---
title: Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight Reviews
meta_title: 'Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features
  | G2'
meta_description: Filter 13 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to
  find out how Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight works for a business like yours.
aggregate_rating:
  rating_value: 4.1
  review_count: 13
  scale: '5'
date_modified: '2026-07-12'
parent_category:
  name: Big Data
  url: https://www.g2.com/categories/big-data
---

# Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight Reviews
**Vendor:** Microsoft  
**Category:** [Big Data Processing And Distribution Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/big-data-processing-and-distribution)  
**Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0  
**Total Reviews:** 13
## About Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight
Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight is an open source processing framework that runs large-scale data analytics applications.




## Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight Reviews
  ### 1. Seamless Azure Integration with Effortless Spark Scaling on HDInsight

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** umar k. | Data Eng, Computer Software, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 12, 2026

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

The best part about using Spark on HDInsight is the seamless integration within the Azure ecosystem. It allows for effortless scaling of compute power to handle massive datasets. The managed nature of the service means I don't have to worry about the underlying infrastructure overhead, and the Jupyter Notebook integration makes iterative development and data exploration extremely efficient for our engineering team

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

One downside is the cluster spin-up time, which can feel slow when you need immediate compute for ad-hoc tasks. Additionally, while it is a robust managed service, the pricing can escalate quickly if clusters are not managed or scaled down properly during idle times. It also feels slightly less 'modern' compared to newer alternatives like Azure Databricks, particularly regarding UI and collaborative features

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

We use it primarily for heavy ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes and large-scale data processing that traditional SQL environments can't handle. It has significantly reduced our processing time for daily data pipelines. By leveraging its distributed computing capabilities, we can process terabytes of data in parallel, which directly helps our business stakeholders get insights much faster than before

  ### 2. Apache Spark review 

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Nitika K. | Applied Scientist II, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** June 30, 2021

  ### 3. Great for Big Data

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Amrita C. | Business Analyst, Information Technology and Services, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** January 31, 2019

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

Sparks fast computing capability allows for a more interactive experience. One of the other capabilities of Spark on HDInsight I love involves the Jupiter notebooks which allows for the extensive exploration of data using SQL, Python or Scala. This allows for quick querying and the running of machine learning algorithms.The cons for me using this software are that Spark MLIB covers basic machine learning such as regression or clustering however it doesn't have the capabilities for modeling and training data in natural networks. I also find it hard to run large volumes of data at one time. I wish there were a way to process large amounts of data without having to restart from scratch once it crashes. 

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

The cons for me using this software are that Spark MLIB covers basic machine learning such as regression or clustering however it doesn't have the capabilities for modeling and training data in natural networks. I also find it hard to run large volumes of data at one time. I wish there were a way to process large amounts of data without having to restart from scratch once it crashes. 

**Recommendations to others considering Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight:**

Would definitely use this for big data analysis and using basic models for machine learning specifically regression analysis, clustering and filtering. 

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Some use cases involve data modeling and training sets for predicting future customer purchases and other machine learning data modeling. 

  ### 4. How well Apache Spark can be efficient in the project 

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** November 22, 2019

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

Apache provides quick overview of data analytics and cluster computing using in memory processing. we use Resource management to create the HDinsight spark cluster. it is good for faster data analytics.

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

I wish there would be quick solution with one click less then 10 second processing window because all the customers are expecting for the faster result as you know Cloudera is working towards it.

**Recommendations to others considering Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight:**

It is good to use in order to understand the in-depth what runs inside.  

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

We mostly work on running the Data analytics, It is a good connecting point with the data.

  ### 5. Real time streaming processing.

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Rosa N. | Data Specialist, Financial Services, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 05, 2019

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

I like the dynamism nature of it by having ability to support multiple languages.

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

There is no file management system in the system and do needy for integration with other platforms.

**Recommendations to others considering Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight:**

Guarantees very large loads of data processing, performance is that incredible and promising.

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

provides fault tolerance by handling the failure of any worker node in the cluster. Thus, it ensures that the loss of data is reduced to zero.

