Presto
Presto is a distributed SQL query engine for working with large datasets spread across different data sources.
What Presto is
Presto is a distributed SQL query engine for working with large datasets spread across different data sources. Its ANSI SQL interface can query data in place and combine information from multiple systems in one query, for both interactive and batch workloads. The project identifies ad hoc queries, reporting and dashboards, and open lakehouse workloads as use cases. Documented connectors include BigQuery, Cassandra, Delta Lake, Elasticsearch, Hive, Iceberg, Kafka, MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Redis. Presto is open source and free, with self-hosted and cloud deployment options; installation paths include a server tarball, Homebrew, Docker, and Helm. Security options include Kerberos, LDAP, password-file authentication, access control, secure internal communication, and OAuth 2.0. Users can work through the Presto CLI or Console, connect via DBeaver or Tableau, or use Java, Python, Go, and JavaScript clients. A REST API is also available. The Presto Foundation oversees the project, and the project points users to Slack and tutorials for help getting started.
Good
- Free and open-source.
- Combines data from multiple sources in one query.
- Supports interactive and batch workloads.
- Many documented connectors, including Hive and Kafka.
- Offers multiple deployment and security options.
Watch out
- Documentation gives conflicting current release details.
- Setup guidance describes a Linux LNMP environment only for deployment.
Who it suits
Presto suits teams that need SQL access to data held across multiple systems, including those building reports, dashboards, or open lakehouse workloads. Its self-hosted deployment options and range of connectors may fit organizations managing their own data infrastructure.
Verdict
Presto provides a broad SQL-based way to query data across heterogeneous sources, with multiple deployment, client, and security options. Check the documentation carefully for release information before getting started.
Plans and prices
From Presto's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Presto open-source project | Free | Open-source SQL query engine; run on-premises or in any cloud |
The facts
Each one read from Presto's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Clients and API
- The documentation lists the Presto CLI, Presto Console, DBeaver, Tableau, and Java, Python, Go, and JavaScript clients, as well as a REST API.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Community support
- The project directs users to its Slack channel and tutorials for help getting started and running Presto.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Connectors
- Documented connectors include BigQuery, Cassandra, Delta Lake, Elasticsearch, Hive, Iceberg, Kafka, MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Redis.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The documentation describes installing Presto from a server tarball and deploying it with Homebrew, Docker, or Helm.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Governance
- The Presto Foundation oversees the open-source project, which it describes as independent and not controlled by any single company.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Notable release detail
- The current documentation identifies the release as Presto 0.299, while the getting-started page still says the current release is version 0 from June 2022.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Querying data in place
- Presto can query data where it is stored and combine data from multiple sources in one query.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security
- Documented security options include Kerberos, LDAP, password-file authentication, access control, secure internal communication, and OAuth 2.0 authentication.checked 7 Oct 2026
- SQL interface
- Presto provides an ANSI SQL interface for data across siloed systems and supports interactive and batch workloads.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- The project describes ad hoc queries, reporting and dashboards, and open lakehouse workloads as use cases.checked 7 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Presto is a distributed SQL query engine for querying large datasets across heterogeneous data sources.checked 7 Oct 2026
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