Amazon SageMaker
Databricks
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Amazon SageMaker vs. Databricks

Compare Amazon SageMaker with Databricks by the following set of capabilities. We want you to choose the best ML platform for you.

Amazon SageMaker vs. Databricks on Ease of Use

Feature
Zero-config model build & deploy
X
X
Data source integration
AWS data sources
Multiple data sources
Multi-cloud support
AWS
AWS, GCP, Azure
Intuitive UI
X
X
Support
Standard AWS support
Standard

Amazon SageMaker ease of use

SageMaker, though powerful, demands a solid grasp of AWS and engineering expertise. Its UI is less intuitive than specialized platforms, requiring navigation and expertise through multiple AWS services.

Databricks ease of use

Databricks leverages open-source tools like Apache Spark, MLflow and Airflow, which offer a lot of configurability but can be complex for some users. While it provides a robust set of features for big data analytics, it may lack specific out-of-the-box ML features, requiring users to build custom solutions using Spark. This adds a layer of complexity and requires a deeper understanding of the underlying technologies.

Amazon SageMaker vs. Databricks on Model Building and Model Deployment

Feature
Model build system
X
Engineers required
Model deployment & serving
V
V
Real-time model endpoints
Engineers required
V
Model auto scaling
Engineers required
Engineers required
Model A/B deployments
Engineers required
Engineers required
Inference analytics
Engineers required
Engineers required
Managed notebooks
V
V
Automatic model retraining
Engineers required
Engineers required

Amazon SageMaker model building and model deployment

SageMaker does not have Training Jobs or simple deployment, and its Experiments feature and Studio IDE introduce complexity. The deployment and monitoring processes entail manual engineering setup, with limited out-of-the-box support.

Databricks model building and model deployment

Databricks, a cloud-based platform integrating with various providers, heavily relies on Apache Spark for data processing. While it manages some infrastructure aspects, users need a good grasp of Spark configurations. In contrast. Databricks' deployment time varies; simple models can take minutes, but complex scenarios may extend to days, particularly without prior Spark experience. This variability, while enhancing flexibility, introduces complexity impacting deployment speed.

Amazon SageMaker vs. Databricks on Feature Platform

Feature
Managed feature store
V
V
Vector database
V
V
Batch features
Engineers required
V
Realtime features
Engineers required
V
Streaming features
Engineers required
V
Streaming aggregation features
X
Engineers required
Online and offline store auto sync
X
Engineers required

Amazon SageMaker feature platform

The AWS Sagemaker Feature Store requires manual setup for feature processes and lacks support for streaming aggregations, necessitating additional services like Elasticsearch, Chorma, Pinecone, and others for similar functionality.

Databricks feature platform

Databricks offers a Feature Store that supports batch data sources and allows for feature transformations using Spark SQL or PySpark functions. Features can be stored in both an Offline and Online Store but require manual schema definition. While it supports a range of data sources, it is optimized for the Databricks ecosystem. Streaming data sources and streaming aggregations are not natively supported.

Amazon SageMaker vs. Databricks on Pricing

Amazon SageMaker pricing

SageMaker offers a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model that's ideal for various project sizes. Users can choose between On-Demand Pricing, with no minimum fees or upfront commitments, and the SageMaker Savings Plans, which provide a flexible, usage-based pricing model in exchange for a consistent

Databricks feature platform

Databricks' pricing is based on usage, which means users pay for the resources they consume, while they can also opt for longer commitment plans with discounts.

Amazon SageMaker vs. Databricks on Maintenance

Amazon SageMaker maintenance

Amazon SageMaker's maintenance can be challenging primarily due to its complex features and deep AWS integration. Engineers must navigate a steep learning curve to effectively utilize its extensive options, manage intricate configurations within the AWS ecosystem, and stay updated with frequent service updates.

Databricks maintenance

Maintaining Databricks effectively in MLOps requires focus on several key areas: efficient cluster management for performance and cost, stringent data management for quality and security, and thorough job scheduling and monitoring. It's important to have the right training and support, ensure reliable disaster recovery and backups, and continuously tune performance, all essential for Databricks to function optimally in the MLOps pipeline.

Amazon SageMaker vs. Databricks on Scalability

Amazon SageMaker scalabilty

Integrated deeply with Amazon Web Services (AWS), SageMaker leverages AWS's vast infrastructure for significant scalability. This integration makes it a robust solution for organizations with dynamic or growing workloads and those already embedded within the AWS ecosystem while might be changing

Databricks scalability

Databricks provides scalability through its integrated Spark clusters. This makes it an excellent choice for big data and data engineering tasks, alongside ML workloads.

Amazon SageMaker vs. Databricks on Support

Amazon SageMaker support

Support is provided through the standard AWS support system.

Databricks support

Databricks has an active community and offers different support options, including premium support plans. Users can access resources like documentation, forums, and customer support for assistance.

Compare Amazon SageMaker with Others

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Don’t just take our word for it

Qwak was brought onboard to enhance Lightricks' existing machine learning operations. Their MLOps was originally concentrated around image analysis with a focus on enabling fast delivery of complex tabular models.

Read Case Study

From the get go, it was clear that Qwak understood our needs and requirements. The simplicity of the implementation was impressive.