Amazon Redshift vs ClickHouse: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Amazon Redshift and ClickHouse comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: ClickHouse wins this matchup. PostgreSQL is our overall Data & Databases pick. PostgreSQL is our free Data & Databases pick. Pick Amazon Redshift if you need its specific feature set.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Amazon Redshift
Petabyte-scale data warehouse on AWS
Best for you if:
- • You want deep AWS integration
- • You want mature and proven
ClickHouse
Fast open-source analytics database
Best for you if:
- • You want extremely fast analytics
- • You want good compression
| At a Glance | Amazon Redshift | ClickHouse |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $0.25/hourProvisioned | Custom |
Best For | Data & Databases | Data & Databases |
Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose Amazon Redshift or ClickHouse?
Choose Amazon Redshift if
Petabyte-scale data warehouse on AWS
- You want deep AWS integration
- You want mature and proven
Choose ClickHouse if
Fast open-source analytics database
- You want extremely fast analytics
- You want good compression
| Feature | Amazon Redshift | ClickHouse |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.3/5 420 reviews | ★4.5/5 23 reviews |
| Categories | Data & DatabasesData Warehouses | Data & DatabasesAnalytics |
In-Depth Analysis
Amazon Redshift
Petabyte-scale data warehouse on AWS
Amazon Redshift's pricing is fair, especially with the free trial and reserved instance options.
Watch out
Storage costs beyond compute
Strengths
- +Deep AWS integration
- +Mature and proven
- +Serverless option
- +Cost-effective for AWS users
- +Strong SQL support
Weaknesses
- -AWS lock-in
- -Complex pricing
- -Cluster management (provisioned)
- -Slower than newer alternatives
Key features
ClickHouse
Fast open-source analytics database
ClickHouse Cloud is genuinely cheap for read-heavy analytical workloads thanks to aggressive columnar compression and per-minute compute billing.
Watch out
Cross-region data transfer is billed separately. Multi-region architectures with replication can double or triple effective storage costs.
Strengths
- +Extremely fast analytics
- +Good compression
- +SQL interface
- +Column-oriented
- +Open source
Weaknesses
- -Not for OLTP
- -Updates expensive
- -Operations complex
- -Learning curve
- -Specific use cases
Key features
Pricing: Amazon Redshift vs ClickHouse
| Plan | Amazon Redshift | ClickHouse |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free Trial | Basic |
| Tier 2 | $0.25 hour Provisioned | usage-based Scale |
| Tier 3 | Variable Serverless | custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Amazon Redshift pricing and ClickHouse pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are paid. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: ClickHouse
Want the highest-rated option?
Amazon Redshift: 4.3/5 (420 reviews). ClickHouse: 4.5/5 (23 reviews).
Go with: ClickHouse
Value user reviews?
Amazon Redshift: 420 reviews (4.3/5). ClickHouse: 23 reviews (4.5/5).
Go with: Amazon Redshift
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are paid. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are data & databases tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
ClickHouse is rated higher: 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5.
Key Takeaways
ClickHouse
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5
- Our pick for this comparison
Amazon Redshift
- Larger review base (420 reviews)
The Bottom Line
ClickHouse wins this matchup. PostgreSQL is our overall Data & Databases pick. PostgreSQL is our free Data & Databases pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amazon Redshift or ClickHouse better?
ClickHouse is rated in our evaluation. Both are paid.
What are Amazon Redshift and ClickHouse used for?
Amazon Redshift: Petabyte-scale data warehouse on AWS. ClickHouse: Fast open-source analytics database.
What does Amazon Redshift cost vs ClickHouse?
Amazon Redshift is a paid tool. ClickHouse is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.