Amazon Redshift vs BigQuery
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading database & data management solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose Amazon Redshift if you need Columnar Storage and prefer a free starting option. Choose BigQuery if you prioritize Serverless Architecture and want a free tier to start. BigQuery has a higher user rating (4.5 vs 4.4).
Amazon Redshift vs BigQuery: At a Glance
| Criteria | Amazon Redshift | BigQuery |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Pricing Model | pay-as-you-go | pay-as-you-go |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Web, Aws | Web, Gcp |
| Category | Database & Data Management | Database & Data Management |
| Founded | 2006 | 2008 |
Feature Comparison: Amazon Redshift vs BigQuery
| Feature | Amazon Redshift | BigQuery |
|---|---|---|
| Columnar Storage | ||
| Massively Parallel | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| AQUA Acceleration | ||
| Data Sharing | ||
| Federated Query | ||
| Concurrency Scaling | ||
| S3 | ||
| Glue | ||
| QuickSight | ||
| SageMaker | ||
| Kinesis | ||
| Web support | ||
| Aws support | ||
| Serverless Architecture | ||
| Petabyte Scale | ||
| Real-time Analytics | ||
| Geospatial Analysis | ||
| Streaming Ingestion | ||
| Standard SQL | ||
| Looker | ||
| Data Studio | ||
| Dataflow | ||
| Pub/Sub | ||
| Vertex AI | ||
| Gcp support |
Amazon Redshift vs BigQuery: Pricing Breakdown
Amazon Redshift Pricing
Model: pay-as-you-go
- 750 DC2.Large hours
- 2 months free
- Full features
- Pay per node hour
- All features
- Standard support
BigQuery Pricing
Model: pay-as-you-go
- 1TB queries/month
- 10GB storage/month
- Standard support
- Pay per query
- Pay per storage
- All features
Pros and Cons
Amazon Redshift
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 14+ capabilities
- Strong Columnar Storage functionality
- Strong Massively Parallel functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
BigQuery
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.5/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 14+ capabilities
- Strong Serverless Architecture functionality
- Strong Petabyte Scale functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Amazon Redshift vs BigQuery?
Choose Amazon Redshift if you:
- Need Columnar Storage
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Aws
- Value Massively Parallel
Choose BigQuery if you:
- Need Serverless Architecture
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Gcp
- Value Petabyte Scale
Frequently Asked Questions: Amazon Redshift vs BigQuery
Is Amazon Redshift better than BigQuery?
It depends on your needs. Amazon Redshift has a 4.4/5 user rating while BigQuery has 4.5/5. Amazon Redshift excels in Columnar Storage and Massively Parallel, while BigQuery stands out with Serverless Architecture and Petabyte Scale. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Redshift or BigQuery?
Amazon Redshift offers a free plan and starts at Free. BigQuery offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use Amazon Redshift and BigQuery together?
While both are database & data management tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core database & data management needs.
What are the main differences between Amazon Redshift and BigQuery?
The key differences include: pricing model (pay-as-you-go vs pay-as-you-go), platform support (Web, Aws vs Web, Gcp), and feature focus. Amazon Redshift emphasizes Columnar Storage, Massively Parallel, Machine Learning while BigQuery focuses on Serverless Architecture, Petabyte Scale, Real-time Analytics. User ratings differ slightly: 4.4 vs 4.5 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Amazon Redshift and BigQuery.