Link copied to clipboard # Amazon EMR vs Apache Ambari Comparison - What are their main differences? Share [ Export ](/compare/amazon-emr/apache-ambari/export.csv) Amazon EMRApache Ambari[+ Add Product](#) Reviews **Amazon EMR** [ 4.2/5(70) ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-emr/reviews#reviews) **Apache Ambari** [ 4.1/5(23) ](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-ambari/reviews#reviews) Pricing **Amazon EMR** No pricing available **Apache Ambari** No pricing available **Pricing Insights** from reviews Time to Implement **Amazon EMR** 2 months Based on 6 responses **Apache Ambari** Not enough reviews yet Return on Investment **Amazon EMR** 15 months Based on 5 responses **Apache Ambari** Not enough reviews yet Perceived Cost **Amazon EMR** $$$$$ **Apache Ambari** $$$$$ Average Discount **Amazon EMR** Not enough reviews yet **Apache Ambari** Not enough reviews yet Pros & Cons **Amazon EMR** [ Data Integration (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-emr/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1956769&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Ease of Use (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-emr/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2453089&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Performance Issues (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-emr/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2453094&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Poor Performance (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-emr/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1956776&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) **Apache Ambari** Not enough data Integrations **Amazon EMR** [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/amazon-cloudwatch.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Amazon CloudWatch ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-cloudwatch/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_cacdec8b8edeace9b3c89e0c2cded695/amazon-s3-glacier.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Amazon S3 Glacier ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-s3-glacier/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/amazon-simple-email-service-amazon-ses.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Amazon ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-simple-email-service-amazon-ses/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/aws-glue.jpg "Product Avatar Image") AWS Glue ](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-glue/reviews)[ View all ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-emr/integrations) **Apache Ambari** Not enough data Ratings Meets Requirements **Amazon EMR** 8.7 8.755 **Apache Ambari** 8.1 8.117 Ease of Use **Amazon EMR** 8.3 8.354 **Apache Ambari** 8.7 8.717 Ease of Setup **Amazon EMR** 8.6 8.627 **Apache Ambari** 8.0 8.010 Ease of Admin **Amazon EMR** 8.6 8.622 **Apache Ambari** 8.7 8.710 Quality of Support **Amazon EMR** 8.3 8.353 **Apache Ambari** 7.1 7.116 Has the product been a good partner in doing business? **Amazon EMR** 8.9 8.922 **Apache Ambari** 8.7 8.710 Product Direction (% positive) **Amazon EMR** 8.1 8.148 **Apache Ambari** 7.5 7.514 Features Big Data Processing and Distribution[Hide 10 FeaturesShow 10 Features](javascript:void(0);) 8.8 43 8.0 13 Database Real-Time Data Collection 8.2(won by 0.6) 28 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors) 7.6 9 Data Distribution 8.7(won by 0.9) 34 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors) 7.8 10 Data Lake 8.5(won by 1.3) 9 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors) 7.2 10 Integrations Hadoop Integration 9.0(won by 0.4) 34 8.6 12 Spark Integration 9.0(won by 1.0) 34 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors) 8.0 10 Platform Machine Scaling 8.7(won by 0.4) 28 8.3 8 Data Preparation 8.8(won by 0.2) 34 8.6 7 Spark Integration 9.0(won by 1.0) 34 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors) 8.0 10 Processing Cloud Processing 9.1(won by 1.0) 33 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors) 8.1 8 Workload Processing 8.7(won by 0.8) 33 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors) 7.9 8 Show 1 feature category with incomplete data Big Data[Hide 17 FeaturesShow 17 Features](javascript:void(0);) Not enough data Not enough data Building Reports Data Transformation Not enough data Not enough data Data Modeling Not enough data Not enough data WYSIWYG Report Design Not enough data Not enough data Integration APIs Not enough data Not enough data Real-Time Data Not enough data Not enough data Real-Time Data Not enough data Not enough data Third-Party Integrations Not enough data Not enough data Third-Party Integrations Not enough data Not enough data Platform Mobile User Support Not enough data Not enough data Customization Not enough data Not enough data User, Role, and Access Management Not enough data Not enough data Internationalization Not enough data Not enough data Sandbox / Test Environments Not enough data Not enough data