Databricks vs Amazon EMR Comparison
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
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…
Amazon EMR leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 93 reviews.
Databricks vs Amazon EMR — at a glance
| Feature | Databricks | Amazon EMR |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Reviews | 104 | 93 |
| Starting price | $0.07 | $0.04 per hour |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Data Warehouse Software | Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Business Hours, Online | Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2 | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 |
| Data residency | Global | Global |
Key differences between Databricks and Amazon EMR
- Pricing: Databricks starts at $0.07, while Amazon EMR starts at $0.04 per hour.
- Target audience: Databricks is built for Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants, while Amazon EMR targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
- User satisfaction: Amazon EMR scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
- Deployment: Databricks supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Amazon EMR supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Databricks vs Amazon EMR — 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 Warehouse Software 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 |
Free PDF comparison
Download this Databricks vs Amazon EMR comparison
Get the full side-by-side as a PDF — these picks plus the top Data Warehouse Software tools, with verified ratings, pricing and features.
- Side-by-side on pricing, features & ratings
- Plus the category top 10, scored & ranked
- Emailed to you — no on-screen download
No file downloads on screen — we email it to you. One-click unsubscribe anytime.
Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises
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.
Databricks typically suits Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants. Amazon EMR tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.
Description | 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 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
Entry Level Pricing |
|
|
Free Trial Availability |
|
|
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | — | Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Software Demo
Demo |
|---|
Need a second opinion?
Get shortlist help from a software advisor
Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.
- Independent advice — matched to your business
- Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
- Free 15-min call with a software advisor.
Step 1 of 4
How big is your team?
We tailor recommendations to companies your size.
How do Databricks and Amazon EMR Compare on Features?
Total Features | 5 Features | 5 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Databricks and Amazon EMR 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.
Pricing Option | ||
|---|---|---|
Starting From |
|
|
Pricing Plans |
|
|
Pricing Page |  | Pricing information not available |
Other Details
Organization Types supported |
|
|
|---|---|---|
Platforms Supported |
|
|
Modes of support |
|
|
API Support |
|
|
Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
|---|---|---|
HIPAA | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
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 |
Databricks User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is positive across 45 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction. | 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
|
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 |  Nielsen  Bechtel  Sevatec |  Expedia  Nasdaq  Finra |
|---|
Media and Screenshots
Videos |  2 Videos |  3 Videos |
|---|
Add another option to compare side by side
Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.Compare similar software options
Related Blogs and Articles for Data Science And Machine Learning Platforms
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, Databricks or Amazon EMR?
- 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 Databricks and Amazon EMR offer a free trial?
- Neither Databricks nor Amazon EMR currently lists a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Databricks vs Amazon EMR?
- Databricks starts at $0.07. Amazon EMR starts at $0.04 per hour.
- What are the top alternatives to Databricks?
- Top alternatives to Databricks include Synapse, Snowflake, Qualified, Datascale, Workvivo.
- What are the top alternatives to Amazon EMR?
- Top alternatives to Amazon EMR include AWS Data Pipeline, Snowflake, Qubole, BigDataCloud, Alibaba E-MapReduce.