Apache Spark vs Ververica Platform

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.

Ververica Platform combines stream and batch processing in one runtime for enterprise production workloads. Built by the original creators of Apache Flink, it is described as fully compatible with Flink APIs, SQL, and connectors, allowing existing Flink jobs to run without code changes. Materialized tables maintain themselves; listed operational features include auto-scaling, auto-recovery, and upgrades without downtime. Deployment choices include managed cloud, BYOC in AWS, Azure, or GCP, and self-managed Kubernetes, on-premises, or air-gapped infrastructure. Its integrations catalog describes more than 100 pre-built connectors for databases, message queues, data lakes, cloud services, and REST APIs. Connector features include exactly-once delivery and event-time watermark strategies. The platform lists SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certification and multi-tenant role-based access control. Managed cloud lists AES-256 encryption at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit, GDPR compliance, and HIPAA eligibility. Community Edition is free; a free license may be required and its terms may restrict use. Pricing is on request for other options; managed-service use is subject to documented limits.