AWS Redshift vs. Google BigQuery vs. Microsoft Synapse Analytics
As more businesses move their data storage and processing to the cloud, there are numerous services to choose from.
Three popular cloud-based data warehousing solutions are Amazon Web Services (AWS) Redshift, Google BigQuery, and Microsoft Synapse Analytics.
While each platform is designed for specific use cases, they share many similarities. In this post, we'll compare these three data warehousing solutions based on several key factors.
Pricing
Cost is a critical factor in choosing a cloud-based data warehouse solution. Below we compare the pricing models:
| Service | Pricing Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Redshift | On-demand | $0.25 per hour per node |
| Google BigQuery | On-demand | $5 per TB of data processed |
| Microsoft Synapse Analytics | On-demand | $0.90 per hour per node |
AWS Redshift offers an excellent balance between cost and performance, with a straightforward pay-as-you-go pricing model. Google BigQuery is well suited for small to mid-sized companies, while Microsoft Synapse Analytics is an enterprise-level solution.
Performance
When it comes to storage and data processing, performance is a critical differentiator. In the comparison below, we consider three aspects of performance:
- Loading time
- Query speed
- Concurrency limits
| Service | Loading time | Query Speed | Concurrency Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Redshift | Good | Fast | Up to 50 queries per cluster |
| Google BigQuery | Excellent | Excellent | Up to 50 queries per project |
| Microsoft Synapse Analytics | Excellent | Excellent | Up to 600 active queries |
Each service delivers exceptional query speed and concurrency limits, while Google BigQuery has the fastest loading time by a significant margin.
Integration
All three services offer reliable integration with various other platforms and tools. Here's a comparison:
| Service | Integration |
|---|---|
| AWS Redshift | AWS services, Third-party BI tools |
| Google BigQuery | Google Analytics, Google Sheets |
| Microsoft Synapse Analytics | Power BI, Azure services |
While each service has its strengths, Microsoft Synapse Analytics offers the most extensive range of third-party integrations. AWS Redshift is best suited for companies that already use AWS as their primary cloud provider.
Capabilities
Each service comes with its capabilities and features, below we summarize our observations:
| Service | Capabilities |
|---|---|
| AWS Redshift | Built-in ETL workflows, machine learning capabilities |
| Google BigQuery | Geo-spatial querying, serverless data analysis |
| Microsoft Synapse Analytics | Azure Machine Learning integration, support for Power BI |
AWS Redshift is the most versatile platform with built-in ETL workflows and machine learning capabilities, and Google BigQuery is best suited for geospatial data analysis. Microsoft Synapse Analytics is ideal for large organizations that run multiple workloads on Azure.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best cloud-based data warehousing solution depends on your business requirements. AWS Redshift, Google BigQuery, and Microsoft Synapse Analytics are all excellent platforms, with their range of capabilities.
If you're looking for a straightforward pricing model with strong performance, choose AWS Redshift. If you're after fast loading time, consider Google BigQuery. And, if you're running multiple workloads on Azure, Microsoft Synapse Analytics is the right way to go.
Ultimately, each service has enough features and capabilities that it all comes down to your requirements and use cases.