Petabyte-scale data warehouse on AWS
Visit WebsiteReviews onCapterra
16 reviews tracked·2 press mentionsThe Bottom Line
Entry price
From $0.25/mo
Biggest pro
Deep AWS integration
Biggest con
AWS lock-in
TL;DR - Amazon Redshift
- AWS cloud data warehouse
- Petabyte-scale analytics
- Serverless or provisioned options
Pricing: Paid only
Best for: Enterprises & pros
4.4/5 across review platforms
What is Amazon Redshift?
Amazon Redshift is AWS's fully managed, petabyte-scale cloud data warehouse. It uses columnar storage and massively parallel processing (MPP) to deliver fast query performance on large datasets. Redshift integrates deeply with the AWS ecosystem including S3, Kinesis, and SageMaker. The service offers both provisioned clusters and serverless options, making it accessible for various workloads. Redshift is one of the most popular data warehouses, competing with Snowflake, BigQuery, and Databricks.
Available on: Web
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Deep AWS integration
- Mature and proven
- Serverless option
- Cost-effective for AWS users
- Strong SQL support
Cons
- AWS lock-in
- Complex pricing
- Cluster management (provisioned)
- Slower than newer alternatives
Ratings Across the Web
4.4(16 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Columnar storageMassively parallel processingRedshift ServerlessML integration (SageMaker)Spectrum (query S3)Concurrency scalingAutomatic backupsEncryption
Pricing Plans
Free TrialPricing checked Jul 12, 2026
Free Trial
Free
2 months free
- 750 DC2.Large hours/month
- Try before you buy
- Full features
Most Popular
Provisioned
$0.25/hour
DC2.Large node
- Dedicated clusters
- Reserved pricing available
- Full control
Serverless
Variable
Pay per RPU-hour
- Auto-scaling
- No cluster management
- Pay for usage only
How Amazon Redshift's pricing compares
At $0.25/mo, Amazon Redshift is the most affordable of its 2 direct competitors.
Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Jul 12, 2026.
Reviews
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4.4/5
Across 16 verified user reviews on Capterra
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Amazon Redshift FAQ
How does Amazon Redshift support large-scale data analytics?
Amazon Redshift is designed as a petabyte-scale cloud data warehouse that utilizes columnar storage and massively parallel processing (MPP). This architecture enables it to deliver fast query performance on very large datasets, making it suitable for extensive data analytics workloads.
Which teams benefit most from using Amazon Redshift?
Teams already operating within the AWS ecosystem, particularly those needing to perform analytics on large datasets, will find Amazon Redshift most beneficial. Its deep integration with other AWS services like S3, Kinesis, and SageMaker streamlines data workflows for analytics and data science teams.
How does Amazon Redshift compare to Snowflake?
Amazon Redshift is a mature and proven data warehouse deeply integrated within the AWS ecosystem, offering cost-effectiveness for existing AWS users. Snowflake, while also a cloud data warehouse, provides a different architecture and may have varying performance characteristics depending on the workload.
What kind of limitations should users consider with Amazon Redshift?
Users should be aware of potential AWS lock-in and the complexity of its pricing model. While it offers strong SQL support, some provisioned cluster management is required, and it can be slower than some newer alternatives in specific scenarios.
Does Amazon Redshift integrate with other AWS services?
Yes, Amazon Redshift integrates deeply with the AWS ecosystem. This includes services such as Amazon S3 for data storage, Amazon Kinesis for real-time data streaming, and Amazon SageMaker for machine learning applications.
How is Amazon Redshift priced?
Amazon Redshift is a paid product with a complex pricing structure, and it does not include a permanently free tier. Costs are typically based on factors such as compute instance usage for provisioned clusters or data processed for serverless options.
Can Amazon Redshift handle both provisioned and serverless workloads?
Yes, Amazon Redshift offers both provisioned clusters and serverless options. This flexibility allows users to choose the deployment model that best suits their specific workload requirements and operational preferences.
Source: aws.amazon.com