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Software · head to head

KNIME vs Apache Spark MLlib

KNIME logo

KNIME

Software

Open source data analytics and integration platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Apache Spark MLlib logo

Apache Spark MLlib

Software

Scalable machine learning on Apache Spark

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Apache Spark MLlib apache Spark MLlib is Apache 2.0 licensed and free with no paid tier from the Apache project itself; SLA-backed support has to be sourced from a third party such as a managed Spark vendor rather than from Apache.
  • They diverge on capability: KNIME covers Visual workflows, Apache Spark MLlib covers Classification.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KNIME and Apache Spark MLlib actually diverge.

Attributes where KNIME and Apache Spark MLlib differ
AttributeKNIMEApache Spark MLlib
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsLinux, Mac, WindowsLinux, macOS, Windows
Founded20041999

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 Apache Spark MLlib

  • Classification
  • Regression
  • Clustering
  • Collaborative filtering
  • Feature engineering
  • Apache Spark
  • Hadoop
  • Kafka

Both cover

  • Linux support
  • Mac support
  • Windows support

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 Apache Spark MLlib
  • Connecting and blending data across many sources for analysisnot Apache Spark MLlib

Apache Spark MLlib

  • Large-scale distributed machine learning on Spark clustersnot KNIME
  • Classification and regression with decision trees, random forests, gradient-boosted treesnot KNIME
  • Clustering with K-means and Gaussian Mixture Modelsnot 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

Apache Spark MLlib

  • Apache Spark MLlib is Apache 2.0 licensed and free with no paid tier from the Apache project itself; SLA-backed support has to be sourced from a third party such as a managed Spark vendor rather than from Apache.

Pricing, plan by plan

KNIME

Free
  • Analytics PlatformFree
    • Visual workflows
    • All nodes
    • Community extensions
  • ServerFree
    • Team collaboration
    • Workflow automation
    • REST API

Apache Spark MLlib

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Apache Spark MLlib 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.
KNIME review

Choose Apache Spark MLlib if

  • You need classification.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want regression.
Apache Spark MLlib review

Questions people ask

Is KNIME or Apache Spark MLlib better?
Neither clearly leads. KNIME starts at Free and Apache Spark MLlib at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KNIME or Apache Spark MLlib?
KNIME starts at Free and Apache Spark MLlib at Free.
Does KNIME or Apache Spark MLlib run on more platforms?
KNIME runs on Linux, Mac, Windows. Apache Spark MLlib runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
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 Apache Spark MLlib is typically brought in for.
What can KNIME do that Apache Spark MLlib cannot?
KNIME covers Visual workflows, Data preprocessing, Machine learning, Visualization. Apache Spark MLlib covers Classification, Regression, Clustering, Collaborative filtering. Both handle Linux support, Mac support, Windows support.
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