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Machine Learning · head to head

AWS SageMaker vs Firebolt

AWS SageMaker logo

AWS SageMaker

Machine Learning

Build, train, and deploy machine learning models at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Firebolt logo

Firebolt

Databases

Sub-second analytics at cloud data warehouse scale

From
$1.84/hour
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only AWS SageMaker has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AWS SageMaker vendor lock-in to AWS ecosystem makes migration to other platforms difficult; Firebolt compute billed per second on Arm-based processors; small instances still incur measurable costs during idle periods despite auto-stop
  • They diverge on capability: AWS SageMaker covers Jupyter notebooks, Firebolt covers Sub-second Queries.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where AWS SageMaker and Firebolt differ
AttributeAWS SageMakerFirebolt
Starting priceFree$1.84/hour
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebCloud (AWS, GCP, Azure preview), Docker, Kubernetes
CategoryMachine LearningDatabases
Founded20062019

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Firebolt

  • Sub-second Queries
  • Sparse Indexes
  • Data Pruning
  • Decoupled Storage/Compute
  • SQL Support
  • Semi-structured Data
  • Workload Isolation
  • Airflow

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

AWS SageMaker

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

Firebolt

  • Data analytics teams running gigabyte-to-petabyte datasets with sub-second query requirementsnot AWS SageMaker
  • Real-time business intelligence platforms requiring ACID transactions and snapshot isolationnot AWS SageMaker
  • Applications needing vector search on analytical data for similarity queriesnot 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

Firebolt

  • Compute billed per second on Arm-based processors; small instances still incur measurable costs during idle periods despite auto-stop
  • Storage pass-through charged at $0.0264/GB monthly on compressed data; uncompressed storage could exceed this
  • Azure deployment currently in Preview status; production recommendations unclear
  • Vector indexes limited to float arrays; other data types require alternative indexing strategies
  • Free tier credits ($200) limited; no perpetual free tier for production use

Pricing, plan by plan

AWS SageMaker

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the AWS SageMaker review.

Firebolt

$1.84/hour

No published plan breakdown. See the Firebolt review.

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 Firebolt if

  • You need sub-second queries.
  • You work on Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure preview), Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want sparse indexes.
Firebolt review

Questions people ask

Is AWS SageMaker or Firebolt better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS SageMaker starts at Free and Firebolt at $1.84/hour, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AWS SageMaker or Firebolt?
AWS SageMaker has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AWS SageMaker and $1.84/hour for Firebolt.
Does AWS SageMaker or Firebolt run on more platforms?
AWS SageMaker runs on Web. Firebolt runs on Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure preview), Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use AWS SageMaker for free?
Yes. AWS SageMaker has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Firebolt starts at $1.84/hour.
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 Firebolt is typically brought in for.
What can AWS SageMaker do that Firebolt cannot?
AWS SageMaker covers Jupyter notebooks, Built-in algorithms, Automatic model tuning, One-click deployment. Firebolt covers Sub-second Queries, Sparse Indexes, Data Pruning, Decoupled Storage/Compute. 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
Firebolt: How does Firebolt's compute billing model work?

Firebolt uses per-second billing with scale-to-zero capability. The smallest S tier costs $1.84 per hour with 8 vCPU and 64GB memory, while the largest 4XL tier costs $58.88 per hour with 256 vCPU. Users only pay when compute is running.

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
Firebolt: What is the cost for data storage on Firebolt?

Storage costs $0.0264 per GB per month on object storage, billed as pass-through cost at cloud provider rates.

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
Firebolt: What free credits or trial does Firebolt offer new users?

New users receive $200 free credits to get started with the platform.

Source
Firebolt: Does Firebolt publish pricing for commitment-based discounts?

The pricing FAQ lists a question about commitment-based discounts but does not provide published answers on the pricing page. This requires direct inquiry with sales.

Source
Firebolt: What deployment options does Firebolt offer besides managed service?

Firebolt offers self-hosted open source deployment (unlimited) and Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC) options in addition to managed service.

Source
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