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Machine Learning · head to head

BigQuery ML vs Neptune.ai

BigQuery ML logo

BigQuery ML

Machine Learning

Machine learning in BigQuery using SQL

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Neptune.ai logo

Neptune.ai

Machine Learning

Metadata store for MLOps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: BigQuery ML not available in BigQuery's Standard edition, so the cheapest tier cannot use it; Neptune.ai free tier limited to 100 hours per month, exhausted quickly with serious ML work
  • They diverge on capability: BigQuery ML covers SQL-based ML, Neptune.ai covers Experiment tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BigQuery ML and Neptune.ai actually diverge.

Attributes where BigQuery ML and Neptune.ai differ
AttributeBigQuery MLNeptune.ai
Pricing modelusage-basedUnknown
PlatformsWebWeb, Self-hosted
Founded20082017

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 BigQuery ML

  • SQL-based ML
  • AutoML Tables
  • Model export
  • Prediction functions
  • Feature preprocessing
  • BigQuery
  • Vertex AI
  • Cloud Storage

Only in Neptune.ai

  • Experiment tracking
  • Model registry
  • Metadata logging
  • Comparison views
  • Custom dashboards
  • PyTorch
  • Keras
  • scikit-learn

Both cover

  • TensorFlow
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

BigQuery ML

  • Training models in SQL without exporting datanot Neptune.ai
  • Linear and logistic regression on warehouse datanot Neptune.ai
  • K-means clustering and matrix factorisation for recommendationsnot Neptune.ai
  • Time series forecasting with ARIMA_PLUSnot Neptune.ai
  • Running imported ONNX, TensorFlow or XGBoost models against BigQuery datanot Neptune.ai

Neptune.ai

  • Machine learningnot BigQuery ML
  • Data analysisnot BigQuery ML
  • Model trainingnot BigQuery ML
  • Predictive analyticsnot BigQuery ML

Where each one falls short

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

BigQuery ML

  • Not available in BigQuery's Standard edition, so the cheapest tier cannot use it
  • Billed through BigQuery compute and storage rather than as its own product, so training cost tracks data scanned
  • Remote models incur extra Agent Platform charges on top
  • Externally trained model types such as boosted trees and AutoML run through Agent Platform rather than inside BigQuery

Neptune.ai

  • Free tier limited to 100 hours per month, exhausted quickly with serious ML work
  • Lacks hyperparameter sweeps compared to Weights and Biases
  • No pipeline orchestration or broader MLOps lifecycle management
  • Dashboard visualization limitations - automatic resizing affects visualization order and size
  • Cloud-based SaaS only (as of last available service) requires internet connectivity

Pricing, plan by plan

BigQuery ML

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 10GB storage
    • 1TB queries
  • On-Demand$5/TB
    • Pay per TB scanned
    • ML training costs

Neptune.ai

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Neptune.ai review.

Which should you pick?

Choose BigQuery ML if

  • You need sql-based ml.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want automl tables.
BigQuery ML review

Choose Neptune.ai if

  • You need experiment tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want model registry.
Neptune.ai review

Questions people ask

Is BigQuery ML or Neptune.ai better?
Neither clearly leads. BigQuery ML starts at Free and Neptune.ai at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BigQuery ML or Neptune.ai?
BigQuery ML starts at Free and Neptune.ai at Free.
Does BigQuery ML or Neptune.ai run on more platforms?
BigQuery ML runs on Web. Neptune.ai runs on Web, Self-hosted.
Can I use BigQuery ML for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is BigQuery ML best used for?
BigQuery ML is most often used for training models in sql without exporting data, linear and logistic regression on warehouse data, k-means clustering and matrix factorisation for recommendations, time series forecasting with arima_plus. Of those, training models in sql without exporting data and linear and logistic regression on warehouse data are not what Neptune.ai is typically brought in for.
What can BigQuery ML do that Neptune.ai cannot?
BigQuery ML covers SQL-based ML, AutoML Tables, Model export, Prediction functions. Neptune.ai covers Experiment tracking, Model registry, Metadata logging, Comparison views. Both handle TensorFlow, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BigQuery ML: How much does Google Cloud BigQuery ML cost?

BigQuery ML pricing is not specified separately on Google Cloud's pricing page. It follows the same pay-as-you-go model as BigQuery, charging per terabyte of data scanned during analysis. Customers receive $300 in free credits and can use 20+ products free up to monthly limits.

Source
Neptune.ai: Does Neptune.ai support self-hosting?

Yes. Neptune can be self-hosted on a Kubernetes cluster with ClickHouse, MySQL, and Redis dependencies, allowing organizations to maintain full data control.

Source
BigQuery ML: Does Google Cloud offer a free trial?

Yes, new customers get $300 in free credits and all customers can use 20+ Google Cloud products free up to their monthly usage limits.

Source
Neptune.ai: What machine learning frameworks does Neptune integrate with?

Neptune integrates with PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, scikit-learn, XGBoost, LightGBM, Hugging Face Transformers, and Optuna for hyperparameter optimization.

Source
Neptune.ai: What is the cost for a team of 10 data scientists?

Neptune's Team plan costs $49 per user per month, resulting in $490/month for 10 users, comparable to Weights and Biases at $50/user.

Source
Neptune.ai: When is Neptune.ai shutting down?

Neptune.ai is shutting down its external SaaS service on March 5, 2026, following its acquisition by OpenAI in December 2025. Customers must export and migrate data before that date.

Source
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