Snowflake Reviews

Name: Snowflake
Brand: Snowflake Computing
Rating: 4.2 (99 reviews)

Vendor: Snowflake Computing

4.2 out of 5

99 reviews
97% willing to recommend

2,058 followers

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What is Snowflake?

Snowflake is a cloud-based data warehousing solution for storing and processing data, generating reports and dashboards, and as a BI reporting source. It is used for optimizing costs and using financial data, as well as for migrating data from on-premises to the cloud. The solution is often used as a centralized data warehouse, combining data from multiple sources.

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Snowflake is the #1 ranked solution in top Data Warehouse solutions and top Cloud Data Warehouse solutions. PeerSpot users give Snowflake an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Snowflake is most commonly compared to Azure Data Factory: Snowflake vs Azure Data Factory. Snowflake is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 45% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 37% of all views.

Helped 831,020 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Snehasish Das

Technology Leader at eTCaaS

Snowflake is a data lake on the cloud where all processing happens in memory, resulting in very fast query responses. One key feature is the separation of compute and storage, which eliminates storage limitations. It also has tools for migrating data from legacy databases like Oracle. Its stability and efficiency enhance performance greatly. Tools in the AI/ML marketplace are readily available without needing development.

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VivekSingh 1

Senior Enterprise Architect at Boston Scientific

The solution's integration aspect is good, and all the connectors are in place. I found Snowflake similar to RDS. We use it for both data in motion and data in transit. It looks like the tool handles the data quite securely. We create ETL patterns. We ingest data from different source systems, and we have to create data pipelines. It would be useful if we could have AI features added to identify what I'm going to do with this data. It would be good if it could look at the data and help me create an automated pipeline instead of me creating a pipeline by myself. I'm from a retail background. I completed my Oracle DBA training a long time ago, about 18 years ago. I was quite familiar with the Snowflake and relational database concepts since I had already completed the Oracle ops, DBA ops, OCP, and OPA courses. For me, it was a journey similar to when I shifted from Oracle RDS to Snowflake. Although I was quite familiar with most of the concepts, there were some learnings. Whosoever is in the data field should at least try Snowflake once. They will then realize the best features in the solution and can continue using it. Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

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MedhaValvekar

Sr Manager at Cognizant

The solution could use a little bit more UI. Something was in process, however, it's not yet deployed or in the version that I'm using it is not deployed. If we have to use any table or any schema in other DB features, the prompt comes over after a dot. Whenever we are using it it would really help if it looked better. If you're running a procedure, it just gives a standard error instead of the exact error captured. If you have to look at it, you need to go into the history to look into which query failed, and we need to figure it out. Instead, if the error, whatever it is, is instead displayed in the history, showing the point of failure, it would be more visible. It would save some time for all the people who are using it. There are some reporting analytics that we can use. I'm aware of those. However, if there was more reporting, we'd appreciate that. We'd like for it to become a complete one-stop-shop solution. We'd like to have some automation around small tasks, especially around scheduling.

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Snowflake mindshare

Product category:

As of January 2025, the mindshare of Snowflake in the Cloud Data Warehouse category stands at 29.0%, up from 24.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Cloud Data Warehouse

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Cloud Data Warehouse	Jan 17, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 17, 2025	Download
Comparison	Snowflake vs Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics	Jan 17, 2025	Download
Comparison	Snowflake vs Azure Data Factory	Jan 17, 2025	Download
Comparison	Snowflake vs BigQuery	Jan 17, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Azure Data Factory	4.0	12.7%	92%	89 interviews Add to research
Teradata	4.1	N/A	87%	76 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Snowflake's key features include scalability, allowing seamless data processing and storage expansion. Its performance and architecture enable rapid query execution. Users appreciate the separation of compute and storage costs, flexible virtual warehousing, and data sharing capabilities. Time Travel and Zero Copy Cloning enhance data management. Its ease of use and quick setup benefit users transitioning to the cloud. Security and extensive format support further contribute to its value.

"Snowflake is a great solution if you have substantial data volume."
"Snowflake is a data lake on the cloud where all processing happens in memory, resulting in very fast query responses."
"The platform's most valuable features include its ability to effectively summarize and manage large datasets, allowing multiple teams to analyze and generate insights."

