Best Databricks Notebooks Alternatives in 2026
The top Databricks Notebooks alternatives are Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, Dremio and Starburst Data Platform: 15 data lakehouse platforms our editors would look at instead of Databricks Notebooks, in our ranking order.
Databricks Notebooks: A capable free notebook workspace for collaborative lakehouse analysis and engineering. Where it falls short: notebook-centered rather than a complete standalone lakehouse platform.
Switching from Databricks Notebooks? For most data lakehouse platforms buyers the best Databricks Notebooks alternative is Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, built for broad enterprise lakehouse and AI workloads. On a budget, IBM watsonx.data starts at $83.30/mo.
Why People Look for a Databricks Notebooks Alternative
- Notebook-centered rather than a complete standalone lakehouse platform
- Usage-based paid plans vary by cloud provider and region
- Notebook capability is part of the broader Databricks platform
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallDatabricks Data Intelligence Platform9.4
Broad enterprise lakehouse and AI workloads
Visit Databricks Data Intelligence Platform - Lowest priceIBM watsonx.data8.2
Paid plans from $83.30/mo
Visit IBM watsonx.data - Best free optionDatabricks Data Intelligence Platform9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Databricks Data Intelligence Platform
All 15 Databricks Notebooks Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forBroad enterprise lakehouse and AI workloads
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 6.6
A broad lakehouse platform for engineering, analytics, streaming, machine learning, and AI.
- ACID transactions
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Databricks -
Best forFederated SQL across diverse data estates
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 6.6
A flexible lakehouse for querying diverse data estates across cloud and self-hosted environments.
- ACID transactions
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Dremio -
Best forTrino-based lakehouse and federated analytics
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 6.6
A broad Trino-based lakehouse for federated SQL, ingestion, and governed analytics.
- ACID transactions
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Starburst -
Best forManaged federated SQL with enterprise identity controls
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 6.6
A managed Trino-based lakehouse platform for federated SQL and governed analytics.
- ACID transactions
8.8/10★★★★☆Try Starburst Galaxy -
Best forOpen-source streaming and CDC lakehouses
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 6.6
A strong self-hosted choice for streaming, CDC, and mutable lakehouse tables.
- ACID transactions
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Apache Hudi -
Best forManaged Iceberg on Google Cloud
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 6.6
A managed Iceberg lakehouse for Google Cloud teams using BigQuery and open engines.
- ACID transactions
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Google Cloud -
Best forHybrid enterprise Iceberg deployments
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 6.6
A broad Iceberg lakehouse for hybrid enterprises that need governance, SQL, streaming, and ML.
- ACID transactions
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Cloudera -
Best forOpen-format lakehouse optimization and CDC
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 6.6
A flexible open-format lakehouse for teams combining Spark, SQL, streaming, and CDC.
- ACID transactions
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Onehouse Cloud -
Best forHybrid lakehouse teams needing broad catalog support
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 6.6
A broad hybrid lakehouse for teams working across open catalogs, clouds and deployments.
- ACID transactions
8.2/10★★★★☆Try IBM watsonx.data -
Best forGoverned multi-catalog Iceberg environments
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 6.6
A governed, open-source lakehouse foundation for multi-catalog Iceberg environments.
- ACID transactions
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Datastrato -
Best forAWS users unifying S3 and Redshift
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 6.6
A governed AWS lakehouse connecting S3, Redshift, open table formats, and analytics engines.
- ACID transactions
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit AWS -
Best forLow-cost Spark and Iceberg platform users
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.6
A low-cost Spark and Iceberg option with broad governance, streaming, and BI connectivity.
- ACID transactions
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit IOMETE -
Best forNotebook-centric Microsoft Fabric teams
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 6.6
A notebook-centered Fabric workspace for Spark workflows, lakehouse access, and ML operations.
- ACID transactions
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forTeams building versioned Python and SQL pipelines
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 6.6
A focused lakehouse for teams that want Git-style control over Python and SQL pipelines.
- ACID transactions
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Bauplan -
Best forEnterprise ingestion and Iceberg replication
- Better than Databricks Notebooks:
- Editor score 7.6 vs 6.6
A broad enterprise lakehouse option for ingestion, Iceberg operations, and governance.
- ACID transactions
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Qlik
Databricks Notebooks Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Databricks Notebooks?
Databricks Data Intelligence Platform: #1 in our Data Lakehouse Platforms ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad lakehouse platform for engineering, analytics, streaming, machine learning, and AI.
Is there a free alternative to Databricks Notebooks?
Yes. Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, Dremio, Starburst Data Platform, Starburst Galaxy and Apache Hudi have a free plan or a free tier (8 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Databricks Notebooks?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, IBM watsonx.data starts lowest, at $83.30/mo.
Why do people look for Databricks Notebooks alternatives?
Notebook-centered rather than a complete standalone lakehouse platform; Usage-based paid plans vary by cloud provider and region; Notebook capability is part of the broader Databricks platform.
How do I switch from Databricks Notebooks?
Export your data from Databricks Notebooks (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Databricks Notebooks.
How to Switch from Databricks Notebooks
- Export your data from Databricks Notebooks (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Databricks Notebooks.
Databricks Notebooks vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Storage model | SQL analytics | ACID transactions | Table format support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Databricks Notebooks | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | Both | 6.6 | |
| 1 | Databricks Data Intelligence Platform | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | Both | 9.4 | |
| 2 | Dremio | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | Open | 9.1 | |
| 3 | Starburst Data Platform | Yes | $0.50/unit usage-based | Both | Yes | Yes | Both | 8.9 |
| 4 | Starburst Galaxy | Yes | $0.50/unit usage-based | Both | Yes | Yes | Open | 8.8 |
| 5 | Apache Hudi | Free | External | Yes | Yes | Both | 8.6 | |
| 6 | Google Cloud Lakehouse for Apache Iceberg | No | Both | Yes | Yes | Both | 8.5 | |
| 7 | Cloudera Open Data Lakehouse | No | $0.05/unit usage-based | Both | Yes | Yes | Open | 8.4 |
| 8 | Onehouse Cloud | Both | Yes | Yes | Both | 8.3 | ||
| 9 | IBM watsonx.data | No | $83.30/mo | Both | Yes | Yes | Open | 8.2 |
| 10 | Datastrato Iceberg Lakehouse Platform | External | Yes | Yes | Open | 8.1 | ||
| 11 | Amazon SageMaker Lakehouse | No | Both | Yes | Yes | Open | 8.0 | |
| 12 | IOMETE | Yes | $500/unit/yr | External | Yes | Yes | Open | 7.9 |
| 13 | Microsoft Fabric Notebooks | Yes | Both | Yes | Yes | Open | 7.8 | |
| 14 | Bauplan | Yes | $700/mo | External | Yes | Yes | Open | 7.7 |
| 15 | Qlik Open Lakehouse | No | External | Yes | Yes | Open | 7.6 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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