Apache Hive vs. Azure Synapse Analytics

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Apache Hive
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
Apache Hive is database/data warehouse software that supports data querying and analysis of large datasets stored in the Hadoop distributed file system (HDFS) and other compatible systems, and is distributed under an open source license.N/A
Azure Synapse Analytics
Score 6.9 out of 10
N/A
Azure Synapse Analytics is described as the former Azure SQL Data Warehouse, evolved, and as a limitless analytics service that brings together enterprise data warehousing and Big Data analytics. It gives users the freedom to query data using either serverless or provisioned resources, at scale. Azure Synapse brings these two worlds together with a unified experience to ingest, prepare, manage, and serve data for immediate BI and machine learning needs.
$4,700
per month 5,000 Synapse Commit Units (SCUs)
Pricing
Apache HiveAzure Synapse Analytics
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Tier 1
$4,700
per month 5,000 Synapse Commit Units (SCUs)
Tier 2
$9,200
per month 10,000 Synapse Commit Units (SCUs)
Tier 3
$21,360
per month 24,000 Synapse Commit Units (SCUs)
Tier 4
$50,400
per month 60,000 Synapse Commit Units (SCUs)
Tier 5
$117,000
per month 150,000 Synapse Commit Units (SCUs)
Tier 6
$259,200
per month 360,000 Synapse Commit Units (SCUs)
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Apache HiveAzure Synapse Analytics
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Apache HiveAzure Synapse Analytics
Considered Both Products
Apache Hive
Chose Apache Hive
To query a huge, distributed dataset, Apache Hive was built by Facebook. Unlike Apache Hive, Apache Spark is an in-memory computation engine, which is why it is significantly quicker than Apache Hive at querying large amounts of data. In contrast to Apache HBase, Apache Hive is …
Chose Apache Hive
Apache hive gave more flexible than MS SQL server. ElasticSearch was little complex. GoogleBigQuery cost more.
Chose Apache Hive
Community support and ease of use -not deployment.

It enables querying and analyzing large amounts of data stored in HDFS, on the petabyte scale. It has a query language called HQL that transforms SQL queries into MapReduce jobs that run on Hadoop, and it is wonderful for the …
Chose Apache Hive
Apache Spark is similar in the sense that it too can be used to query and process large amounts of data through its Dataframe interface. Hive is better for short-term querying while Spark is better for persistent and long-term analysis. Another product is Impala. For our …
Chose Apache Hive
We have used a simple but necessary function such as merging certain data tables, which although they may be from different areas, complement each other or are necessary, you can use metadata if what you need is to validate the origin of your information and what impact it has, …
Chose Apache Hive
Apache Hadoop is built on top of the Hadoop File system so it gives its best when integrated with Hadoop. Data analysis and query optimization become very easy when used with Hadoop to perform Extract transform load operations. As Hadoop is a big data system and handles large …
Chose Apache Hive
We have used the system to migrate data either for new versions or because we will use another operating program, the software helps us to synchronize programs between different operating systems, a history of information can be kept constant, it can be sent to third parties …
Chose Apache Hive
Queries are easy to write and interface is similar to SQL so learning overhead is reduced. Multi user and data type support is provided. Can be easily scaled for very large amount of analytics. It is very flexible in terms of using file formats.
Chose Apache Hive
Snowflake, Splunk Cloud, Talend Open Studio, Azure Data Factory and Apache Spark
Chose Apache Hive
Due to effective queries resolved time and the performance and user-friendly framework compared to other products.
Chose Apache Hive
Apache Hive is a query language developed by Facebook to query over a large distributed dataset. Apache is a query engine that runs on top of HDFS, so it utilizes the resources of HDFS Hadoop setup, while Apache Spark is an in memory compute engine, and that's why [it is] much …
Chose Apache Hive
Besides Hive, I have used Google BigQuery, which is costly but have very high computation speed.
Amazon Redshift is the another product, I used in my recent organisation.
Both Redshift and BigQuery are managed solution whereas Hive needs to be managed
Chose Apache Hive
Hive and Spark have the same parent company hence they share a lot of common features. Hive follows SQL syntax while Spark has support for RDD, DataFrame API. DataFrame API supports both SQL syntax and has custom functions to perform the same functionality. Spark is faster and …
Chose Apache Hive
Apache Hive decouples the query layer from the storage layer, it is more flexible and expandable.
Chose Apache Hive
One of the major advantages of using Presto or the main reason why people use Presto (Teradata) is due to that fact it can support multiple data sources - which is lacking as in the case of Apache Hive. But still, most people who come from a Structured data-based background …
Chose Apache Hive
Easy to understand, well supported by the community, good documentation. However, it is possible that SAP Business Warehouse could be a good fit, too, even maybe better. I did not have the chance to try it though. We selected Apache Hive because it was far less expensive and …
Chose Apache Hive
I considered Hive because it is the best suited option when it comes to larger data access. Besides, learning HiveQL is comparatively easy.
Chose Apache Hive
I have used Storm for real-time processing, but that only addresses a few data points. But for a larger access to data, Hive is well suited.
Chose Apache Hive
[We selected Apache Hive because] It's from apache and opensource. So it's free.
Chose Apache Hive
  • Faster response time and also can handle complex analytical queries
  • Can able to write custom function using python and hive
  • Able to connect using hadoop components and also using R
Chose Apache Hive

