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Amazon Redshift ML vs Databricks

Amazon Redshift ML logo

Amazon Redshift ML

Software

Create machine learning models using SQL

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Databricks logo

Databricks

Software

Unified analytics platform for data engineering and data science

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Amazon Redshift ML free tier covers only two CREATE MODEL requests per month for two months, capped at 100,000 cells per request; beyond that training is metered at $20 per million cells for the first 10 million, dropping in tiers to $7 per million cells over 100 million; Databricks cloud compute is billed separately by the cloud provider on top of Databricks DBU charges
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Redshift ML covers SQL-based ML, Databricks covers Delta Lake.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon Redshift ML and Databricks actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon Redshift ML and Databricks differ
AttributeAmazon Redshift MLDatabricks
PlatformsWebWeb, Aws, Azure, Gcp
Founded20062013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), 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 Amazon Redshift ML

  • SQL-based ML
  • AutoML
  • SageMaker integration
  • BYOM support
  • In-database predictions
  • Amazon Redshift
  • SageMaker
  • S3

Only in Databricks

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Amazon Redshift ML

  • Training and running machine learning models directly from SQL inside Amazon Redshiftnot Databricks

Databricks

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

Where each one falls short

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

Amazon Redshift ML

  • Free tier covers only two CREATE MODEL requests per month for two months, capped at 100,000 cells per request; beyond that training is metered at $20 per million cells for the first 10 million, dropping in tiers to $7 per million cells over 100 million

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon Redshift ML

Free
  • Free TrialFree
    • 2-month trial
    • 750 DC2.Large hours
  • On-Demand$0.25/hour
    • Per-node pricing
    • SageMaker training

Databricks

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Amazon Redshift ML if

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Redshift ML or Databricks better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Redshift ML starts at Free and Databricks at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Redshift ML or Databricks?
Amazon Redshift ML starts at Free and Databricks at Free.
Does Amazon Redshift ML or Databricks run on more platforms?
Amazon Redshift ML runs on Web. Databricks runs on Web, Aws, Azure, Gcp.
Can I use Amazon Redshift ML for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Amazon Redshift ML best used for?
Amazon Redshift ML is most often used for training and running machine learning models directly from sql inside amazon redshift. Of those, training and running machine learning models directly from sql inside amazon redshift is not what Databricks is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Redshift ML do that Databricks cannot?
Amazon Redshift ML covers SQL-based ML, AutoML, SageMaker integration, BYOM support. Databricks covers Delta Lake, Apache Spark, MLflow, Unity Catalog. Both handle Web support.
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