---
title: Spark SQL Reviews
meta_title: 'Spark SQL Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2'
meta_description: Filter 45 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to
  find out how Spark SQL works for a business like yours.
aggregate_rating:
  rating_value: 4.5
  review_count: 45
  scale: '5'
date_modified: '2026-08-07'
parent_category:
  name: Database Software
  url: https://www.g2.com/categories/database-software
---


# Spark SQL Reviews
**Vendor:** The Apache Software Foundation  
**Category:** [Relational Databases](https://www.g2.com/categories/relational-databases)  
**Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0  
**Total Reviews:** 45
## About Spark SQL
Spark SQL lets you query structured data inside Spark programs, using either SQL or a familiar DataFrame API. Usable in Java, Scala, Python and R.




## Spark SQL Reviews
  ### 1. Integrated Spark SQL with other Spark components for real-time processing & machine learning tasks.

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Software | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** June 05, 2023

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

What I love about Spark SQL is its seamless integration with the Spark ecosystem, enabling me to leverage distributed computing capabilities and work with structured data using SQL syntax. The optimiser and query planner, Catalyst, ensures efficient execution. At the same time, its wide range of data source support and integration with other Spark components make it a powerful tool for end-to-end data processing.

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

What I dislike are :

Debugging complexity: Challenging to debug complex queries and optimize query plans.
Performance tuning: Fine-tuning query performance requires in-depth knowledge and experimentation.
Compatibility limitations: Not fully compatible with all SQL dialects and databases.
Limited support for complex analytics: Some advanced SQL features may be unsupported or require custom implementations.

Despite these challenges, I think Spark SQL is a powerful tool for distributed data processing with efficient and scalable capabilities.

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Spark SQL is solving several problems and benefiting me in multiple ways.It solves the problem of querying and analyzing large-scale structured and semi-structured data using SQL syntax. It benefits me by eliminating the need to learn new languages, seamlessly integrating with other Spark components, optimizing query performance, and supporting multiple programming languages. This allows for efficient data processing, faster insights, and improved productivity in my work.

  ### 2. Easy and efficient Analysis of data

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** vimal k. | Dotnet Developer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** July 22, 2023

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

if you are familiar with sql queries, It is one of the best tool for you to analyse any data with minimum coding. it is effective of any type of data

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

it is mostly awesome tool, but can provide intellisense, charts for user

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

it provide best way for analysing data of any type if effective manner through which businesses can improve its services, recommendation and lots of things.

  ### 3. Spark SQL review

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** SHWETA R. | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** June 05, 2023

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

I like it's easy SQL like syntax when querying from tables

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

I've been using it for around a year, so nothing to dislike

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

It is avoiding the need to use dataframes for retrieving data

  ### 4. Good technology overall

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

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

**Reviewed Date:** June 06, 2023

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

It's faster processing time and abstract over low level structures with dataframes.

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

Spark SQL documentation needs to be improved.

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

While working with machine learning to do faster experiments we need fast engines like spark SQL for querying relational databases. For that we are using this.

  ### 5. It is a good course for beginners to understand basics of spark

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Retail | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** June 12, 2023

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

Explanation about rdd and how we perform all the operations in distributed worker node

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

Very basic level not much was there about connecting spark withbother data source

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

I was using hive in replacement of cosmos db for cost benifits

  ### 6. "How convenient it is to use is amazing!"

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Mubeen M. | Full Stack Developer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** July 13, 2022

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

Spark SQL has a few capabilities that I particularly like:

Spark SQL is a go-to product because big data technologies interface with it so seamlessly.

It has a high efficiency and can quickly process plenty of data.

Because of how similar its query syntax is to standard SQL, learning a new language is made easier.

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

My main gripe with Spark SQL is its limitations, which include latency issues, minor file issues, and the lack of real-time data processing. Apache Apex, an alternative solution, has already resolved some issues. However, these issues must be resolved at Spark SQL, as an alternative is acceptable, but some features provided by Spark SQL are not available with Apex.