For storing bulk amount of data in a tabular manner, and where there's no need need of primary key, or just in case, if redundant data is received, it will not cause a problem. For small amounts of data, it does run MR, so beware. If your intention is to use it as a …

Chose Apache Hive
I wasn't part of the evaluation process for Apache Hive. This was already implemented when I joined the company. I have worked with other big data plaftforms and I personally thinks most of them are quite comporable to one another. It really depends on what the company is going …
Chose Apache Hive
Hive is SQL compliant which makes it easy for the data folks compared to Pig
Chose Apache Hive
Apache Pig is probably the most direct technology to compare to Hive and has several different use cases to Hive. If you want to simplify processing tasks that run using MapReduce then Apache Pig may be a better tool for the job. However if you are going to be running many …
Azure Synapse Analytics
Chose Azure Synapse Analytics
They're all part of the Microsoft Azure family, so they are not exactly competitors. They overlap in functionality, but they're targeted at different levels of customers.
Azure Data Factory is an excellent stand-alone PaaS (included in Synapse Analytics) for writing, scheduling, …
Chose Azure Synapse Analytics
When client is already having or using Azure then it’s wise to go with Synapse rather than using Snowflake. We got a lot of help from Microsoft consultants and Microsoft partners while implementing our EDW via Synapse and support is easily available via Microsoft resources and …
Chose Azure Synapse Analytics
In comparing Azure Synapse to the Google BigQuery - the biggest highlight that I'd like to bring forward is Azure Synapse SQL leverages a scale-out architecture in order to distribute computational processing of data across multiple nodes whereas Google BigQuery only takes into …
Chose Azure Synapse Analytics
Azure Synapse Analytics stacks up well against the competitors I mentioned above. Technically, Azure SQL Datawarehouse is an upgraded version of the Azure SQL Database. So, the choice to move from one to the other depends on the processing needs of your company. If you need …
Chose Azure Synapse Analytics
We also looked at Oracle Data Warehouse as part of our short list of products to implement as a solution. Oracle's product turned out to have less support by way of easily accessible internet blogs. Oracle was also considerably more expensive and we would have needed to hire …
Chose Azure Synapse Analytics
SQL Data Warehousing is much easier to manage if you already have SQL Server experience and analysts who are familiar with its interface. We are currently piloting using NoSQL and Hadoop type databases but it is difficult to get set up properly. Additionally, we have to …
Chose Azure Synapse Analytics
Synapse, in comparison has its ups and downs against the competitors. However, where it excels, and builds it's markets is the cheaper costs (compared to Redshift), low code platforms and an in house solution that does not need you to leave the Synapse workspace for end to end …
Chose Azure Synapse Analytics
Databricks is a complete product with new features constantly coming out. This can be both good or bad, with a lot of innovation comes a responsibility to keep your code and pipelines fresh.

