Software · head to head
KNIME vs AWS SageMaker
AWS SageMaker
Software
Build, train, and deploy machine learning models at scale
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: KNIME the free Analytics Platform runs locally only, so anything shared or scheduled requires a paid Hub; AWS SageMaker vendor lock-in to AWS ecosystem makes migration to other platforms difficult
- They diverge on capability: KNIME covers Visual workflows, AWS SageMaker covers Jupyter notebooks.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which KNIME and AWS SageMaker actually diverge.
| Attribute | KNIME | AWS SageMaker |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Platforms | Linux, Mac, Windows | Web |
| Founded | 2004 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 KNIME
- Visual workflows
- Data preprocessing
- Machine learning
- Visualization
- Reporting
- Python
- R
- Spark
Only in AWS SageMaker
- Jupyter notebooks
- Built-in algorithms
- Automatic model tuning
- One-click deployment
- Model monitoring
- S3
- Lambda
- Step Functions
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
KNIME
- Building data pipelines and analytics workflows visually rather than in codenot AWS SageMaker
- Connecting and blending data across many sources for analysisnot AWS SageMaker
AWS SageMaker
- Machine learningnot KNIME
- Data analysisnot KNIME
- Model trainingnot KNIME
- Predictive analyticsnot KNIME
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
KNIME
- The free Analytics Platform runs locally only, so anything shared or scheduled requires a paid Hub
- The free AI assistant is limited to 20 interactions a month
- Paid workflow runtime is metered in credits, with 120 included on Pro and overage at $0.025 per vCore minute
- The Team plan at $99 a month includes 3 members, with additional seats at $49 a month each
- Business Hub pricing is on request, and its tiers are capped at 4, 8 and 16 vCores with 5, 5 and 20 users
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
Pricing, plan by plan
KNIME
Free- Analytics PlatformFree
- Visual workflows
- All nodes
- Community extensions
- ServerFree
- Team collaboration
- Workflow automation
- REST API
AWS SageMaker
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the AWS SageMaker review.
Which should you pick?
Choose KNIME if
- You need visual workflows.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Mac, Windows.
- You also want data preprocessing.
Choose AWS SageMaker if
- You need jupyter notebooks.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want built-in algorithms.
Questions people ask
- Is KNIME or AWS SageMaker better?
- Neither clearly leads. KNIME starts at Free and AWS SageMaker at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, KNIME or AWS SageMaker?
- KNIME starts at Free and AWS SageMaker at Free.
- Does KNIME or AWS SageMaker run on more platforms?
- KNIME runs on Linux, Mac, Windows. AWS SageMaker runs on Web.
- Can I use KNIME for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is KNIME best used for?
- KNIME is most often used for building data pipelines and analytics workflows visually rather than in code, connecting and blending data across many sources for analysis. Of those, building data pipelines and analytics workflows visually rather than in code and connecting and blending data across many sources for analysis are not what AWS SageMaker is typically brought in for.
- What can KNIME do that AWS SageMaker cannot?
- KNIME covers Visual workflows, Data preprocessing, Machine learning, Visualization. AWS SageMaker covers Jupyter notebooks, Built-in algorithms, Automatic model tuning, One-click deployment.
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.
SourceAWS 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.
SourceAWS 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