Technology · head to head
Apache Spark vs Amplitude
Apache Spark
Technology
A multi-language engine for data engineering, data science, and machine learning
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Amplitude
Technology
The digital analytics platform to understand your users
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Apache Spark licensed under Apache License 2.0 per spark.apache.org; as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare; Amplitude metered on event volume, so instrumenting more of a product raises the bill even if the audience does not grow
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apache Spark and Amplitude actually diverge.
| Attribute | Apache Spark | Amplitude |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | Unknown |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Ios, Android, Api |
| Founded | Unknown | 2012 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Apache Spark
Nothing recorded that Amplitude does not also cover.
Only in Amplitude
- Event tracking
- User segmentation
- Funnel analysis
- Retention analysis
- Cohort analysis
- A/B testing
- Revenue analytics
- Predictive analytics
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Apache Spark
No use cases recorded yet. See the Apache Spark review.
Amplitude
- User behavior analysisnot Apache Spark
- Feature adoption trackingnot Apache Spark
- Conversion rate optimizationnot Apache Spark
- Customer journey mappingnot Apache Spark
- Retention improvementnot Apache Spark
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Apache Spark
- Licensed under Apache License 2.0 per spark.apache.org; as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
- Installation on a laptop requires pip install pyspark or a Docker image per spark.apache.org; there is no hosted single-click deployment offered by the Apache project itself
Amplitude
- Metered on event volume, so instrumenting more of a product raises the bill even if the audience does not grow
- The free plan covers 2M events a month
- The Plus plan scales to 70M events, above which pricing is custom
- Growth and Enterprise pricing is not published
Pricing, plan by plan
Apache Spark
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Apache Spark review.
Amplitude
Free- StarterFree
- 2 million events per month
- Plus$49/month
- $0.049 per MTU
- Up to 300k MTUs
- Advanced analytics
- GrowthFree
- Causal insights
- Feature experimentation
- Real-time streaming
- EnterpriseFree
- Cross-product analysis
- Advanced permissions
- Dedicated account manager
Which should you pick?
Choose Amplitude if
- You need event tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- You also want user segmentation.
Questions people ask
- Is Apache Spark or Amplitude better?
- Neither clearly leads. Apache Spark starts at Free and Amplitude at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Apache Spark or Amplitude?
- Apache Spark starts at Free and Amplitude at Free.
- Does Apache Spark or Amplitude run on more platforms?
- Apache Spark runs on Web. Amplitude runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- Can I use Apache Spark for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Apache Spark do that Amplitude cannot?
- Amplitude covers Event tracking, User segmentation, Funnel analysis, Retention analysis.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Amplitude: Does Amplitude have a free plan?
Yes, Amplitude offers a free Starter plan with 2 million events per month and access to the entire platform including analytics, session replay, and experimentation features.
SourceAmplitude: What is Amplitude's pricing based on?
Amplitude's pricing is based on the number of monthly tracked users (MTUs), data volume, and advanced features selected. The Plus plan starts at $49 per month with a rate of $0.049 per MTU.
SourceAmplitude: What analytics features does every Amplitude plan include?
Every plan includes access to the full platform: analytics, session replay, feature experimentation, web experimentation, guides and surveys, activation, and AI tools like AI Feedback and AI Assistant.
Source