’s no denying that Azure Data Factory (ADF) is your go-to powerhouse for orchestrating data workflows. It’s flexible, scalable, and integrated into the Azure ecosystem. 

But there’s the kicker: have your ADF bills started to look a little too hefty lately? 

You’re not alone. 

Before you think about jumping ship or throttling your pipelines, know this:

It’s not about switching tools; it’s about switching strategies. 

In this post, we’ll break down why ADF pricing can creep up, and how you can drastically cut costs while keeping your data pipelines smooth and efficient. Let’s dive in.

How does Azure Data Factory charge you? 

Azure Data Factory’s pricing might look straightforward — until it isn’t. Here’s a quick cheat sheet: 

1. DIUS (Data Integration Units) 

Charged by how many DIUs you use and for how long. 

Think of DIUs like renting horsepower: more power, more price. if you use 10 DIUs for 2 hours, and each DIU costs $1 per hour, your cost would be: 

10 DIUs x 2 hours x $1/hour = $20 

2. Orchestration 

This covers running and managing the pipeline. Charged per runtime hour. If your pipeline runs for 5 hours and the orchestration cost is $2 per hour, you’d pay: 

5 hours x $2/hour = $10 

3. SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) 

For running ETL/ELT packages. Based on vCores used and duration. if you run an SSIS package using 4 vCores for 6 hours, and each vCore costs $0.50 per hour, your cost would be: 

4 vCores x 6 hours x $0.50 = $12 

4. Data Movement 

Moving data from source to destination? You’re billed for DIUs and time. Moving data for 3 hours using 5 DIUs at a rate of $0.50 per DIU per hour would cost: 

3 hours x 5 DIUs x $0.50 = $7.50 

5. Data Flow (Transformation) 

Charged per vCore-hour used to transform/enrich data. If a data flow runs on 8 vCores for 4 hours at a rate of $0.25 per vCore-hour, the cost would be: 

8 vCores x 4 hours x $0.25 = $8 

6. Inactive Pipelines 

Pipelines that aren’t active but still exist in the system incur a charge. If a pipeline has no associated trigger or doesn’t run within 30 days, there’s a separate fee. If you have 10 inactive pipelines and each costs $0.80 per month, you’d pay: 

10 inactive pipelines x $0.80 per pipeline per month = $8 per month 

4 Ways to Save on ADF Costs 

1. Trim the Fat: Optimize Data Movement 

More Data = More cost. 

Excessive data transfers can quickly drive up your costs. To minimise expenses, focus on moving only the data that’s truly necessary. Apply filters as early as possible to eliminate irrelevant or redundant data and avoid shifting large datasets unless required. This not only reduces costs but also boosts the overall performance and efficiency of your pipelines. 

2. Implement Incremental Data Loading 

Instead of reloading your entire dataset each time, incremental data loading—or delta loading—focuses on transferring only the data that has been added or modified since the last update. This targeted approach significantly reduces processing time and resource consumption, making your pipelines more efficient and cost-effective. 

3. Monitor & Analyze Pipeline Performance 

Regularly reviewing your pipeline performance is key to identifying cost-driving inefficiencies. Azure Data Factory provides real-time monitoring tools that help you pinpoint issues, such as bottlenecks or redundant steps. Leveraging these insights allows you to fine-tune your workflows, eliminate waste, and ensure your pipelines run as efficiently and affordably as possible. 

4. Use Reserved Capacity 

If your data pipeline usage is consistent and predictable, committing to a longer-term plan can unlock significant savings. Azure Data Factory offers reserved capacity pricing, providing discounts for 1 or 3-year commitments. This approach helps you reduce costs over time while ensuring uninterrupted access to the resources your workflows depend on.

Azure Data Factory isn’t expensive — inefficient pipelines are. 

By rethinking how you design, run, and scale your pipelines, you can unlock serious savings while keeping all the powerful features ADF brings to the table.