Google BigQuery vs Greenplum Database
Google BigQuery
cloud.google.comGreenplum Database
greenplum.orgSide by side
| Figure | Google BigQuery | Greenplum Database |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 2 |
| Spec score · Analytical Data Store Software | 5.6 (#25) | 8.1 (#10) |
| Spec score · Analytics Databases | 5.6 (#28) | 8.2 (#12) |
| Spec score · Data Warehouse Software | 5.6 (#24) | 8.1 (#7) |
| Spec score · OLAP Databases | 5.5 (#28) | 8.1 (#11) |
| Spec score · OLAP Software | 5.6 (#30) | 8.1 (#14) |
| Spec score · Analytics Data | 5.6 (#29) | 8.2 (#11) |
Plans
Greenplum Database
- Greenplum Database (open source)Free
- VMware Tanzu GreenplumPriced on request
In their own words
Google BigQuery
Google BigQuery has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Greenplum Database
Greenplum Database is a PostgreSQL-based, open-source data warehouse for analytics, machine learning, and AI. Its architecture spreads data and query work across a cluster: a coordinator divides queries among segment servers. The project describes it for large analytical warehouses and business intelligence, including petabyte-scale data. Query planning can use GPORCA alongside the PostgreSQL-based planner. Storage options include append-optimized row and column formats, with compression for column storage. PXF connectors connect to Hadoop, object stores including Azure, Google Cloud Storage, MinIO, and S3, and SQL databases through JDBC. External tables can be queried or used to load outside data; PXF also supports querying Apache Iceberg foreign tables. Clients can connect through psql, ODBC, or JDBC. Greenplum is available as a free open-source project under Apache 2, while the commercial VMware Tanzu Greenplum offering is priced on request. It supports on-premises deployment and data lakes. Documented access control covers object privileges; row-level and column-level access controls are not supported.