Databricks Pricing on AWS vs Azure vs GCP:
Full Comparison
Databricks runs on all three major cloud providers, but the pricing is not identical. Azure DBU rates are typically 10-20% higher than AWS and GCP. Feature availability, particularly for serverless workloads, also varies. This page provides the complete side-by-side comparison.
Key Differences at a Glance
AWS
- Lowest or tied-lowest DBU rates for most workloads
- Broadest serverless availability
- Widest GPU instance selection for ML/AI
- Standard tier already retired for new customers
- Most regions available globally
Azure
- 10-20% higher DBU rates than AWS/GCP
- Tightest Power BI and Microsoft 365 integration
- Standard tier retirement: October 2026
- Azure Active Directory for identity management
- Best for Microsoft-ecosystem enterprises
GCP
- DBU rates comparable to AWS (lowest tier)
- More limited serverless availability
- Fewer region options than AWS or Azure
- Standard tier already retired for new customers
- Strong BigQuery integration for analytics
Complete DBU Rate Comparison (Premium Tier)
Green highlighting indicates the cheapest option per workload.
| Workload | AWS | Azure | GCP | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs Compute | $0.15 | $0.30 | $0.15 | AWS / GCP |
| Jobs Compute (Photon) | $0.20 | $0.24 | $0.20 | AWS / GCP |
| Jobs Compute (Serverless)SERVERLESS | $0.37 | $0.45 | $0.37 | AWS / GCP |
| All-Purpose Compute | $0.55 | $0.55 | $0.55 | AWS / GCP |
| All-Purpose Compute (Photon) | $0.65 | $0.65 | $0.65 | AWS / GCP |
| All-Purpose Compute (Serverless)SERVERLESS | $0.75 | $0.95 | $0.75 | AWS / GCP |
| SQL Classic | $0.22 | $0.22 | $0.22 | AWS / GCP |
| SQL Pro | $0.55 | $0.55 | $0.69 | AWS |
| SQL ServerlessSERVERLESS | $0.70 | $0.70 | $0.88 | AWS |
| DLT Core | $0.20 | $0.30 | $0.20 | AWS / GCP |
| DLT Pro | $0.25 | $0.38 | $0.25 | AWS / GCP |
| DLT Advanced | $0.36 | $0.54 | $0.36 | AWS / GCP |
| CPU Model Serving | $0.07 | $0.08 | $0.07 | AWS / GCP |
| GPU Model Serving | $0.07 | $0.08 | $0.07 | AWS / GCP |
| Foundation Model APIsSERVERLESS | $0.07 | $0.08 | $0.07 | AWS / GCP |
| Streaming (DLT) | $0.20 | $0.30 | $0.20 | AWS / GCP |
| Streaming (Structured) | $0.15 | $0.30 | $0.15 | AWS / GCP |
Cloud Infrastructure Cost Comparison
The DBU rate is only half the picture for classic (non-serverless) workloads. Your cloud provider charges separately for the VMs, storage, and networking that Databricks runs on. These infrastructure costs vary significantly between providers and can account for 40-60% of your total Databricks bill.
Storage Costs (per GB/month)
| Tier | AWS (S3) | Azure (Blob) | GCP (GCS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard/Hot | $0.023 | $0.018 | $0.02 |
| Infrequent/Cool | $0.0125 | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Archive | $0.004 | $0.002 | $0.004 |
Egress Costs (per GB, first 10 TB)
Data egress charges apply when transferring data out of the cloud provider region. This is particularly relevant for multi-cloud Databricks deployments and cross-region data sharing. For more detail, see egresscost.com.