Chose Azure Synapse Analytics
Our team evaluated multiple platform as I mentioned above , but we stacks up Azure Synapse Analytics because :
1. Easy UI and Unified platform advantage
2. Tight integrations with MS ecosystem.
Best Alternatives
Apache HiveAzure Synapse Analytics
Small Businesses
Google BigQuery
Google BigQuery
Score 8.4 out of 10
Google BigQuery
Google BigQuery
Score 8.4 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Cloudera Enterprise Data Hub
Cloudera Enterprise Data Hub
Score 9.0 out of 10
Snowflake
Snowflake
Score 8.9 out of 10
Enterprises
Oracle Exadata
Oracle Exadata
Score 10.0 out of 10
Snowflake
Snowflake
Score 8.9 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Apache HiveAzure Synapse Analytics
Likelihood to Recommend
8.0
(0 ratings)
8.1
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.5
(0 ratings)
9.6
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
7.0
(0 ratings)
9.6
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Apache HiveAzure Synapse Analytics
Likelihood to Recommend
Apache Hive shines for ad-hoc analysis and plugging into BI tools. Its SQL-like syntax allows for ease of use not for only for engineers but also for data analysts. Through our experience, there are probably more desirable tools to use if you are planning on integrating Hive into your processing pipeline.
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In terms of a well-suited scenario - the Azure Synapse can be used to capture data from multiple sources (especially from onPrem sources apart from Dataverse) and update the transformed data based on the given conditions (eg: refresh data based on the specified date/time ranges). Also, the transformed data can simply be transferred to Azure Data Lake for further processing by utilizing other analytics tools such as PowerBI.
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Pros
  • Hive syntax is almost like SQL, so for someone already familiar with SQL it takes almost no effort to pick up Hive.
  • To be able to run map reduce jobs using json parsing and generate dynamic partitions in parquet file format.
  • Simplifies your experience with Hadoop especially for non-technical/coding partners.
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  • The combination of SQL/unstructured data
  • Keeping things "complicated, but simple"; [heterogeneous] data formats seen as just SQL tables to business experts used to use Power BI, Excel, and any other traditional SQL-oriented BI tools
  • Integration options using "Synapse pipelines", the application of ADFs
  • The greatly integrated solution of independent things (Spark MPP cluster, MPP SQL Servers, ADFs) - all sitting under one roof. Great job!
  • Integration with super-fast, globally replicated data. I really appreciate the integration of NoSQL databases (namely Core API and Mongo API under Cosmos DB) with purely batch-processed BI data
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Cons
  • Use Hive for analytical work loads. Write once and read many scenarios. Do not prefer updates and deletes.
  • Behind scenes Hive creates map reduce jobs. Hive performance is slow compared to Apache Spark.
  • Map reduce writes the intermediate outputs to dial whereas Spark operates in in-memory and uses DAG.
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  • With Azure, it's always the same issue, too many moving parts doing similar things with no specialisation. ADF, Fabric Data Factory and Synapse pipeline serve the same purpose. Same goes for Fabric Warehouse and Synapse SQL pools.
  • Could do better with serverless workloads considering the competition from databricks and its own fabric warehouse
  • Synapse pipelines is a replica of Azure Data Factory with no tight integration with Synapse and to a surprise, with missing features from ADF. Integration of warehouse can be improved with in environment ETl tools
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Likelihood to Renew
Since I do not know the second data warehouse solution that integrate with HDFS as well as Hive.
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No answers on this topic
Usability
Hive is a very good big data analysis and ad-hoc query platform, which supports scaling also. The BI processes can be easily integrated with Hadoop via the Hive. It can deal with a much larger data set that traditional RDBMS can not. It is a "must-have" component of the big data domain.
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The data warehouse portion is very much like old style on-prem SQL server, so most SQL skills one has mastered carry over easily. Azure Data Factory has an easy drag and drop system which allows quick building of pipelines with minimal coding. The Spark portion is the only really complex portion, but if there's an in-house python expert, then the Spark portion is also quiet useable.
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Support Rating
Apache Hive is a FOSS project and its open source. We need not definitely comment on anything about the support of open source and its developer community. But, it has got tremendous developer support, awesome documentation. I would justify the fact that much support can be gathered from the community backup.
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Microsoft does its best to support Synapse. More and more articles are being added to the documentation, providing more useful information on best utilizing its features. The examples provided work well for basic knowledge, but more complex examples should be added to further assist in discovering the vast abilities that the system has.
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Alternatives Considered
We have used a simple but necessary function such as merging certain data tables, which although they may be from different areas, complement each other or are necessary, you can use metadata if what you need is to validate the origin of your information and what impact it has, is also feasible.
Read full review
They're all part of the Microsoft Azure family, so they are not exactly competitors. They overlap in functionality, but they're targeted at different levels of customers. Azure Data Factory is an excellent stand-alone PaaS (included in Synapse Analytics) for writing, scheduling, and monitoring pipelines. Azure SQL Database (and all the Azure SQL family) is excellent for traditional, SQL-based data warehouses, especially if you're migrating from on-premises. Combined with Azure Data Factory (that can run SSIS packages), it's a perfect solution for a simple path to the cloud. Azure Databricks is effectively the only internal "competitor" to Synapse Analytics but targeted more to a "platform-agnostic" audience. On the other hand, Synapse is more of a proprietary mix of products that are more tightly related to Microsoft technologies.
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Return on Investment
  • Good ROI for being able to access data easily across the network, we have large amounts of data and this is a good system to access it
  • Good ROI for being easy to learn how to use for new employees, not much time spent which saves costs
  • Good ROI for being able to integrate with Spark and other applications, hence data can be analyzed through programs
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  • It definitely has a positive impact on ROI. We are able to use it to generate MORE revenue through predictive analytics and pricing optimization.
  • Because of the SQL Data Warehouse design, we're able to set up some self service reporting tools which allow our users to generate reports ad hoc instead of having a full time employee creating these by hand.
  • Having visibility into the data is very useful for management to make good business decisions.
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