Apache Spark vs Keboola
Apache Spark
spark.apache.org
Keboola
keboola.comSide by side
| Figure | Apache Spark | Keboola |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $0.14/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · ETL Software | 8.3 (#10) | 7.9 (#14) |
| Deployment | Spark documents standalone, Hadoop YARN, and Kubernetes deployment options. | Keboola says its platform runs across AWS, Azure and GCP, and enterprise customers can select a provider or region or host it in a private cloud. |
| Integrations | The listed ecosystem includes pandas, TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, Apache Kafka, Kubernetes, Delta Lake, and Apache Iceberg. | Keboola's integrations page lists 1,601 connectors and highlights Shopify, Salesforce, HubSpot, Snowflake, PostgreSQL, Google Analytics, Stripe and BigQuery. |
| Security | Security features such as authentication are not enabled by default, and the documentation says deployments are not secure by default. | Keboola states that it uses AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS 1.2+ in transit, and lists SOC 2 Type II, GDPR and HIPAA compliance capabilities. |
| Support | The project directs users to mailing lists and community resources for help. | The pricing page says a team of data experts can help set up a first project and navigate the platform, and offers support through the in-project dialog, site chat or contact form. |
Plans
In their own words
Apache Spark
Apache Spark is a free, open-source engine for large-scale data analytics. It processes batches and real-time streams using Python, SQL, Scala, Java, or R. Spark SQL runs distributed ANSI SQL queries on structured tables and unstructured data such as JSON or images; MLlib provides machine-learning algorithms for local use or cluster scale. The project also describes exploratory analysis on petabyte-scale data without downsampling. Listed ecosystem components include pandas, TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, Apache Kafka, Kubernetes, Delta Lake, and Apache Iceberg. Deployment options include standalone, Hadoop YARN, and Kubernetes. Spark runs on Windows and UNIX-like systems, including Linux and macOS, when a supported Java version is available. The 4.2.0 documentation lists Java 17, 21, or 25, Scala 2.13, Python 3.10+, and R 4.0+ (deprecated). Spark Connect separates client applications from clusters for remote access. Security is not enabled by default; Spark supports TLS for RPC connections and encryption of temporary local-disk data. The project is licensed under Apache License, Version 2.0.
Keboola
Keboola is a unified AI and data platform for creating and orchestrating pipelines and operating analytics and integrations. Managed connectors bring in data, while its orchestration engine supports conditional flows, monitoring, alerts, scheduling, and triggers. Transformations can use SQL, Python, or R, though free projects are limited to Snowflake SQL and Python. Keboola lists 1,601 connectors, including Shopify, Salesforce, HubSpot, Snowflake, PostgreSQL, Google Analytics, Stripe, and BigQuery. Users can work through the web platform, REST API, CLI, or MCP server; Keboola says AI agents and assistants can operate the platform through MCP. Governance capabilities include a Data Catalog, sharing, metadata and lineage, access controls, activity monitoring, and logging. The platform runs across AWS, Azure, and GCP; enterprise customers can select a provider or region or use private cloud. Keboola states it uses AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS 1.2+ in transit, and lists SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, and HIPAA compliance capabilities. The Free plan costs nothing and includes 120 compute minutes in the first month, then 60 minutes monthly; extra compute costs $0.14 per minute.