Databricks Data Intelligence Platform vs Palantir Foundry

by Gralio Feb 20, 2025

Databricks and Palantir Foundry cater to different needs. Databricks shines with its open-source focus and unified data/AI approach. Palantir Foundry excels in security and handling complex datasets for large enterprises, particularly those in regulated industries.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 331 reviews and 60 websites, saving 2 hours, 20 minutes of reading.

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform

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Palantir Foundry

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About

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform is a cloud-based platform designed to help mid-size to large businesses manage and analyze data. It offers a range of tools for data warehousing, data engineering, data science, and machine learning, all in one place. Databricks aims to simplify data processes, reduce costs, and enable companies to build and deploy AI solutions. They are well-known for their work with open-source technologies, making them a popular choice for businesses invested in those ecosystems.

Palantir Foundry is a software platform designed to help large organizations manage and analyze their data. It brings all your data together in one place, making it easier to find insights, make decisions, and automate operations. Foundry is used by businesses in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and government. It is known for its advanced security features and its ability to handle very large and complex datasets.

Summary

Main difference

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform is a better choice for organizations heavily invested in open-source technologies and seeking a unified platform for data and AI solutions. Palantir Foundry is better suited for large enterprises requiring advanced security features and the ability to handle complex datasets, especially in regulated industries.

Relative strengths of Databricks Data Intelligence Platform (compared to Palantir Foundry)

Strong open-source integration: Databricks is well-integrated with open-source tools and technologies, offering flexibility and cost-effectiveness for businesses invested in those ecosystems.
Unified data and AI platform: Databricks provides a single platform for data warehousing, engineering, science, and machine learning, streamlining workflows.
Superior customer service and ease of use: Databricks has significantly higher ratings for customer service and ease of use compared to Palantir Foundry.

Relative weaknesses of Databricks Data Intelligence Platform (compared to Palantir Foundry)

Less focus on security: While Databricks offers security features, it does not match Palantir Foundry's advanced security capabilities which are crucial for highly regulated industries.
Limited pre-built connectors: Databricks has fewer pre-built connectors compared to Palantir Foundry, potentially requiring more custom integrations.
Slower implementation and potentially higher cost: Databricks has a lower ease of implementation score and while pricing information is limited, Palantir might be more affordable for larger deployments.

Who should use Databricks Data Intelligence Platform VS. Palantir Foundry

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform is a unified data and AI platform ideal for mid-size to large businesses. Users praise its Databricks SQL, Unity Catalog, and Lakehouse flow monitoring but note some issues with cluster startup times and documentation. It simplifies data processes from ETL to warehousing and generative AI, especially for organizations invested in open-source technologies.

Palantir Foundry helps large organizations manage and analyze complex datasets. It centralizes data, simplifying insights, decision-making, and operational automation. Foundry offers interactive dashboards, BI tool integration, and ETL process support. Known for advanced security and handling large datasets, it's ideal for enterprises seeking robust data solutions.

Ideal for mid-size to large businesses seeking unified data and AI solutions.
Best fit for Software, IT & Telecommunications; suitable for Healthcare, not ideal for Finance or Professional Services.

Best for large enterprises needing robust data analysis.
Suitable for diverse industries seeking advanced data solutions.

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform and Palantir Foundry features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Lakehouse architecture

Supported

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform is built on a lakehouse architecture.

Partially supported

Foundry aligns with some lakehouse principles, but explicit support isn't confirmed.
Simplified data and AI acceleration

Supported

Databricks simplifies and accelerates data and AI initiatives, from ETL to warehousing and generative AI.

Supported

Palantir Foundry simplifies and accelerates data and AI goals, from ETL to data warehousing to AI model enhancement.
Analytics Integration

Supported

Databricks supports analytics integration through its unified data and AI architecture.

Supported

Foundry integrates with analytics tools using APIs, connectors, and custom integrations.
Data Warehouse Integration

Supported

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform is highly capable of integrating with other warehouse databases.

Supported

Palantir Foundry can integrate with other warehouse databases.
Data Source Integration

Supported

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform offers extensive options for integrating with external data sources, including built-in connectors, driver support, and integrations with BI and ETL tools.

Supported

Palantir Foundry supports integration with external data sources through its Data Connection suite, connectors, external transforms, and an extensible data connection framework.
Data Governance Tool Integration

Supported

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform supports integration with data governance tools, such as Immuta.

Partially supported

Palantir Foundry supports data governance through built-in features and processes, not necessarily through direct integration with external data governance tools.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

+0.14

Neutral sentiment

No data
Customer Service

+1

Strongly positive sentiment

No data
Ease of Use

+0.79

Strongly positive sentiment

No data
Reliability and Performance

+0.8

Strongly positive sentiment

No data
Ease of Implementation

+0.26

Neutral sentiment

No data
Scalability

+0.93

Strongly positive sentiment

No data

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform and Palantir Foundry Pricing

No data

User sentiment

Neutral

+0.14

See full Pricing page

No data

We couldn't find a pricing page for Palantir Foundry.

