Cloud Data Warehouses

A cloud data warehouse is a managed analytical database that runs in the cloud and is designed to store large volumes of structured and semi-structured data and answer complex SQL queries quickly. The provider operates the infrastructure, so teams can scale capacity up or down and pay for what they use instead of buying hardware.

A data warehouse stores curated, structured data optimized for SQL analytics and reporting. A data lake stores raw data of any type, usually in object storage. A lakehouse combines both: it keeps data in open table formats on low-cost storage and adds warehouse features such as transactions, schemas and fast SQL. Many platforms in this list, including Databricks SQL, Dremio and Microsoft Fabric, follow the lakehouse model.

In a separated architecture, data is stored independently of the compute clusters that query it. You can add or pause compute without moving data, run several workloads against the same data, and scale each layer on its own. Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift and Databricks SQL all use variations of this design.

Start with where your data and workloads already live, since staying within one cloud lowers data-transfer cost and complexity. Then compare pricing models, concurrency needs, latency targets, support for open table formats, security and governance features, and integration with your BI, ETL and machine learning tools. Run a proof of concept on a representative workload before committing.

Engines built for low-latency, high-concurrency queries, such as ClickHouse Cloud, StarRocks, Apache Doris (VeloDB), Apache Pinot (StarTree), SingleStore and Firebolt, are commonly used for dashboards and analytics embedded in applications. General-purpose warehouses such as Snowflake, BigQuery and Redshift also serve interactive analytics and are often the better fit for broad enterprise reporting.

A cloud data warehouse is run by the provider, scales capacity up and down and bills by usage, while an on-premises warehouse needs hardware purchase, capacity planning and administration. Some products, such as Teradata, Yellowbrick, Vertica and Cloudera, offer both.

Databend's GitHub repository lists the Apache 2.0 licence, and the same engine is offered as the managed Databend Cloud service. Check the licence terms for the edition you plan to use.

Outbound links were checked on 3 November 2026. SAP, Rocket Software, Snowflake, Microsoft Fabric, Dremio and StarTree return 403 to automated checks and are kept, so they may need a manual click; the Yellowbrick site is linked with its www address because the bare domain did not connect. Descriptions follow each vendor's own pages and are not independent evaluations.

OpenText announced on 11 May 2026 that it completed the sale of Vertica to Rocket Software, a Bain Capital portfolio company, for US$150 million in cash. The deal was signed in February 2026. Vertica's product page now sits on the Rocket Software site.

The section 'Warehouse Docs & Benchmarks' lists Snowflake Docs, BigQuery Docs, Amazon Redshift, ClickHouse Docs, TPC-DS.

Microsoft's Fabric Data Warehouse documentation says the warehouse succeeds Azure Synapse dedicated SQL pools, and Microsoft provides a migration assistant. Checks did not find an official retirement date for Synapse, so confirm timelines in Microsoft's Azure documentation before planning a migration.