Performance and Reliability Not enough data Not enough data Breadth of Partner Applications Not enough data Not enough data Mobile Access Not enough data Not enough data Metadata Management Not enough data Not enough data User Insights Reviewers' Company Size [![Amazon EMR](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1528476487/amazon-emr.svg "Amazon EMR")](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-emr/reviews) Amazon EMR Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 21.0% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 21.0% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 58.1% [![Apache Ambari](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_b1715b5723ca979cc096358331ad82df/apache-ambari.png "Apache Ambari")](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-ambari/reviews) Apache Ambari Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 19.0% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 9.5% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 71.4% Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 21.0% 19.0% Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 21.0% 9.5% Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 58.1% 71.4% Reviewers' Industry [![Amazon EMR](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1528476487/amazon-emr.svg "Amazon EMR")](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-emr/reviews) Amazon EMR Financial Services 23.0% Computer Software 21.3% Information Technology and Services 14.8% Retail 4.9% Biotechnology 3.3% Other 32.8% [![Apache Ambari](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_b1715b5723ca979cc096358331ad82df/apache-ambari.png "Apache Ambari")](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-ambari/reviews) Apache Ambari Telecommunications 19.0% Computer Software 14.3% Banking 14.3% Retail 9.5% Marketing and Advertising 9.5% Other 33.3% FAQs ## Amazon EMR vs Apache Ambari FAQs Generated using AI Last updated: August 15, 2026 ### What is the difference between Amazon EMR vs Apache Ambari? Amazon EMR stands out for its higher G2 rating, stronger support, and ease of setup compared to Apache Ambari, which is favored for its admin experience. | [Amazon EMR](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-emr/reviews) | [Apache Ambari](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-ambari/reviews) | | --- | --- | | 4.2/5 (70 reviews) | 4.1/5 (23 reviews) | | Enterprise | Enterprise | | 8.6 | 8.0 | | 8.3 | 7.1 | | Data Integration | — | ### How do the pricing models of Amazon EMR and Apache Ambari compare? Amazon EMR is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing compared to Apache Ambari. - **Amazon EMR:** Reviewers highlight cost savings through pay-as-you-go usage, auto-termination, and the ability to save up to 90% using Spot Instances. - **Apache Ambari:** Reviewers note that Ambari is free and open-source, making it attractive for those seeking a no-cost Hadoop stack installation, but mention limited features and monitoring capabilities. ### What are the best alternatives to Amazon EMR and Apache Ambari? The top three alternatives to Amazon EMR and Apache Ambari are Databricks, Snowflake, and Qubole. | Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Amazon EMR](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-emr/reviews) | 4.2/5 (70 reviews) | Enterprise | Reviewers highlight cost savings with pay-as-you-go and Spot Instances | Data Integration | | [Apache Ambari](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-ambari/reviews) | 4.1/5 (23 reviews) | Enterprise | Free and open-source, but limited features | Ease of Admin | | [Databricks](https://www.g2.com/products/databricks/reviews) | 4.6/5 (1366 reviews) | Enterprise | — | — | | [Snowflake](https://www.g2.com/products/snowflake/reviews) | 4.5/5 (763 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | — | | [Qubole](https://www.g2.com/products/qubole/reviews) | 4.0/5 (259 reviews) | Enterprise | — | — | ### Which Big Data Processing and Distribution features should I prioritize when comparing Amazon EMR and Apache Ambari? Buyers should prioritize Ease of Setup, Quality of Support, Ease of Admin, Data Integration, and Cost Efficiency when comparing Amazon EMR and Apache Ambari. - **Ease of Setup:** Amazon EMR scores 8.6, Apache Ambari 8.0. - **Quality of Support:** Amazon EMR scores 8.3, Apache Ambari 7.1. - **Ease of Admin:** Amazon EMR scores 8.6, Apache Ambari 8.7. - **Data Integration:** Amazon EMR is cited for data integration in recent reviews (1 all-time mention); no comparable mention for Apache Ambari. - **Cost Efficiency:** Amazon EMR is frequently praised for cost savings and flexible pricing in recent reviews; Apache Ambari is noted as free and open-source but with limited features. ### What are the pros and cons of Amazon EMR vs Apache Ambari? Amazon EMR's headline strength is data integration and cost efficiency, while Apache Ambari is favored for ease of administration. - **Amazon EMR strengths:** Data integration (1 all-time mention), ease of use (1 all-time mention), large dataset processing (1 all-time mention), cost savings with pay-as-you-go and Spot Instances, strong integration with AWS ecosystem. - **Amazon EMR trade-offs:** Reviewers note performance issues (1 all-time mention), complexity in cluster configuration, and the need for technical expertise for optimization. - **Apache Ambari strengths:** Ease of administration (8.7 score), intuitive and customizable UI, simplifies Hadoop cluster management, praised for making configuration changes and monitoring easier. - **Apache Ambari trade-offs:** Limited features compared to commercial solutions, less robust monitoring, and lower support satisfaction (7.1 score). ### Is Amazon EMR or Apache Ambari better for small businesses? Neither Amazon EMR nor Apache Ambari is primarily targeted at small businesses, as both have Enterprise as their largest reviewer segment. - **Amazon EMR:** Largest segment is Enterprise; reviewers highlight ease of use and integration with AWS, but note a learning curve and cost management challenges for smaller teams. - **Apache Ambari:** Largest segment is Enterprise; reviewers appreciate its free, open-source nature and ease of administration, but mention limited features and monitoring for smaller deployments. ### Which Big Data Processing and Distribution platform has better integrations? Amazon EMR is favored for integrations, with reviewers citing its strong connections to AWS services and third-party tools. - **Amazon EMR:** Reviewers mention integration with S3, Airflow, Glue, CloudWatch, and Slack in recent reviews. - **Apache Ambari:** Reviewers mention integration with Airflow and Ranger in recent reviews, but with fewer cited integrations overall. ### How do Amazon EMR and Apache Ambari compare on customer support? Amazon EMR scores higher on Quality of Support (8.3 vs 7.1), indicating stronger reviewer satisfaction with support compared to Apache Ambari. - **Amazon EMR:** Reviewers describe support as straightforward and responsive, with onboarding and troubleshooting assistance, though some note challenges with debugging and support ticket resolution. - **Apache Ambari:** Reviewers report mixed experiences, with some praising the support for setup and maintenance, but others noting limited support resources and slower response times. ### Which is easier to implement, Amazon EMR or Apache Ambari? Amazon EMR is rated higher for Ease of Setup (8.6 vs 8.0), indicating it is easier to implement than Apache Ambari. - **Amazon EMR:** Reviewers consistently highlight quick cluster setup, user-friendly UI, and straightforward onboarding, though some mention a learning curve for advanced configurations. - **Apache Ambari:** Reviewers note that setup is generally easy and intuitive, especially for Hadoop administration, but mention occasional challenges with package installation and agent configuration. Alternatives **Amazon EMR Alternatives** ![Databricks](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/135d1c9e39e19ef56dc8d0bf90fce20f/databricks.svg "Databricks") [ Databricks ](/products/databricks/reviews) ![Snowflake](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1544409170/snowflake.svg "Snowflake") [ Snowflake ](/products/snowflake/reviews) ![Qubole](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1542306394/qubole.svg "Qubole") [ Qubole ](/products/qubole/reviews) ![Google Cloud Managed Service for Apache Spark](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0c51d2c2e5f85fe45126eb818f748267/google-cloud-managed-service-for-apache-spark.png "Google Cloud Managed Service for Apache Spark") [ Google Cloud Managed Service for Apache Spark ](/products/google-cloud-managed-service-for-apache-spark/reviews) **Apache Ambari Alternatives** ![Databricks](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/135d1c9e39e19ef56dc8d0bf90fce20f/databricks.svg "Databricks") [ Databricks ](/products/databricks/reviews) ![Google Cloud Managed Service for Apache Spark](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0c51d2c2e5f85fe45126eb818f748267/google-cloud-managed-service-for-apache-spark.png "Google Cloud Managed Service for Apache Spark") [ Google Cloud Managed Service for Apache Spark ](/products/google-cloud-managed-service-for-apache-spark/reviews) ![Snowflake](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1544409170/snowflake.svg "Snowflake") [ Snowflake ](/products/snowflake/reviews) ![Google Cloud BigQuery](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/875b8a68eca98ce3458f26e9dd34cdf9/google-cloud-bigquery.svg "Google Cloud BigQuery") [ BigQuery ](/products/google-cloud-bigquery/reviews) ## Amazon EMR vs Apache Ambari When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found Apache Ambari easier to use and administer. However, reviewers preferred the ease of set up, and doing business with Amazon EMR overall. - Reviewers felt that Amazon EMR meets the needs of their business better than Apache Ambari. - When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Amazon EMR is the preferred option. - For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Amazon EMR over Apache Ambari.