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Machine Learning & Data Science · head to head

SAS vs AWS SageMaker

SAS logo

SAS

Machine Learning & Data Science

Analytics, AI and data management software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
AWS SageMaker logo

AWS SageMaker

Machine Learning & Data Science

Build, train, and deploy machine learning models at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SAS sAS publishes no rate, no minimum and no named cost driver; the how to buy page offers only a customized price quote based on your requirements and deployment preferences; AWS SageMaker vendor lock-in to AWS ecosystem makes migration to other platforms difficult
  • They diverge on capability: SAS covers Statistical analysis, AWS SageMaker covers Jupyter notebooks.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SAS and AWS SageMaker actually diverge.

Attributes where SAS and AWS SageMaker differ
AttributeSASAWS SageMaker
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsLinux, Windows, WebWeb
Founded19762006

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 SAS

  • Statistical analysis
  • Machine learning
  • Forecasting
  • Text analytics
  • Optimization
  • Python
  • R
  • Hadoop

Only in AWS SageMaker

  • Jupyter notebooks
  • Built-in algorithms
  • Automatic model tuning
  • One-click deployment
  • Model monitoring
  • S3
  • Lambda
  • Step Functions

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

SAS

  • Regulated statistical analysis and clinical reportingnot AWS SageMaker
  • Enterprise data management, visualization and decisioning on one licensed platformnot AWS SageMaker

AWS SageMaker

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

Where each one falls short

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

SAS

  • SAS publishes no rate, no minimum and no named cost driver; the how to buy page offers only a customized price quote based on your requirements and deployment preferences
  • Most new and existing customers are routed through authorized resellers rather than buying direct
  • Cloud marketplace purchases require choosing between pay as you go and bring your own licence, each with different licensing terms

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

SAS

Free
  • SAS OnDemand for AcademicsFree
    • Academic use
    • Core SAS
  • SAS ViyaFree
    • Full platform
    • Cloud-native
    • AI/ML

AWS SageMaker

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the AWS SageMaker review.

Which should you pick?

Choose SAS if

  • You need statistical analysis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Web.
  • You also want machine learning.
SAS review

Choose AWS SageMaker if

  • You need jupyter notebooks.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want built-in algorithms.
AWS SageMaker review

Questions people ask

Is SAS or AWS SageMaker better?
Neither clearly leads. SAS 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, SAS or AWS SageMaker?
SAS starts at Free and AWS SageMaker at Free.
Does SAS or AWS SageMaker run on more platforms?
SAS runs on Linux, Windows, Web. AWS SageMaker runs on Web.
Can I use SAS for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is SAS best used for?
SAS is most often used for regulated statistical analysis and clinical reporting, enterprise data management, visualization and decisioning on one licensed platform. Of those, regulated statistical analysis and clinical reporting and enterprise data management, visualization and decisioning on one licensed platform are not what AWS SageMaker is typically brought in for.
What can SAS do that AWS SageMaker cannot?
SAS covers Statistical analysis, Machine learning, Forecasting, Text analytics. AWS SageMaker covers Jupyter notebooks, Built-in algorithms, Automatic model tuning, One-click deployment. Both handle Web support.

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.

Source
AWS 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.

Source
AWS 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
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