Amazon Redshift vs Amazon Aurora
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading database & data management solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose Amazon Redshift if you need Columnar Storage and prefer a free starting option. Choose Amazon Aurora if you prioritize MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible and want a free tier to start. Amazon Aurora has a higher user rating (4.6 vs 4.4).
Amazon Redshift vs Amazon Aurora: At a Glance
| Criteria | Amazon Redshift | Amazon Aurora |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Pricing Model | pay-as-you-go | pay-as-you-go |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Web, Aws | Web, Aws |
| Category | Database & Data Management | Database & Data Management |
| Founded | 2006 | 2006 |
Feature Comparison: Amazon Redshift vs Amazon Aurora
| Feature | Amazon Redshift | Amazon Aurora |
|---|---|---|
| Columnar Storage | ||
| Massively Parallel | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| AQUA Acceleration | ||
| Data Sharing | ||
| Federated Query | ||
| Concurrency Scaling | ||
| S3 | ||
| Glue | ||
| QuickSight | ||
| SageMaker | ||
| Kinesis | ||
| Web support | ||
| Aws support | ||
| MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible | ||
| 5x MySQL Performance | ||
| Auto-scaling Storage | ||
| Global Database | ||
| Serverless v2 | ||
| Multi-master | ||
| Fault Tolerant | ||
| AWS Lambda | ||
| CloudWatch | ||
| IAM | ||
| Secrets Manager |
Amazon Redshift vs Amazon Aurora: Pricing Breakdown
Amazon Redshift Pricing
Model: pay-as-you-go
- 750 DC2.Large hours
- 2 months free
- Full features
- Pay per node hour
- All features
- Standard support
Amazon Aurora Pricing
Model: pay-as-you-go
- Auto-scaling
- Pay per ACU
- Instant scaling
- Dedicated instances
- Predictable performance
- Reserved capacity
Pros and Cons
Amazon Redshift
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 14+ capabilities
- Strong Columnar Storage functionality
- Strong Massively Parallel functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Amazon Aurora
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.6/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 14+ capabilities
- Strong MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible functionality
- Strong 5x MySQL Performance functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Amazon Redshift vs Amazon Aurora?
Choose Amazon Redshift if you:
- Need Columnar Storage
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Aws
- Value Massively Parallel
Choose Amazon Aurora if you:
- Need MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Aws
- Value 5x MySQL Performance
Frequently Asked Questions: Amazon Redshift vs Amazon Aurora
Is Amazon Redshift better than Amazon Aurora?
It depends on your needs. Amazon Redshift has a 4.4/5 user rating while Amazon Aurora has 4.6/5. Amazon Redshift excels in Columnar Storage and Massively Parallel, while Amazon Aurora stands out with MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible and 5x MySQL Performance. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Redshift or Amazon Aurora?
Amazon Redshift offers a free plan and starts at Free. Amazon Aurora offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use Amazon Redshift and Amazon Aurora together?
While both are database & data management tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core database & data management needs.
What are the main differences between Amazon Redshift and Amazon Aurora?
The key differences include: pricing model (pay-as-you-go vs pay-as-you-go), platform support (Web, Aws vs Web, Aws), and feature focus. Amazon Redshift emphasizes Columnar Storage, Massively Parallel, Machine Learning while Amazon Aurora focuses on MySQL/PostgreSQL Compatible, 5x MySQL Performance, Auto-scaling Storage. User ratings differ slightly: 4.4 vs 4.6 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Amazon Redshift and Amazon Aurora.