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# Cloudera vs Confluent Comparison - What are their main differences?

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ClouderaConfluent[+ Add Product](#)

Pricing

**Cloudera**
 **$0.25** 1 CCU (Hourly rate) · AI Inference

**Confluent**
Free Trial

No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Cloudera**
4 months

Based on 6 responses

**Confluent**
3 monthsFaster

Based on 5 responses

Return on Investment

**Cloudera**
13 months

Based on 5 responses

**Confluent**
12 months1 month sooner

Based on 6 responses

Perceived Cost

**Cloudera**
$$$$$

**Confluent**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Cloudera**
Not enough reviews yet

**Confluent**
9%

**Pros & Cons**
from reviews

**Cloudera**
[
Ease of Use (22)
](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudera/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2499953&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Scalability (17)
](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudera/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2500042&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Expensive (16)
](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudera/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2500036&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Complexity (7)
](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudera/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2499993&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**Confluent**
[
Cloud Computing (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2311123&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Cloud Services (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2311173&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Cost Estimation (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2311235&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Expensive (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2311185&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**Cloudera**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/amazon-athena.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon Athena

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-athena/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_3a7a925cc43d97814fa81ec2d6c06f45/amazon-rds-on-outposts.jpeg "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon RDS on Outposts

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-rds-on-outposts/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/amazon-redshift.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon Redshift

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-redshift/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_dafae3284768553dd5e97aedca33b5cf/amdocs.png "Product Avatar Image")

Amdocs

](https://www.g2.com/products/amdocs/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudera/integrations)

**Confluent**
Not enough data

Screenshots

**Cloudera**
No screenshot available

**Confluent**
 ![Confluent screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/201434/Screen-Shot-2022-02-15-at-2.54.15-PM.png)

**Ratings**
from reviews

Meets Requirements

**Cloudera**

8.7

8.7130

**Confluent**

8.8

8.888

Ease of Use

**Cloudera**

8.4

8.4183

**Confluent**

8.2

8.2102

Ease of Setup

**Cloudera**

8.2

8.2122

**Confluent**

7.9

7.951

Ease of Admin

**Cloudera**

8.0

8.067

**Confluent**

8.1

8.139

Quality of Support

**Cloudera**

8.2

8.2121

**Confluent**

8.3

8.382

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Cloudera**

8.5

8.564

**Confluent**

8.5

8.536

Product Direction (% positive)

**Cloudera**

8.5

8.5128

**Confluent**

9.0

9.089

**Features**
ratings from reviews

Big Data Processing and Distribution

8.7

46

8.3

27

Big Data Analytics

8.5

16

8.3

26

Analytics Platforms

6.7

62

Not enough data

Event Stream Processing

Not enough data

8.7

76

Machine Learning Data Catalog

8.9

11

Not enough data

Data Fabric

7.3

7

Not enough data

Data Warehouse

8.9

30

Not enough data

Relational Databases

8.8

20

Not enough data

Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms

9.5

29

Not enough data

Big Data

7.8

48

Not enough data

User Insights

**Reviewers' Company Size**

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
33.2%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
27.4%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
39.4%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
33.2%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
27.4%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
39.4%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
32.8%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
32.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
35.2%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
32.8%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
32.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
35.2%

**Reviewers' Industry**

[![Cloudera](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/dcfb9e6879febb34cef773ddde921835/cloudera.svg "Cloudera")](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudera/reviews)
Cloudera

Information Technology and Services
20.9%

Banking
12.8%

Computer Software
12.8%

Financial Services
6.6%

Consulting
4.1%

Other
42.9%

[![Confluent](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_b087379a1153e7d513f37c83481c8ced/confluent.png "Confluent")](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews)
Confluent

Computer Software
22.1%

Information Technology and Services
15.6%

Financial Services
13.1%

Banking
7.4%

Retail
4.9%

Other
36.9%

FAQs

## Cloudera vs Confluent FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between Cloudera vs Confluent?

Cloudera and Confluent differ most clearly in their core strengths, with Cloudera excelling in scalability and Confluent in ease of use and integration for real-time streaming.

| [Cloudera](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudera/reviews) | [Confluent](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.1/5 (136 reviews) | 4.4/5 (114 reviews) |
| Enterprise | Enterprise |
| 8.1 | 8.2 |
| 8.0 | 8.3 |
| Scalability (17 all-time mentions) | Ease of Use (recent reviews) |

### How do the pricing models of Cloudera and Confluent compare?

Confluent is rated higher for price satisfaction, indicating reviewers consider it the stronger value compared to Cloudera.

- **Cloudera:** In recent reviews, many cite Cloudera as expensive, with 16 all-time mentions of high cost and concerns about licensing and operational expenses.
- **Confluent:** Reviewers note that while Confluent's pricing can increase with data volume, they are generally more satisfied with its value, as reflected in its higher price satisfaction score.

