Spark SQL Alternatives (January 2026)

Spark SQL

Spark SQL & DataFrames | Apache Spark

https://spark.apach.org/sql/

Spark SQL is Spark's module for working with structured data, either within Spark programs or through standard JDBC and ODBC connectors.

4.4/5

297+ reviews

Reviewed on:

G2
Trustradius
Capterra
Gartner
1.
Apache Pinot™
https://pinot.apach
.org/

Realtime distributed OLAP datastore

2.
Apache Apex
https://apex.apach
.org/

Apex is an enterprise grade native YARN big data-in-motion platform that unifies stream processing as well as batch processing.

3.
Apache Arrow | Apache Arrow
https://arrow.apach
.org/

A cross-language development platform for in-memory analytics

4.
Apache Kudu - Fast Analytics on Fast Data
https://kudu.apach
.org/

A new open source Apache Hadoop ecosystem project, Apache Kudu completes Hadoop's storage layer to enable fast analytics on fast data

5.
Apache Beam®
https://beam.apach
.org/

Apache Beam is an open source, unified model and set of language-specific SDKs for defining and executing data processing workflows, and also data ingestion and integration flows, supporting Enterprise Integration Patterns (EIPs) and Domain Specific Languages (DSLs). Dataflow pipelines simplify the mechanics of large-scale batch and streaming data processing and can run on a number of runtimes like Apache Flink, Apache Spark, and Google Cloud Dataflow (a cloud service). Beam also brings DSL in different languages, allowing users to easily implement their data integration processes.

6.
Databricks Data Intelligence Platform | Databricks
https://www.databrick
.com/product/data-intelligence-platform/

With a Data Intelligence Engine that understands your data’s uniqueness, the Databricks Platform allows you to infuse AI into every facet of your business.

7.
Apache OODT - Distributed Data Management
https://oodt.apach
.org/

Apache Object Oriented Data Technology (OODT) is the smart way to integrate and archive your processes, your data, and its metadata. It facilitates the generation, processing, management, distribution, analysis of data management, data archiving, and data analytics systems allowing for the integration of data, computation, visualization and other components.

8.
Modern Business Intelligence | Better data, better decisions
https://mod
.com/

Mode is a collaborative data platform that combines SQL, R, Python, and visual analytics in one place. Connect, analyze, and share, faster.

9.
Spark NLP - State of the Art NLP Library for Large Language Models (LLMs)
https://sparknl
.org/

Experience the power of Large Language Models like never before! Unleash the full potential of Natural Language Processing with Spark NLP, the open-source library that delivers scalable LLMs