Databricks
Rows
| Feature | Databricks | Rows |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $0.07/mo | Free / from $59/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | data-engineering-teams, ml-teams, enterprises, large-scale-analytics | data-analysts, marketers, startups, growth-teams |
| Founded | 2013 | 2016 |
| Data Lakehouse | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sql Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Machine Learning | ✓ | ✗ |
| Real Time Streaming | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data Governance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Notebooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Delta Lake | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Assistant | ✗ | ✓ |
| Charts | ✗ | ✓ |
| Sharing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api Connections | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Databricks Pros
- Unified platform for data engineering, science, and analytics
- Delta Lake provides ACID transactions on data lakes
- Excellent ML/AI capabilities with MLflow integration
- Community Edition is free for learning
✗ Databricks Cons
- Complex pricing with DBU credits
- Requires data engineering expertise to configure
- Vendor lock-in once deeply integrated
✓ Rows Pros
- Built-in data integrations
- Modern clean interface
- Powerful AI features
- Great for data analysis
✗ Rows Cons
- Limited free plan
- Smaller community
- Some integrations require paid plan
The Verdict
Databricks is built for data engineering teams and ml teams, with a focus on data-lakehouse and sql-analytics. Rows targets data analysts and marketers and leads with integrations and ai-assistant.
On pricing, Databricks is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0.07/mo compared to $59/mo for Rows. That $58.93/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Databricks offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Rows takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Databricks has a slight overall edge — but if built-in data integrations matters most to you, Rows may still be the right call.