Amazon Redshift vs Snowflake: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Amazon Redshift and Snowflake 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: Amazon Redshift wins this matchup. Snowflake is our overall Data Warehouses pick. Mozart Data is our free Data Warehouses pick. Pick Snowflake if you need its specific feature set.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Amazon Redshift
Petabyte-scale data warehouse on AWS
Best for you if:
- • You want deep AWS integration
Snowflake
Unify your data across clouds with separate compute and storage
Best for you if:
- • You want elastic scaling
| At a Glance | Amazon Redshift | Snowflake |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $0.25/hour Provisioned | Custom |
Category | Data & Databases Data Warehouses | Data & Databases Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | 4.3/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.4 420 reviews | 4.1/5 G2 4.6 · Capterra 4.7 · Trustpilot 0.6 865 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | Storage costs beyond compute | Warehouses that are not configured to auto-suspend burn credits continuously. |
Choose Amazon Redshift or Snowflake?
Choose Amazon Redshift if
- You want deep AWS integration
- You want mature and proven
Choose Snowflake if
- You want elastic scaling
- You want multi-cloud
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
- Pro: Deep AWS integration
- Pro: Mature and proven
- Pro: Serverless option
- Pro: Cost-effective for AWS users
- Pro: Strong SQL support
Weaknesses
- Con: AWS lock-in
- Con: Complex pricing
- Con: Cluster management (provisioned)
- Con: Slower than newer alternatives
Key features
Snowflake
Unify your data across clouds with separate compute and storage
Snowflake's consumption-based pricing starts at ~$2/credit (Standard) and scales to ~$4/credit (Business Critical), with storage at $23-40/TB/month depending on commitment level.
Watch out
Warehouses that are not configured to auto-suspend burn credits continuously.
Strengths
- Pro: Elastic scaling
- Pro: Multi-cloud
- Pro: Easy to use
Weaknesses
- Con: Costs can spike
- Con: Vendor lock-in
Key features
Pricing: Amazon Redshift vs Snowflake
| Plan | Amazon Redshift | Snowflake |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free Trial | 2 /credit Standard |
| Tier 2 | $0.25 hour Provisioned | 3 /credit Enterprise |
| Tier 3 | Variable Serverless | 4 /credit Business Critical |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Amazon Redshift pricing and Snowflake pricing.
Key Takeaways
Amazon Redshift
- Higher user rating: 4.3/5 vs 4.1/5
- Our pick for this comparison
Snowflake
- Larger review base (865 reviews)
The Bottom Line
Amazon Redshift wins this matchup. Snowflake is our overall Data Warehouses pick. Mozart Data is our free Data Warehouses pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amazon Redshift or Snowflake better in 2026?
Amazon Redshift wins this matchup. Snowflake is our overall Data Warehouses pick. Mozart Data is our free Data Warehouses pick. Pick Amazon Redshift for data & databases workflows (main strength: deep AWS integration). Pick Snowflake for data & databases workflows (main strength: elastic scaling).
What are Amazon Redshift and Snowflake used for?
Amazon Redshift: Petabyte-scale data warehouse on AWS. Snowflake: Unify your data across clouds with separate compute and storage.
What does Amazon Redshift cost vs Snowflake?
Amazon Redshift's paid plans start at $0.25/hour (Provisioned). Snowflake pricing is on their site.
What's the main difference between Amazon Redshift and Snowflake?
Amazon Redshift's main strength: deep AWS integration. Snowflake's main strength: elastic scaling.