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Machine Learning · head to head

AWS SageMaker vs Databricks

AWS SageMaker logo

AWS SageMaker

Machine Learning

Build, train, and deploy machine learning models at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Databricks logo

Databricks

Machine Learning

Unified analytics platform for data engineering and data science

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AWS SageMaker vendor lock-in to AWS ecosystem makes migration to other platforms difficult; Databricks cloud compute is billed separately by the cloud provider on top of Databricks DBU charges
  • They diverge on capability: AWS SageMaker covers Jupyter notebooks, Databricks covers Delta Lake.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AWS SageMaker and Databricks actually diverge.

Attributes where AWS SageMaker and Databricks differ
AttributeAWS SageMakerDatabricks
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
PlatformsWebWeb, Aws, Azure, Gcp
Founded20062013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Machine Learning).

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 AWS SageMaker

  • Jupyter notebooks
  • Built-in algorithms
  • Automatic model tuning
  • One-click deployment
  • Model monitoring
  • S3
  • Lambda
  • Step Functions

Only in Databricks

  • Delta Lake
  • Apache Spark
  • MLflow
  • Unity Catalog
  • Photon Engine
  • Collaborative Notebooks
  • Auto-scaling
  • AWS

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AWS SageMaker

  • Machine learningnot Databricks
  • Data analysisnot Databricks
  • Model trainingnot Databricks
  • Predictive analyticsnot Databricks

Databricks

  • Running Spark data engineering pipelines on managed clustersnot AWS SageMaker
  • Building a lakehouse over data in cloud object storagenot AWS SageMaker
  • Training and serving machine learning models alongside the datanot AWS SageMaker

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AWS SageMaker

  • Vendor lock-in to AWS ecosystem makes migration to other platforms difficult
  • Opaque pricing can lead to unexpected expenses like forgotten EBS volume charges
  • Does not include native job scheduling, requiring Lambda or EventBridge integration

Databricks

  • Cloud compute is billed separately by the cloud provider on top of Databricks DBU charges
  • The free trial lasts 14 days
  • Discounts require a Committed Use Contract, with larger commitments needed for larger discounts
  • Azure Databricks pricing is set by Microsoft rather than by Databricks
  • Security and compliance capabilities are sold as separate platform add ons rather than included in the base rate

Pricing, plan by plan

AWS SageMaker

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the AWS SageMaker review.

Databricks

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Limited cluster
    • Notebook environment
    • Community support
  • Standard$0.07/DBU
    • Jobs compute
    • SQL compute
    • Standard support

Which should you pick?

Choose AWS SageMaker if

  • You need jupyter notebooks.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want built-in algorithms.
AWS SageMaker review

Choose Databricks if

  • You need delta lake.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Aws, Azure, Gcp.
  • You also want apache spark.
Databricks review

Questions people ask

Is AWS SageMaker or Databricks better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS SageMaker starts at Free and Databricks at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AWS SageMaker or Databricks?
AWS SageMaker starts at Free and Databricks at Free.
Does AWS SageMaker or Databricks run on more platforms?
AWS SageMaker runs on Web. Databricks runs on Web, Aws, Azure, Gcp.
Can I use AWS SageMaker for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is AWS SageMaker best used for?
AWS SageMaker is most often used for machine learning, data analysis, model training, predictive analytics. Of those, machine learning and data analysis are not what Databricks is typically brought in for.
What can AWS SageMaker do that Databricks cannot?
AWS SageMaker covers Jupyter notebooks, Built-in algorithms, Automatic model tuning, One-click deployment. Databricks covers Delta Lake, Apache Spark, MLflow, Unity Catalog. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AWS SageMaker: What is AWS SageMaker used for?

AWS SageMaker is a machine learning service for building, training, and deploying ML models at scale. It provides tools for data preparation, model training, inference endpoints, and performance optimization.

Source
Databricks: How is Databricks priced?

Databricks bills pay as you go with no up front cost, charging per second for the products used. Consumption is measured in Databricks Units, a normalised unit of processing power on the platform.

Source
AWS SageMaker: How is AWS SageMaker priced?

SageMaker uses pay-as-you-go pricing with no upfront costs or long-term commitments. Pricing starts at $0.04 per hour for basic notebook instances and scales based on instance type. ML Savings Plans offer up to 64% off with hourly spend commitments.

Source
Databricks: Does Databricks publish a per DBU price?

Not on its main pricing page. Rates vary by product and instance type, and Databricks directs buyers to individual product pricing pages and a calculator rather than listing a single figure.

Source
AWS SageMaker: Does AWS SageMaker have a free tier?

Yes, the free tier includes 250 hours of notebook usage, 50 hours of training, and 125 hours of hosting on ml.t3.medium instances during the first two months.

Source
Databricks: Does the Databricks price include cloud costs?

No. Databricks states that if you configure it to work with your own cloud account, your cloud provider still charges you separately for the underlying resources.

Source
Databricks: Can I get a discount on Databricks?

Databricks offers Committed Use Contracts, where larger usage commitments earn greater benefits, including options to use commitments flexibly across multiple clouds.

Source
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