Databricks vs SAS Viya
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Databricks starts at See pricing page and SAS Viya starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Genie natural-language analytics
- Databricks Assistant
- Notebooks and SQL warehouse
- Unity Catalog
- Agent Bricks
- Data management
- Visual machine learning
- Visual Analytics reporting
- Forecasting and optimization
- Model deployment and governance
- SAS, Python and R support
| Feature | Databricks | SAS Viya |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Data and AI platform with Genie for natural-language analytics | Cloud-native SAS platform for analytics, machine learning and AI |
| Category | Data & analytics | Data & analytics |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Starting price | See pricing page | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | No, trial available |
| Made by | Databricks | SAS Institute |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Databricks starts at See pricing page and SAS Viya starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Community Edition
Free
- Free, limited platform
- For learning Spark
Pay as you go
Per DBU, varies by product
- Usage-based billing
- Free trial available
Committed Use
Contact sales
- Discounts for committed spend
- Invoice or annual billing
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Databricks
- One platform for data and AI
- Strong governance
- Scales to huge workloads
- Usage costs can surprise teams
- Complex for small companies
SAS Viya
- Mature, broad analytics toolset
- Strong model governance for regulated sectors
- Both visual and code-based workflows
- Quote-based and costly
- Heavy platform for small teams
- Steep learning curve
Which one should you choose?
Choose Databricks if you want:
- One platform for data and AI
- Strong governance
- Scales to huge workloads
Watch out: usage costs can surprise teams.
Choose SAS Viya if you want:
- Mature, broad analytics toolset
- Strong model governance for regulated sectors
- Both visual and code-based workflows
Watch out: quote-based and costly.
Databricks vs SAS Viya FAQ
What is the difference between Databricks and SAS Viya?
Databricks: Data and AI platform with Genie for natural-language analytics. SAS Viya: Cloud-native SAS platform for analytics, machine learning and AI. Both are data & analytics tools.
Is Databricks or SAS Viya cheaper?
Databricks starts at See pricing page and SAS Viya starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Databricks and SAS Viya have free plans?
Databricks: Yes. SAS Viya: No, trial available.
Who makes Databricks?
Databricks is made by Databricks, based in United States.
Who makes SAS Viya?
SAS Viya is made by SAS Institute, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Databricks or SAS Viya?
Choose Databricks if you value one platform for data and ai and strong governance. Choose SAS Viya if you value mature, broad analytics toolset and strong model governance for regulated sectors.