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

We are solving of the problem of using this for our AI and Machine learning algorithms, but also as a data storage and retrieval system in general.Spark sql requires a large amount of RAM to process data, resulting in excessive memory consumption.

In addition, we are unable to create tables in Spark for union types.

  ### 7. One of the fastest computation tools out there

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Aaryan S. | Project Engineer - Turbo, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 30, 2022

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

The integration of sql queries with the spark programs is one the best features. Speed of processing the big queries as well as optimization of storage space is second to none.

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

The cost of the tool is on the expensive side in comparison to what it offers. If you are on intranet, there could be a latency issue while executing the queries.

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

I am using this in my spark programs to seamlessly fetch the data from queries. It is very easy to use the query structure of spark sql inside your code specially for beginners

  ### 8. Spark SQL is very helpful for transformation on distributed data

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Pawan K. |  Bigdata Platform Architect at HCL Technologies Limited, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** February 16, 2022

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

Spark SQL is faster, and additional type information makes more efficient

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

As of now, no support for transaction tables

**Recommendations to others considering Spark SQL:**

If the company have a data analytics-based project and they have a business case for real-time and batch time data processing, they should use the spark framework

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

In our project, we are using for batch processing of hive tables

  ### 9. Good tool with almost same syntax as prevalent SQL.

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** April 26, 2022

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

Ability to handle big data and display the result in the least time.

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

Noting. Faced no issue while using the same.

**Recommendations to others considering Spark SQL:**

It's nice tool. Give it a try.

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Querying the data with SPARK SQL and analyzing it.

  ### 10. Spark sql

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

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

**Reviewed Date:** March 17, 2022

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

Spark sql is a spark module for structured data processing

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

No file management system,expensive,window criteria

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

We can run sql queries alongside complex analytic algorithms using tight integration property of spark sql

  ### 11. Runs with lighting speed

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

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

**Reviewed Date:** December 07, 2021

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

1. Speed of the queries when executing on Databricks
2. It gets easily integrated with scala.
3. Very easy for distribution data.

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

1. Cost is very high
2. Maintenance is very high and complex

**Recommendations to others considering Spark SQL:**

Very recommended since it acts as distributed sql query engine

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

1. Using it for big data analysis 
2. Using it to transform the data

  ### 12. Nice distribution query and process large no of data

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 01, 2021

**What do you like best about Spark SQL?**

Distribution and faster query process and aggregation

**What do you dislike about Spark SQL?**

Not specific one,sometime it took longer time for aggregation

**What problems is Spark SQL solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Process larger number of data in distribution mode.


## Spark SQL Discussions
  - [What type of SQL does Spark use?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-type-of-sql-does-spark-use) - 2 comments, 1 upvote
  - [What is the difference between SQL and Spark SQL?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-difference-between-sql-and-spark-sql) - 1 comment
  - [What is the functionality of Spark SQL?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-functionality-of-spark-sql) - 1 comment

- [View Spark SQL pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/spark-sql/reviews?filters%5Bnps_score%5D%5B%5D=4&section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-08-08+00%3A43%3A25+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=7e3f60dc-072b-469d-946c-8539b2fa17aa&secure%5Btoken%5D=8e441350318147b1e676aea64b934a21ee577048185c3cb24a24cccfb827eea9&format=llm_user)

## Spark SQL Features
**Management **
- Data Schema
- Query Language
- ACID - Complaint
- Data Replication

**Support **
- Text Search
- Data Types
- Languages
- Operating Systems

**Security**
- Database Locking
- Access Control
- Encryption
- Authentication

**Performance **
- Disaster Recovery
- Data Concurrency
- Workload Management
- Advanced Indexing
- Query Optimizer

**Database Features**
- Storage
- Availability
- Stability
- Scalability
- Security
- Data Manipulation
- Query Language

## Top Spark SQL Alternatives
  - [Oracle Database](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-database/reviews) - 4.3/5.0 (935 reviews)
  - [PostgreSQL](https://www.g2.com/products/postgresql/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (651 reviews)
  - [ClickHouse](https://www.g2.com/products/clickhouse/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (22 reviews)