Regional Pricing Variation
While Databricks DBU rates are consistent across regions within a cloud provider, the cloud infrastructure costs vary significantly by region. This can have a material impact on your total Databricks bill, especially for compute-heavy workloads.
| Region | Relative Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US East (Virginia) | Baseline | Cheapest region for all three clouds. Most Databricks users start here. |
| US West (Oregon) | +0-5% | Comparable to US East. Good alternative for west coast latency. |
| Europe (Ireland/Frankfurt) | +5-15% | Moderate premium. Required for GDPR data residency compliance. |
| Asia Pacific (Singapore/Tokyo) | +15-30% | Significant premium. Limited spot instance availability in some zones. |
| South America (Sao Paulo) | +20-40% | Highest premium. Limited instance type availability. |
Which Cloud for Which Workload?
If you have the flexibility to choose your cloud provider, here is a workload-based decision framework. Note that most enterprises are constrained by existing cloud commitments, so this applies primarily to new deployments or multi-cloud strategies.
| Workload | Best Cloud | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| ML/AI Training | AWS | Widest GPU instance selection (P3, P4, G4, G5, Inf series), lowest GPU DBU rates, broadest availability zones for spot GPU instances. |
| SQL Analytics | Azure | Tight Power BI integration, competitive SQL warehouse rates, Azure AD for enterprise identity. Snowflake on Azure is the alternative. |
| Cost-Optimized Batch ETL | AWS or GCP | Lowest baseline DBU rates combined with competitive spot instance pricing. AWS has the most spot capacity. |
| Multi-Cloud Strategy | Any (Databricks) | Databricks committed-use credits are portable across clouds, making it a natural choice for multi-cloud data platforms. |
| Microsoft Ecosystem | Azure | Databricks on Azure has native integrations with Azure DevOps, Azure Key Vault, Azure Data Factory, and Purview. |
| BigQuery + Spark | GCP | Native integration between Databricks and BigQuery for teams using both SQL analytics and Spark processing. |
Azure Standard Tier Retirement
The Standard pricing tier retirement is the most impactful pricing change for Azure Databricks users in 2026. If you are running Azure Databricks on Standard tier, you need to plan for a forced migration to Premium tier with significantly higher DBU rates.
Timeline
Cost Impact
Standard to Premium migration typically increases DBU rates by 50-100% depending on workload type. For example, Jobs Compute on Azure goes from $0.09/DBU (Standard) to $0.30/DBU (Premium), a 233% increase. All-Purpose Compute goes from $0.36/DBU to $0.55/DBU, a 53% increase. Teams should budget for this increase and consider committed-use discounts to offset the impact.
For migration planning guidance, see migrationcost.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cloud is cheapest for Databricks?
AWS and GCP generally have the lowest Databricks DBU rates, which are comparable to each other. Azure is typically 10-20% more expensive per DBU across most workload types. However, the total cost also depends on cloud infrastructure pricing, where GCP is often competitive, and your existing cloud commitments and enterprise agreements.
Are Databricks features the same across all three clouds?
Core features are consistent, but some capabilities have different availability timelines. Serverless compute was available on AWS first and is most mature there. Azure has the tightest integration with Power BI and Microsoft security tools. GCP has the most limited serverless availability and fewer region options. Unity Catalog and Delta Live Tables are available on all three clouds.
Can I use Databricks on multiple clouds?
Yes. Databricks supports multi-cloud deployments, and committed-use discount credits can be used across AWS, Azure, and GCP workspaces. This is a significant advantage for enterprises with multi-cloud strategies. Data sharing across clouds is possible through Delta Sharing, though data transfer costs between clouds add to the total expense.
Why is Azure Databricks more expensive?
Azure Databricks DBU rates are 10-20% higher than AWS and GCP for most workload types. This likely reflects the tight integration with Azure services (Power BI, Azure Active Directory, Azure Security Center) and the Azure marketplace distribution model. The gap narrows with negotiated enterprise agreements and may not apply to all workload types.
Does Databricks pricing vary by region within a cloud?
Databricks DBU rates are consistent across regions within a cloud provider. However, the cloud infrastructure costs (VMs, storage, networking) vary significantly by region. Running in Asia Pacific or South America typically costs 15-30% more than US East regions. For cost-sensitive workloads, choosing the right region can materially affect your total bill.