Amazon Redshift

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Petabyte-scale data warehouse on AWS

Data & Databases Data Warehouses Cloud & Infrastructure Analytics

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4.3(420 across the web)

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Reviews onG2Capterra

420 reviews tracked·2 press mentions

The 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

4.3/5 across review platforms

What is Amazon Redshift?

Editorial review

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

LCLouis CorneloupUpdated Jul 20, 2026 · how we evaluateSourceaws.amazon.com ↗

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

4.3(420 reviews)

Amazon Redshift holds an aggregate rating of 4.3 out of 5 from 420 reviews across G2 and Capterra, last checked August 25, 2026.

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 Trial

Pricing checked Aug 22, 2026

Free Trial

Free

2 months free

750 DC2.Large hours/month
Try before you buy
Full features

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

Calculate your cost View full pricing

Is Amazon Redshift worth the price?

85/100

Amazon Redshift's pricing is fair, especially with the free trial and reserved instance options.

The $0.25/hour for a DC2.Large node is competitive for dedicated clusters, and Serverless offers flexibility for variable workloads. It's best for businesses needing scalable, petabyte-scale data warehousing with flexible deployment options.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Data transfer out of AWS

Storage costs beyond compute

Additional AWS service integrations

Reserved instances require commitment

How Amazon Redshift Compares to Competitors

Compared to Google BigQuery, Redshift's provisioned model offers more predictable costs for consistent usage, while BigQuery's on-demand is often priced per TB scanned. Snowflake also offers a usage-based model, with Redshift's $0.25/hour DC2.Large being a strong entry point for dedicated resources.

How Amazon Redshift's pricing compares

At $0.25/mo, Amazon Redshift is the most affordable of its 2 direct competitors.

Amazon Redshift

$0.25

Snowflake

Azure Synapse

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Aug 22, 2026.

Reviews

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4.3/5

Across 420 verified user reviews on G2, Capterra

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Best Amazon Redshift Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

SnowflakePaid

Unify your data across clouds with separate compute and storage

4.6

Azure SynapsePaid

Analytics service combining data warehousing and big data

4.3

See all data & databases tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Amazon Redshift vs SnowflakeHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Amazon Redshift vs Azure SynapseHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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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

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