Databricks vs Groq
Which Infrastructure AI tool is better in 2026?
Databricks
The data + AI company
Groq
Fastest AI inference on the planet
Side-by-side
Databricks is the more established option (raised $5.6B); pricing is comparable on both sides.
| Metric | Databricks | Groq |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | The data + AI company | Fastest AI inference on the planet |
| Foundedi | 2013🏆 | 2016 |
| HQi | San Francisco, US | Mountain View, US |
| Employeesi | 8000+🏆 | 200-500 |
| Neuron scorei | 95🏆 | 84 |
| Total fundingi | $5.6B🏆 | $2.3B |
| Latest roundi | Series L · Dec 2025 | Series E · Sep 2025 |
| Valuationi | $134B🏆 | $6.9B |
| Cheapest paid plani | — | — |
| Free plani | ✗ | ✓ Free |
| Free triali | ✓ | ✓ |
| Top tier pricei | Committed Use Plan · Contact sales | Enterprise · Contact sales |
| Pricing summaryi | 3 published plans | 3 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Databricks and Groq.
| Capability | Databricks | Groq |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Public API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✓ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | 6 (Python, Java, R, Scala…) | 2 (Python, JavaScript) |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✓ | ✓ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Databricks
- Has raised more capital ($5.6B vs $2.3B)
- Higher Neuron score (95 vs 84)
- More mature (2013)
🔵 Strengths of Groq
- Offers a free plan
- Newer company (2016)
Which should you choose?
Choose Groq if price matters most — it starts at Free, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Infrastructure tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Databricks if you want the most established option — it has raised $5.6B, suggesting more runway for enterprise features, support, and long-term roadmap. For mission-critical workflows or larger teams, that stability often outweighs a lower monthly price.
Frequently asked questions
Databricks vs Groq — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Databricks has raised more capital and is the more established option; Groq has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Databricks cheaper than Groq?
No — Groq's cheapest paid plan is Free, while Databricks's is Enterprise · Contact sales.
Do Databricks and Groq offer free plans?
Databricks: Free trial only. Groq: Yes, has a free plan.
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