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Machine Learning & Data Science · head to head

Databricks vs DataRobot

Databricks logo

Databricks

Machine Learning & Data Science

Unified analytics platform for data engineering and data science

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DataRobot logo

DataRobot

Machine Learning & Data Science

Enterprise AI platform for automated machine learning

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Databricks has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Databricks cloud compute is billed separately by the cloud provider on top of Databricks DBU charges; DataRobot model transparency is limited, often resembling a black box with limited explainability
  • They diverge on capability: Databricks covers Delta Lake, DataRobot covers Automated ML.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Databricks and DataRobot actually diverge.

Attributes where Databricks and DataRobot differ
AttributeDatabricksDataRobot
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Aws, Azure, GcpWeb
Founded20132012

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Machine Learning & Data Science).

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 Databricks

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

Only in DataRobot

  • Automated ML
  • Model deployment
  • Time series
  • MLOps
  • Model monitoring
  • Snowflake
  • Databricks

Both cover

  • AWS
  • Azure
  • GCP
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Databricks

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

DataRobot

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

DataRobot

  • Model transparency is limited, often resembling a black box with limited explainability
  • Requires integration with separate data manipulation tools for complex data transformation
  • Lacks native Python and R code customization for proprietary algorithms
  • Dependence on cloud connectivity means offline capabilities are not available
  • Uploading sensitive data to third-party servers raises data privacy and security concerns

Pricing, plan by plan

Databricks

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

DataRobot

On request
  • TrialFree
    • Limited access
    • Basic features
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Full platform
    • AutoML
    • MLOps

Which should you pick?

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

Choose DataRobot if

  • You need automated ml.
  • You also want model deployment.
DataRobot review

Questions people ask

Is Databricks or DataRobot better?
Neither clearly leads. Databricks starts at Free and DataRobot at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Databricks or DataRobot?
Databricks has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Databricks and On request for DataRobot.
Does Databricks or DataRobot run on more platforms?
Databricks runs on Web, Aws, Azure, Gcp. DataRobot runs on Web.
Can I use Databricks for free?
Yes. Databricks has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DataRobot starts at On request.
What is Databricks best used for?
Databricks is most often used for running spark data engineering pipelines on managed clusters, building a lakehouse over data in cloud object storage, training and serving machine learning models alongside the data. Of those, running spark data engineering pipelines on managed clusters and building a lakehouse over data in cloud object storage are not what DataRobot is typically brought in for.
What can Databricks do that DataRobot cannot?
Databricks covers Delta Lake, Apache Spark, MLflow, Unity Catalog. DataRobot covers Automated ML, Model deployment, Time series, MLOps. Both handle AWS, Azure, GCP, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DataRobot: Does DataRobot require data science expertise?

DataRobot automates much of the ML pipeline including data preparation, feature engineering, and model selection, making it more accessible to non-experts, though it is still an enterprise platform.

Source
DataRobot: What does DataRobot cost?

DataRobot uses custom enterprise pricing with typical starting costs around $2,500 per month for smaller organizations. For 10 users, monthly costs range from $15,000 to $20,000. Implementation and professional services are 20-40% of first-year contract value.

Source
DataRobot: Does DataRobot support generative AI?

Yes, DataRobot offers generative AI capabilities with API-first integrations for LLMs, vector databases, and embedding models.

Source
DataRobot: Can DataRobot handle unstructured data?

Yes, DataRobot supports machine learning on both structured and unstructured data, including deep learning, NLP, and image analysis.

Source
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