Apache Impala
- Android app
- Not listed
- Free plan
- Yes
- Runs on
- api, Linux, Mac, self-hosted
Summary
Apache Impala is an open-source analytic database for SQL queries on open data and table formats. It is designed for low-latency, high-concurrency business intelligence and analytics across the Hadoop ecosystem, and scales linearly, including in multitenant environments. It works with data in HDFS, HBase, and Amazon S3, and supports formats such as delimited text, Parquet, Avro, SequenceFile, and RCFile, with Snappy, GZIP, Deflate, and BZIP codecs. Clients can connect through impala-shell, Hue, JDBC, or ODBC. Impala reuses file formats, metadata, security, and resource-management frameworks from Hadoop deployments, and shares metadata and an ODBC driver with Apache Hive. It can query Kudu tables and perform updates or deletes, and interact with Iceberg tables registered in the Hive Metastore. Kerberos authentication, Apache Ranger authorization, auditing, and encrypted JDBC or ODBC connections are supported. Impala is free under the Apache License 2.0. Its project notes that it does not replace MapReduce-based batch frameworks such as Hive for long-running ETL and batch jobs.
Who it is for
It suits teams running SQL analytics or BI queries on data in Hadoop-related storage systems and open table formats. It is less suited as a replacement for frameworks used for long-running ETL and batch jobs.
What is good
- Supports SQL queries across HDFS, HBase, and Amazon S3.
- Connects through impala-shell, Hue, JDBC, or ODBC.
- Can query Kudu and interact with Iceberg tables.
- Supports Kerberos, Ranger authorization, auditing, and encryption.
- Free under the Apache License 2.0.
What to know first
- Does not replace long-running batch-processing frameworks.
- Designed for Hadoop ecosystem analytics.
Verdict
Apache Impala is a free SQL analytic database for high-concurrency querying across Hadoop-related data stores. Keep batch processing needs in mind, since the project distinguishes Impala from frameworks for long-running ETL and batch work.
Apache Impala plans and pricing
All plansCompared on OLAP software
- Free plan
- Yesimpala.apache.org
- Real-time ingestion
- Yesimpala.apache.org
Facts
- Product type
- Apache Impala is an open-source native analytic database for open data and table formats.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Query performance
- Impala provides low-latency and high-concurrency BI and analytic queries on the Hadoop ecosystem.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Scaling
- Impala scales linearly, including in multitenant environments.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Infrastructure reuse
- Impala uses the same file and data formats, metadata, security, and resource-management frameworks as Hadoop deployments.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- SQL compatibility
- Impala supports SQL and uses the same metadata and ODBC driver as Apache Hive.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Storage systems
- Impala supports data in HDFS, HBase, and Amazon S3.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Data formats
- Supported formats include delimited text, Parquet, Avro, SequenceFile, and RCFile, with Snappy, GZIP, Deflate, and BZIP compression codecs.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Client interfaces
- Clients can connect through impala-shell, Hue, JDBC, or ODBC.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Kudu integration
- Impala can query Kudu tables and perform efficient update or delete operations when data changes continuously or in small batches.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Iceberg integration
- Impala can add existing Iceberg tables to the Hive Metastore with CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE and interact with them.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Security
- Impala integrates Kerberos authentication with Apache Ranger fine-grained authorization and provides auditing capabilities.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Encrypted connections
- JDBC and ODBC applications can use Kerberos authentication, TLS/SSL encryption, or both.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The downloads page lists releases with SHA512 checksums and GPG signatures, and says DEB/RPM packages are available from GitHub Releases.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Support channels
- The project provides user and developer mailing lists, Jira issues, Slack, Stack Overflow, and Quora community channels.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Batch-processing limitation
- Impala does not replace MapReduce-based batch frameworks such as Hive, which are suited to long-running ETL and batch jobs.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
Best Apache Impala alternatives
See all 20
Where it ranks on Everything Xiaomi
- Best OLAP Software in 2026#11 of 31
- Best OLAP Databases in 2026#10 of 28
- Best Query Engine Software in 2026#7 of 25
Is Apache Impala yours?
Claim it for free: prove the domain, then correct facts, plans and screenshots. An editor reviews every change.
Sources
- impala.apache.org· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build/asf-site-html/topics/impala_· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build/html/topics/impala_client.ht· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build/html/topics/impala_kudu.html· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build/html/topics/impala_iceberg.h· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build/asf-site-html/topics/impala_· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build3x/html/topics/impala_kerbero· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/downloads.html· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/community.html· checked 1 Oct 2026
- apache.org/free/· checked 1 Oct 2026