### What are the best alternatives to Cloudera and Confluent?

The top three alternatives to Cloudera and Confluent are Databricks, Snowflake, and Lenses.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Cloudera](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudera/reviews) | 4.1/5 (136) | Enterprise | Expensive, high operational cost | Scalability (17 all-time mentions) |
| [Confluent](https://www.g2.com/products/confluent/reviews) | 4.4/5 (114) | Enterprise | Pricing increases with data volume, but higher satisfaction | Ease of Use (recent reviews) |
| [Databricks](https://www.g2.com/products/databricks/reviews) | 4.6/5 (1366) | Enterprise | — | — |
| [Snowflake](https://www.g2.com/products/snowflake/reviews) | 4.5/5 (763) | Mid-Market | — | — |
| [Lenses](https://www.g2.com/products/lenses/reviews) | 4.2/5 (17) | — | — | — |

### Which Big Data Processing and Distribution features should I prioritize when comparing Cloudera and Confluent?

Buyers should prioritize scalability, integration capabilities, ease of use, security, and automation when comparing Cloudera and Confluent.

- **Scalability:** Cloudera (17 all-time mentions), Confluent (recent reviews highlight scalability and reliability)
- **Integration Capabilities:** Cloudera (6 all-time mentions of easy integrations, Spark integration 16 all-time mentions), Confluent (recent reviews highlight connectors and integration features)
- **Ease of Use:** Cloudera (22 all-time mentions), Confluent (recent reviews, 8.4 Ease of Use score)
- **Security:** Cloudera (9 all-time mentions), Confluent (recent reviews mention enterprise security features)
- **Automation:** Cloudera (6 all-time mentions), Confluent (recent reviews cite automation and managed services)

### What are the pros and cons of Cloudera vs Confluent?

Cloudera's headline strength is scalability, while Confluent's is ease of use and integration for real-time streaming.

- **Cloudera strengths:** Scalability (17 all-time mentions), security (9 all-time mentions), robust data management and analytics, automation (6 all-time mentions), and easy integrations (6 all-time mentions).
- **Cloudera trade-offs:** Expensive (16 all-time mentions), complexity (7 all-time mentions), difficult learning curve (5 all-time mentions), and documentation quality (4 all-time mentions).
- **Confluent strengths:** Ease of use (recent reviews), integration capabilities (recent reviews), real-time streaming, and reliability.
- **Confluent trade-offs:** Pricing increases with data volume, learning curve for new users, and some reviewers cite limited features or documentation gaps.

### Is Cloudera or Confluent better for small businesses?

Neither Cloudera nor Confluent is primarily focused on small businesses, but Confluent's ease of use and managed services are more frequently cited as beneficial for lean teams.

- **Cloudera:** Largest segment is Enterprise; reviewers note complexity and higher cost as barriers for smaller organizations.
- **Confluent:** Largest segment is Enterprise; recent reviews highlight ease of setup and reduced operational burden, which can appeal to smaller teams with limited resources.

### Which Big Data Processing and Distribution platform has better integrations?

Cloudera and Confluent are both recognized for strong integration capabilities, with Cloudera having more reviewer-cited integration mentions.

- **Cloudera:** Spark integration (16 all-time mentions), Impala (7 all-time mentions), and multiple recent reviews highlight easy integrations.
- **Confluent:** Recent reviews highlight connectors, integration with Apache Kafka, and managed cloud integrations.

### How do Cloudera and Confluent compare on customer support?

Confluent scores higher on Quality of Support (8.3 vs. 8.0), but the difference is below the materiality threshold, indicating near-parity in support experiences.

- **Cloudera:** Reviewers mention customer support as a strength (6 all-time mentions), with some citing helpfulness during integration and issue resolution.
- **Confluent:** Recent reviews highlight responsive support, knowledgeable teams, and positive experiences with technical assistance.

### Which is easier to implement, Cloudera or Confluent?

Confluent and Cloudera score within 0.1 points on Ease of Setup (8.2 vs. 8.1), indicating parity in implementation difficulty.

- **Cloudera:** Reviewers describe setup as straightforward for experienced teams but note complexity and a learning curve for new users.
- **Confluent:** Recent reviews highlight quick setup, minimal infrastructure management, and ease of provisioning clusters, especially for teams familiar with Kafka.

### Which product has better Integration?

Cloudera is more frequently cited for integration, with higher all-time mention counts for key integrations.

- **Cloudera:** Integration is cited in 6 all-time mentions, with Spark integration (16 all-time mentions) and Impala (7 all-time mentions) highlighted by reviewers.
- **Confluent:** Recent reviews highlight connectors and integration with Apache Kafka, but no all-time mention counts exceed the publish floor.

Alternatives

**Cloudera 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)

 ![Teradata Autonomous Knowledge Platform](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/18effe7340087cf76270e479644d3e42/teradata-autonomous-knowledge-platform.svg "Teradata Autonomous Knowledge Platform")

[
Teradata Autonomous Knowledge Platform
](/products/teradata-autonomous-knowledge-platform/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)

**Confluent Alternatives**

 ![Lenses](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/00711a899e586e752321ee33312a1509/lenses.svg "Lenses")

[
Lenses
](/products/lenses/reviews)

 ![Apache Kafka](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_809aa88d3571ee805a47d8fb156ba412/apache-kafka.jpg "Apache Kafka")

[
Apache Kafka
](/products/apache-kafka/reviews)

 ![Amazon Kinesis Data Streams](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/5383be31b099738701f86724a8b5cf9a/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams.svg "Amazon Kinesis Data Streams")

[
Amazon Kinesis Data Streams
](/products/aws-amazon-kinesis-data-streams/reviews)

 ![Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/5383be31b099738701f86724a8b5cf9a/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk.svg "Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)")

[
Amazon Managed Streaming...
](/products/amazon-managed-streaming-for-apache-kafka-amazon-msk/reviews)