Apache Spark
6.4#11 in streaming analytics softwareFree planFree planAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
VisitApache Spark vs Confluent Cloud
Confluent Cloud
7.1#3 in schema registry softwareFrom $385 a monthFree planWebAPILinux
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Apache Spark | Confluent Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2014 |
| Integrations | The listed ecosystem includes pandas, TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, Apache Kafka, Kubernetes, Delta Lake, and Apache Iceberg. | Confluent Cloud offers pre-built and fully managed Kafka connectors for sources and sinks such as databases, data lakes, and data warehouses. |
| Security | Security features such as authentication are not enabled by default, and the documentation says deployments are not secure by default. | The page names RBAC, self-managed encryption keys, client-side field-level encryption, and audit logs among its security features. |
Apache Spark plans
- Apache SparkFree
Confluent Cloud plans
- BasicFree
- Standard$385 a month
- Enterprise$895 a month
- Confluent CloudFree
Pick Apache Spark if…
Spark suits teams working with large-scale batch or streaming analytics, SQL, or machine-learning workloads. It can fit environments using the listed languages, platforms, and deployment options.
Pick Confluent Cloud if…
Confluent Cloud suits teams building real-time streaming, event-driven, analytics, or AI/ML workflows. Its options include managed connectors, stream processing, and cross-cluster data sharing.