Databricks vs Qdrant
Which Infrastructure AI tool is better in 2026?
Databricks
The data + AI company
Qdrant
High-performance vector search engine built in Rust for production-grade AI retrieval.
Side-by-side
Databricks is the more established option (raised $5.6B), but Qdrant is cheaper to start.
| Metric | Databricks | Qdrant |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | The data + AI company | High-performance vector search engine built in Rust for production-grade AI retrieval. |
| Foundedi | 2013🏆 | 2021 |
| HQi | San Francisco, US | Berlin, DE |
| Employeesi | 8000+🏆 | 51-200 |
| Neuron scorei | 95🏆 | 54 |
| Total fundingi | $5.6B🏆 | $50M |
| Latest roundi | Series L · Dec 2025 | Series B · Mar 2026 |
| Valuationi | $134B🏆 | — |
| Cheapest paid plani | — | —🏆 |
| Free plani | ✗ | ✓ Free |
| Free triali | ✓ | ✓ |
| Top tier pricei | Committed Use Plan · Contact sales | Hybrid Cloud · Contact sales |
| Pricing summaryi | 3 published plans | 4 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Databricks and Qdrant.
| Capability | Databricks | Qdrant |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✓ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | 6 (Python, Java, R, Scala…) | 6 (Python, TypeScript, Rust, Go…) |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✓ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Databricks
- Has raised more capital ($5.6B vs $50M)
- Higher Neuron score (95 vs 54)
- More mature (2013)
- Verified profile
🔵 Strengths of Qdrant
- Offers a free plan
- Newer company (2021)
Which should you choose?
Choose Qdrant 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 Qdrant — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Databricks has raised more capital and is the more established option; Qdrant is cheaper to start. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Databricks cheaper than Qdrant?
No — Qdrant's cheapest paid plan is Free, while Databricks's is Enterprise · Contact sales.
Do Databricks and Qdrant offer free plans?
Databricks: Free trial only. Qdrant: Yes, has a free plan.
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