  ### 6. Apache spark Revere

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in E-Learning | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** November 21, 2019

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

What is most helpful about Apache spark for azure hdinsight is the options it provides to make to do easy

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

8 times I feel like the their process was not user-friendly

**Recommendations to others considering Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight:**

Suggest doing your research

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Apaches work helped with my problems with the eds rhd insight by providing an easier way to collect data into get the information more from 4/5 Italy

  ### 7. Account Executive

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Software | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** November 25, 2019

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

I enjoy the environment that the data lives in. Its really clean and intuitive 

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

The way you input the data is easy enough for all users to do and be able to incorporate the data

**Recommendations to others considering Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight:**

Have a open mind integrating solution 

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

makes it easy to create and configure a spark cluster in Azure 

  ### 8. its amazing

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Luxury Goods & Jewelry | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** November 21, 2019

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

Its great i would highly recommend for all business needs

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

There is not anything that i can think of at this moment that i even dislike

**Recommendations to others considering Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight:**

Amazing

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

It has created a much simpler way to distribute information in a cluster computing framework

  ### 9. Spark on Azure

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Airlines/Aviation | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 25, 2018

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

Its very easy to implement and integrate the spark jobs on Azure HDInsight cluster and lot of options to load or store your data building spark data pipelines.

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

The configurations or creating links for various sources to load data.

**Recommendations to others considering Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight:**

To make use of the power of on demand cluster creation and completely/efficiently using the resources for your spark applications.

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

As part of our POC our entire application was deployed on Azure HDInsight and AWS to evaluate the ease of use and finally we went a head with Azure HDInsight due to its drag and drop functionality and easy approach to spin on demand HDInsight cluster.

  ### 10. Data streaming analysis

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Alessandro R. | Software Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** July 18, 2018

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

The most important thing about Apache Spark is that 10X faster than another data analysis platform as Hadoop. 

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

There is nothing in particular, expect how to deal with data object that requires a different approach as you build your data processing workflow.

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

It has allowed me to analyze streaming data and get fastly  my output.Especially when it comes to apply machine learning algorithms. 

  ### 11. Simple tool for spark implementation in cloud

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Pranamesh C. | Graduate Research Assistant, Civil Engineering, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** June 14, 2018

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

Simple tool, easy to install. Doesn't take too much to setup and start running codes.

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

The main disadvantage is the expenses incurred in running the programs in cloud.

**Recommendations to others considering Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight:**

Useful when you have sufficient free credits available for testing out cases before you decide to implement it.

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Handling multiple data sources and running big data queries.

  ### 12. Spark Feedback

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Education Management | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** June 12, 2018

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

Absolutely its in memory processing framework 

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

I dont see anything like that but varies if it fits all use cases

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Solving organizational data related problems like cleansing and processing the data

  ### 13. Pretty Good

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Banking | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** May 18, 2018

**What do you like best about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

I like how simple it is to understand the program with a bit of time and dedication to it.

**What do you dislike about Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight?**

Nothing whatsoever! I can't really complain.

**What problems is Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight solving and how is that benefiting you?**

I'm solving the problems of getting more organized with our data, which is also a benefit for us!


## Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight Discussions
  - [How do I use Apache Spark in Azure?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-use-apache-spark-in-azure)
  - [What is spark in Azure Databricks?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-spark-in-azure-databricks)
  - [Which three of the following are Apache technologies that are provided in Azure HDInsight?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/apache-spark-for-azure-hdinsight-which-three-of-the-following-are-apache-technologies-that-are-provided-in-azure-hdinsight)
  - [What is azure HDInsight spark?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-azure-hdinsight-spark)

- [View Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-spark-for-azure-hdinsight/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-07-13+21%3A07%3A26+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=f8e02806-4cd1-4f36-a5a7-a53ff76468a2&secure%5Btoken%5D=6c29a56d0c5e0125229aaed9bc44d5b4c644eeba2e538ece3b90ed2d5ee82364&format=llm_user)
## Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight Integrations
  - [Azure Data Factory](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-data-factory/reviews)

## Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight Features
**Database**
- Real-Time Data Collection
- Data Distribution
- Data Lake

**Integrations**
- Hadoop Integration
- Spark Integration

**Platform**
- Machine Scaling
- Data Preparation
- Spark Integration

**Processing**
- Cloud Processing
- Workload Processing

**Building Reports**
- Data Transformation
- Data Modeling
- WYSIWYG Report Design
- Integration APIs

**Platform**
- Mobile User Support
- Customization 
- User, Role, and Access Management
- Internationalization
- Sandbox / Test Environments
- Performance and Reliability
- Breadth of Partner Applications

## Top Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight Alternatives
  - [Amazon EMR](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-emr/reviews) - 4.2/5.0 (62 reviews)
  - [Google Cloud Managed Service for Apache Spark](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-managed-service-for-apache-spark/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (15 reviews)
  - [Google Cloud BigQuery](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-bigquery/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (1,145 reviews)