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform and Palantir Foundry review insights

331 reviews analysed from

Users love

The Databricks SQL warehouse serverless feature is excellent.
Unity Catalog improves data governance and accessibility.
Lakehouse flow monitoring provides helpful insights into data processes.
Pandas Spark API allows for easy distributed computing with Python.

No data

Users dislike

Cluster startup times are slow.
Documentation could be improved with more examples.
AI assistant needs improvement, especially for complex SQL queries and errors.
Occasional unplanned downtime can be disruptive.

No data

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform and Palantir Foundry Ratings

Glassdoor

4.3/5

(1199)

Glassdoor

3.8/5

(770)

Company health

Employee growth

23% increase in the last year

10% increase in the last year

Web traffic

7% decrease in the last quarter

17% increase in the last quarter

Financing

September 2024 - $14B

May 2023 - $3B

How do Databricks' open-source integrations compare to Palantir's pre-built connectors?

Databricks emphasizes open-source integrations, allowing for flexibility and customization within the open-source ecosystem. While Palantir Foundry offers pre-built connectors for quicker integration with common applications, it may offer less flexibility compared to Databricks' approach. Databricks' open-source focus may require more development effort for integrations but offers greater control and potential interoperability with a wider range of open-source tools.

Which platform better supports highly sensitive data governance requirements?

Databricks appears to be the better choice for highly sensitive data governance requirements. While neither product explicitly details specific security features, Databricks mentions integration with data governance tools like Immuta and features Unity Catalog for improved data governance and accessibility. This suggests a more robust approach to data control and security compared to Palantir, which lacks comparable information in the provided details.

What are the advantages of Databricks Data Intelligence Platform?

Databricks Data Intelligence Platform offers a unified environment for data warehousing, data engineering, data science, and machine learning, simplifying data processes and enabling AI solution development. Its lakehouse architecture and focus on open-source technologies make it attractive for businesses invested in those ecosystems. Furthermore, Databricks simplifies and accelerates data and AI initiatives, including ETL, warehousing, and generative AI. Specific features praised by users include the Databricks SQL warehouse serverless feature, Unity Catalog, Lakehouse flow monitoring, and the Pandas Spark API.

What are the disadvantages of Databricks Data Intelligence Platform?

Databricks suffers from slow cluster startup times, which can hinder productivity. Users also report that the documentation could be more comprehensive with additional examples. Furthermore, the AI assistant needs improvement, particularly when dealing with complex SQL queries and errors. Finally, occasional unplanned downtime can disrupt workflows.

Alternatives to Databricks Data Intelligence Platform and Palantir Foundry

Snowflake

Snowflake is a cloud-based data platform designed for businesses to store, manage, and analyze large amounts of data. It works like a giant, virtual warehouse for all your data, accessible from anywhere. Snowflake adapts to your needs, scaling its power and cost up or down on demand. This makes it suitable for tasks like analyzing customer trends, building data-driven applications, or sharing data securely with partners. Its strength lies in handling massive datasets with high speed and efficiency.

SAS Viya

SAS Viya is a cloud-based data analytics platform designed to help businesses of all sizes make better decisions through data insights. It offers a wide range of tools for data management, analysis, and modeling, including machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities. SAS Viya allows users to access and analyze data from various sources, build and deploy predictive models, and share insights through interactive dashboards and reports. Its focus is to provide a comprehensive platform for data professionals and business users to collaborate and extract value from their data, enabling faster and more informed decision-making.

Alteryx

Alteryx is a data analytics platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It offers a user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface to prepare, analyze, and visualize data without needing coding skills. Alteryx excels at automating data tasks, helping you uncover insights faster and make better decisions. It's used across various departments and industries to improve efficiency and gain a competitive advantage.

ZenRows

ZenRows is a tool that helps you extract data from websites, even those with complex anti-scraping measures. It uses rotating proxies, headless browsers, and CAPTCHA solving to bypass these obstacles, allowing you to collect the data you need through a simple API. This makes it easier to gather information from the web for use in your business.

DataWalk

DataWalk helps your company uncover hidden connections in your data. It combines all your information, regardless of the source, and presents it visually. This allows you to easily spot patterns, like identifying potential fraud or understanding your customers better. DataWalk offers solutions for various needs, from investigating financial crime to improving customer knowledge, all within a single platform.

C3 Predictive Maintenance

C3 Predictive Maintenance uses machine learning to help you prioritize equipment maintenance and minimize downtime. It analyzes all your data, including sensor readings and maintenance logs, to predict potential failures. This allows you to address issues before they become critical, improving efficiency and reducing costly disruptions. C3 Predictive Maintenance is a good fit for mid-sized and larger companies that manage lots of equipment.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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