Softwr

Machine Learning & Data Science · head to head

Weights & Biases vs Databricks

Weights & Biases logo

Weights & Biases

Machine Learning & Data Science

Developer tools for machine learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Databricks logo

Databricks

Machine Learning & Data Science

Unified analytics platform for data engineering and data science

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Weights & Biases pricing can be prohibitive for large teams without enterprise discounts; Databricks cloud compute is billed separately by the cloud provider on top of Databricks DBU charges
  • They diverge on capability: Weights & Biases covers Experiment tracking, Databricks covers Delta Lake.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Weights & Biases and Databricks actually diverge.

Attributes where Weights & Biases and Databricks differ
AttributeWeights & BiasesDatabricks
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
PlatformsWeb, Python SDK, REST APIWeb, Aws, Azure, Gcp
Founded20172013

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 Weights & Biases

  • Experiment tracking
  • Dataset versioning
  • Model registry
  • Hyperparameter sweeps
  • Collaborative dashboards
  • PyTorch
  • TensorFlow
  • Keras

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.

Weights & Biases

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

Databricks

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

Where each one falls short

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

Weights & Biases

  • Pricing can be prohibitive for large teams without enterprise discounts
  • Limited integrations compared to some competitors
  • Dashboard customization options limited on lower plans
  • Requires some setup and configuration knowledge

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

Weights & Biases

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 model seats
    • 5 GB storage
    • 1 GB/month Weave ingestion
  • Pro$60/month
    • 10 seats
    • 100 GB storage
    • Private projects
  • Teams$179/month
    • Team collaboration
    • Advanced analytics
    • Dedicated support

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 Weights & Biases if

  • You need experiment tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Python SDK, REST API.
  • You also want dataset versioning.
Weights & Biases 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 Weights & Biases or Databricks better?
Neither clearly leads. Weights & Biases 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, Weights & Biases or Databricks?
Weights & Biases starts at Free and Databricks at Free.
Does Weights & Biases or Databricks run on more platforms?
Weights & Biases runs on Web, Python SDK, REST API. Databricks runs on Web, Aws, Azure, Gcp.
Can I use Weights & Biases for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Weights & Biases best used for?
Weights & Biases is most often used for machine learning, data analysis, model training, predictive analytics. Of those, machine learning and data analysis are not what Databricks is typically brought in for.
What can Weights & Biases do that Databricks cannot?
Weights & Biases covers Experiment tracking, Dataset versioning, Model registry, Hyperparameter sweeps. Databricks covers Delta Lake, Apache Spark, MLflow, Unity Catalog. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Weights & Biases: Does Weights & Biases have a free plan?

Yes. The Free tier includes 5 model seats, 5 GB storage, and 1 GB/month Weave ingestion. Academic users get unlimited tracked hours, 200 GB storage, and 100 seats at no cost.

Source
Weights & Biases: What are the paid plans for Weights & Biases?

Pro starts at $60/month with 10 seats and 100 GB storage. Team plans start at $179/month. Enterprise pricing is custom.

Source
Weights & Biases: What machine learning features does W&B provide?

Weights & Biases captures hyperparameters, metrics, and model outputs automatically. Features include experiment tracking, interactive Reports for sharing findings, Artifacts for managing datasets and models, advanced hyperparameter sweeps, and model deployment tools.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Weights & Biases

More on Databricks

Keep looking

Other head to heads