Apache Airflow vs Databricks
Apache Airflow vs Databricks, compared side by side on 14 data points: what each one does, how big it is, what it has raised, the tech running each site, and what users report. We score both out of 100 on traction, team and visibility: Apache Airflow is on 20/100 and Databricks on 82/100.
Where each one leads
Apache Airflow
Leads on none of the measures we hold for both companies.
Databricks
- our overall score: 82/100 against 20/100
- agent readiness: 49/100 against 36/100
At a glance
| Measure | Apache Airflow | Databricks |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Open-source platform for programmatically authoring, scheduling, and monitoring data pipelines. | A unified data analytics and AI platform built on the lakehouse architecture. |
| Category | MLOps, DataOps, Workflow Automation, Scheduling System | Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Data Platform |
| Sells toBusiness model | Open Source | B2B |
| Offering | Software | Platform |
| Founded | 2014 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Not published | San Francisco, United States |
| Status | Active | Active |
Size, funding and growth
| Measure | Apache Airflow | Databricks |
|---|---|---|
| Employees | Not published | 15,082 |
| Headcount growthLast 12 months | Not published | +27.1% |
| Total funding | Not published | $37B |
| Latest round | Not published | Strategic Financing |
| Valuation | Not published | $190B |
| LinkedIn followers | Not published | 1,191,281 |
StartupHub scores
Our own 0-100 ratings. They measure company strength and site quality, not which product suits you.
| Measure | Apache Airflow | Databricks |
|---|---|---|
| StartupHub scoreOur 0-100 rating | 20/100 | 82/100 |
| Traction | Not published | 60/100 |
| Team | 30/100 | 70/100 |
| Community | Not published | 25/100 |
| Search visibility | 34/100 | 69/100 |
| Quality | Not published | 96/100 |
| Agent readinessHow well an AI agent can read and act on the site | F (36/100) | D (49/100) |
| Domain ratingLink authority, 0-100 | 93/100 | 88/100 |
Technology
Detected on each public site, so it reflects the marketing stack as well as the product.
| Measure | Apache Airflow | Databricks |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Self Managed | Vercel |
| CDN | Not detected | Cloudflare |
| Analytics | Matomo | Not detected |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
What users say
| Measure | Apache Airflow | Databricks |
|---|---|---|
| Community ratingVisitor votes on StartupHub | Not published | 3.5/5 from 2 votes |
| Reddit sentimentThreads we track | 3 positive, 1 negative across 6 threads | Not published |
“Apache Airflow 3.0 is here – and it’s a big one!. After months of work from the community, Apache Airflow 3.0 has officially landed and it marks a major shift in how we think about orchestration! This release lays the foundation for a more ”r/dataengineering
Apache Airflow vs Databricks: common questions
Which is better, Apache Airflow or Databricks?
On our 0-100 score Databricks rates higher (82/100 against 20/100). The score weights traction, team, visibility and profile completeness, so it reflects company strength rather than which product suits you. We compare the two on 14 data points above: read the rows that match what you are buying for.
How do Apache Airflow and Databricks compare on the numbers?
Databricks leads on our overall score (82/100 against 20/100), agent readiness (49/100 against 36/100).
What do real users say about Apache Airflow and Databricks?
Apache Airflow: 3 positive and 1 negative mentions across 6 Reddit threads we track, mostly in r/dataengineering.
Read the full Apache Airflow review and pricing or the Databricks review and pricing. You can also browse other Apache Airflow alternatives we track.