Softwr

Machine Learning & Data Science · head to head

Databricks vs inFlow

Databricks logo

Databricks

Machine Learning & Data Science

Unified analytics platform for data engineering and data science

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
inFlow logo

inFlow

Inventory Management

Inventory software for small to mid-size businesses

From
$129/month
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cloud compute is billed separately by the cloud provider on top of Databricks DBU charges; inFlow user interface feels outdated and difficult for new users to navigate
  • They diverge on capability: Databricks covers Delta Lake, inFlow covers Easy inventory tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Databricks and inFlow actually diverge.

Attributes where Databricks and inFlow differ
AttributeDatabricksinFlow
Starting priceFree$129/month
Pricing modelusage-basedUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Aws, Azure, GcpCloud, Web, Mobile scanning app
CategoryMachine Learning & Data ScienceInventory Management
Founded20132003

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 Databricks

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

Only in inFlow

  • Easy inventory tracking
  • Purchase order management
  • Sales order management
  • Low stock alerts
  • Integration with accounting software
  • Barcode scanning
  • Email integration
  • Shopify

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 inFlow
  • Building a lakehouse over data in cloud object storagenot inFlow
  • Training and serving machine learning models alongside the datanot inFlow

inFlow

  • Simple inventory trackingnot Databricks
  • Order managementnot Databricks
  • Purchase controlnot Databricks
  • Stock alertsnot 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

inFlow

  • User interface feels outdated and difficult for new users to navigate
  • Customization options are limited with flaky screen customization functionality
  • Poor performance with large or complex inventories
  • Limited supply chain management features; focuses primarily on retail side
  • Basic plan has limited reporting options requiring upgrades for more reports
  • QuickBooks integration reported as problematic by users
  • BOM costing does not automatically update when raw part costs change
  • Audit trail limited to name and date, becoming insufficient as companies grow

Pricing, plan by plan

Databricks

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

inFlow

$129/month
  • Entrepreneur$129/month
    • 2 team members
    • 1 integration
    • 1,200 sales orders per year
  • Small Business$349/month
    • 5 team members
    • 3 integrations
    • 12,000 sales orders per year
  • Mid-Size$699/month
    • 10 team members
    • 5 integrations
    • Unlimited sales orders

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 inFlow if

  • You need easy inventory tracking.
  • You work on Cloud, Web, Mobile scanning app.
  • You also want purchase order management.
inFlow review

Questions people ask

Is Databricks or inFlow better?
Neither clearly leads. Databricks starts at Free and inFlow at $129/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Databricks or inFlow?
Databricks has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Databricks and $129/month for inFlow.
Does Databricks or inFlow run on more platforms?
Databricks runs on Web, Aws, Azure, Gcp. inFlow runs on Cloud, Web, Mobile scanning app.
Can I use Databricks for free?
Yes. Databricks has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. inFlow starts at $129/month.
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 inFlow is typically brought in for.
What can Databricks do that inFlow cannot?
Databricks covers Delta Lake, Apache Spark, MLflow, Unity Catalog. inFlow covers Easy inventory tracking, Purchase order management, Sales order management, Low stock alerts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

inFlow: What team member limits does each inFlow plan include?

Entrepreneur plan includes 2 team members (annual billing USD 129/month), Small Business includes 5 team members (USD 349/month), and Mid-Size includes 10 team members (USD 699/month). Additional users cost USD 29-49/month.

Source
inFlow: Does inFlow include manufacturing features?

Yes. inFlow offers separate Manufacturing plans (Startup, Growth, Scale) with assembly and kit creation for product variants, starting at USD 179/month (annual billing).

Source
inFlow: How many integrations does each plan support?

Entrepreneur plan includes 1 integration, Small Business includes 3 integrations, and Mid-Size includes 5 integrations. Enterprise plan supports unlimited integrations.

Source
inFlow: Is there a free trial available?

Yes. inFlow offers a free 14-day trial without requiring a credit card.

Source
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Related pages

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