The 3 Best Dremio Alternatives in 2026
Dremio is for teams with Apache Iceberg tables in object storage that want fast SQL and a shared catalog without moving data. If that isn’t you, these 3 Data Lakehouse Platforms tools are the closest alternatives. A common reason to look elsewhere: you also need notebooks, ML and streaming. Databricks covers more ground.
Category
Data Lakehouse Platforms
Dremio pricing
Free tier available
Free tier
Yes
Alternatives
3 compared
Choose Dremio if…
- You have standardised on Apache Iceberg.
- You want a catalog other Iceberg engines can read and write.
- You want a free self-hosted edition to start.
Look at an alternative if…
- You also need notebooks, ML and streaming. Databricks covers more ground.
- You only need occasional SQL on S3 files. Amazon Athena has nothing to run.
Dremio vs Alternatives: Quick Comparison
| Tool | Pricing | Free tier | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| DremioYou searched | Free · paid from $0.2/mo | 4.3 | |
| 1.Databricks | Free · then usage-based | 4.6 | |
| 2.Microsoft Fabric | From $0.18/mo | — | 4.2 |
| 3.Onehouse | Usage-based | — | 4.1 |
Ratings are App Stack Builder’s editorial score out of 5, not an average of user reviews.
Top Dremio Alternatives, Explained
1. Databricks
Free tier4.6· Free · then usage-basedDatabricks combines data engineering, SQL warehousing, streaming and machine learning on data stored in open formats in your own cloud storage. It is pay-as-you-go with per-second billing and no up-front cost; rates are in DBUs and vary by product and cloud, listed in a separate price list. A free trial runs until its credits are used, and Free Edition is free forever for personal, non-commercial learning on smaller compute.
Best for: data and AI, Spark, open formats
- One platform for ETL, SQL and ML
- Data stays in open formats in your storage
- Runs on AWS, Azure and Google Cloud
2. Microsoft Fabric
4.2· From $0.18/moFabric bundles data engineering, warehousing, real-time analytics, data science and Power BI on one shared lake, OneLake. You buy capacity (F2 up to F8192) and every workload draws from it. Azure’s retail price list shows $0.18 per CU-hour pay-as-you-go in East US, and one or three-year reservations save about 41%. Storage in OneLake is billed separately. A free trial gives each business user a fixed trial capacity.
Best for: Power BI, Azure, single capacity
- Power BI, warehouse and lake in one product
- One capacity shared by every workload
- Fits Microsoft 365 and Azure shops
3. Onehouse
4.1· Usage-basedOnehouse runs ingestion and table maintenance in your own cloud account and keeps data in your own buckets in Apache Hudi, Apache Iceberg or Delta Lake. It uses Apache XTable (Incubating) to make the same tables readable in each format, so different engines can share them. Pricing is pay-as-you-go or a flat yearly fee, with no figures on the site; a free test drive is offered.
Best for: Hudi, multi-format, bring your own cloud
- Data stays in your buckets
- Works across Hudi, Iceberg and Delta
- Managed table maintenance
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best alternatives to Dremio in 2026?⌄
The best Dremio alternatives in 2026 are Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, Onehouse. Each is a data lakehouse platforms option you can compare on pricing, free tiers, and features in the table above.
Is there a free alternative to Dremio?⌄
Yes. Databricks offer free tiers, making them strong free Dremio alternatives for bootstrapped startups.
When should I choose Dremio, and when an alternative?⌄
Choose Dremio when: You have standardised on Apache Iceberg. You want a catalog other Iceberg engines can read and write. You want a free self-hosted edition to start. Look at an alternative when: You also need notebooks, ML and streaming. Databricks covers more ground. You only need occasional SQL on S3 files. Amazon Athena has nothing to run.
What is the cheapest Dremio alternative?⌄
Databricks is among the most affordable Dremio alternatives: free · then usage-based. Check the comparison table above for the full pricing breakdown.
Which Dremio alternative is rated highest?⌄
Databricks has the highest editorial score among the Dremio alternatives here, at 4.6 out of 5. That is our own score, not an average of user reviews, so check it against your budget and stack before you pick.
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