Microsoft Unifies AI Marketplaces for Business Buyers

Microsoft announced on Thursday that it is merging its separate AI marketplaces into a single platform called the Microsoft Marketplace, streamlining how businesses access AI tools.

Previously, the company ran one marketplace for software developers building on its Azure cloud and another for AI-powered applications and “agents” designed to complete tasks for end users.

The unified marketplace launched in the U.S. on Thursday and will roll out globally in the coming months. It is aimed squarely at corporate technology buyers, with apps integrated for smooth use alongside Microsoft products. Purchases will also be handled through customers’ existing Microsoft billing systems, said Alysa Taylor, chief marketing officer for commercial cloud and AI.

Unlike consumer app stores, Microsoft will not charge commissions on sales. Instead, it collects a publishing fee for apps listed and benefits from the developers’ use of Microsoft cloud services.

To ensure business data security, all apps must pass Microsoft’s security and compliance reviews before being listed. “There’s a gate to get into the marketplace,” Taylor noted.

The move consolidates Microsoft’s AI ecosystem, making it easier for companies to discover, deploy, and pay for AI tools within the broader Microsoft environment.