Amazon EMR vs Databricks Comparison
Amazon EMR
Starting at $0.04 per hour
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Introducing Amazon EMR, the leading big data platform in the cloud. With a powerful combination of open-source tools such as Apache Spark, Hive, HBase, Flink, Hudi, and Presto, EMR makes it easy to process large amounts…
Databricks
Starting at $0.07
- Individuals
- Freelancers / Consultants
Databricks provides an effective way to manage data warehouses and unify different kinds of analytics, data, and AI. All these are kept safe in a single secure location. The platform is designed to be flexible, reliable,…
Amazon EMR leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 93 reviews.
Amazon EMR vs Databricks — at a glance
| Feature | Amazon EMR | Databricks |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Reviews | 93 | 104 |
| Starting price | $0.04 per hour | $0.07 |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises |
| Category | Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms | Data Warehouse Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Online | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 | SOC 2 |
| Data residency | Global | Global |
Key differences between Amazon EMR and Databricks
- Pricing: Amazon EMR starts at $0.04 per hour, while Databricks starts at $0.07.
- Target audience: Amazon EMR is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Databricks targets Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants.
- User satisfaction: Amazon EMR scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
- Deployment: Amazon EMR supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Databricks supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Amazon EMR vs Databricks — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert | Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for scalable, secure big data processing with broad open-source tool support.
- You need to run large-scale data engineering and ETL pipelines using Spark or Hive.
- Your team requires seamless integration with AWS services like EC2 and VPC for secure deployments.
- You want robust configuration control and debugging capabilities for managing complex clusters.
- You have small teams lacking cloud infrastructure expertise and want minimal setup complexity.
- You require rapid cluster startup times for transient workloads or highly interactive environments.
Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises
Amazon EMR typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Databricks tends to fit Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.
Description | Introducing Amazon EMR, the leading big data platform in the cloud. With a powerful combination of open-source tools such as Apache Spark, Hive, HBase, Flink, Hudi, and Presto, EMR makes it ... Read More about Amazon EMR | Databricks provides an effective way to manage data warehouses and unify different kinds of analytics, data, and AI. All these are kept safe in a single secure location. The platform is ... Read More about Databricks |
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User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises | — |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Software Demo
Demo |
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How do Amazon EMR and Databricks Compare on Features?
Total Features | 0 Features | 5 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Amazon EMR and Databricks on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Pricing Page | Pricing information not available |  |
Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
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HIPAA | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | — |
ISO 27001 | ✓ Yes | — |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✓ Yes | — |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | — |
Audit Logs | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Residency | 🌐 Global | 🌐 Global |
Amazon EMR User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
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Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Users generally appreciate Amazon EMR's powerful big data processing capabilities and ease of cluster management, though some express frustration with startup delays and troubleshooting challenges. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is positive across 45 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction. |
Pros and Cons |
| No pros or cons available for this product |
Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
List of Customers
Customers |  Expedia  Nasdaq  Finra |  Nielsen  Bechtel  Sevatec |
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Media and Screenshots
Videos |  3 Videos |  2 Videos |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Amazon EMR or Databricks?
- Amazon EMR edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs 4.1). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Amazon EMR and Databricks offer a free trial?
- Neither Amazon EMR nor Databricks currently lists a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Amazon EMR vs Databricks?
- Amazon EMR starts at $0.04 per hour. Databricks starts at $0.07.
- What are the top alternatives to Amazon EMR?
- Top alternatives to Amazon EMR include AWS Data Pipeline, Snowflake, Qubole, BigDataCloud, Alibaba E-MapReduce.
- What are the top alternatives to Databricks?
- Top alternatives to Databricks include Synapse, Snowflake, Qualified, Datascale, Workvivo.