Room for Improvement

Snowflake users suggest improvements in geo-spatial query capabilities and client UI design including drag-and-drop functionality. They report challenges with cost transparency, stored procedures, and integration with other systems. There are requests for enhanced analytics, real-time streaming, and AI capabilities. Users find the pricing steep and recommend more control over data processes. They also mention difficulties in managing unstructured data and seek better integration with external tools. Improved support and documentation are highlighted.

"Cost reduction is one area I would like Snowflake to improve. The product is not very cheap, and a reduction in costs would be appreciated."
"The product is not very cheap, and a reduction in costs would be appreciated."
"Improvement is needed in integrating external tools, such as data catalogs, which can be complicated due to differing formats and usage across departments."

ROI

Most entities have mixed experiences with ROI from Snowflake. Some acknowledge generating returns through insights, while others struggle to quantify ROI due to multiple systems in use. Snowflake reduces operational costs and enhances productivity, offering advanced features and ease of use. Some entities emphasize long-term usage, highlighting continued investment for potential future returns, stressing its security and data handling efficiency. The ROI outlook appears promising but remains difficult to confirm definitively.

Pricing

Snowflake pricing, while flexible and based on usage, can be perceived as expensive by some users. The cost structure relies on credit usage, with storage and compute costs separated, charging for what is used. Discounts are available for bulk credit purchases, appealing to enterprises needing scalability. Pricing is competitive but often higher than rivals like Redshift and GCP BigQuery. Users appreciate its efficient cost mechanism but advise careful monitoring to avoid unexpected expenses.

"Oracle is less expensive than Snowflake."
"The pricing part is based on the computing and storage. The costs are different and then there are services costs as well."
"The product's price range falls between average to a bit expensive range. I think the tool is worth the money if you use it properly."

Popular Use Cases

Snowflake is primarily used for data warehousing, providing a cloud-centric platform for scalable data management and integration. Users migrate on-premise data to Snowflake, store diverse data models, and utilize it for reporting and analytics. It's employed for big data, IoT projects, machine learning, and business intelligence. Many organizations partner with Snowflake for implementation, focusing on consolidating data into centralized locations to enable streamlined analytics and enhanced data accessibility.

Service and Support

Customers report Snowflake's service is responsive and helpful, with knowledgeable staff. There are positive comments about quick response times, although some note delays due to time zones. Users appreciate the availability of online resources and documentation. Technical support is praised for expertise, though some desire faster resolutions. While larger issues are promptly addressed, users find the self-service and ticketing system efficient. Feedback varies, with some not directly needing or contacting support due to user-friendly tools.

Deployment

Users describe Snowflake's initial setup as straightforward and simple, especially for those familiar with cloud ecosystems. The process often requires minimal technical documentation, with many managing to complete setup quickly. It's noted that migrating existing data can add complexity, particularly for those transitioning from on-premises systems. Companies emphasize the ease of deployment due to its cloud-based nature, although some mention the need for additional roles for efficient configuration and maintenance.

Scalability

Snowflake offers exceptional scalability, allowing organizations to seamlessly expand both storage and compute capabilities. Companies utilize its automatic scaling features, handling vast data volumes efficiently. Many users, ranging from small teams to large enterprises, find Snowflake versatile and adaptable for growing needs. Its architecture supports independent scaling, and users appreciate the simplicity and responsiveness when adjusting scale. While scalability is strong, cluster sizing guidance could improve. Snowflake’s cost-effectiveness might vary depending on usage.

Stability

Snowflake demonstrates high stability with minimal downtime, primarily due to external provider issues. Users report no significant performance degradation, highlighting its fast and reliable platform. Some experienced brief outages linked to cloud service issues, but Snowflake's quick response mitigates impact. Various organizations attest to stable performance across different environments, with efficient automatic updates and minimal support required. Despite isolated cases of instability, it consistently offers robust performance and seamless data handling.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Snowflake Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

37%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Insurance Company

Retailer

Government

Energy/Utilities Company

University

Real Estate/Law Firm

Media Company

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Non Profit

Transportation Company

Outsourcing Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Hospitality Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Logistics Company

Legal Firm

Performing Arts

Compare Snowflake with alternative products

Learn more about Snowflake

Snowflake has helped organizations improve query performance, store and process JSON and XML, consolidate multiple databases into one unified table, power company-wide dashboards, increase productivity, reduce processing time, and have easy maintenance with good technical support.

Its platform is made up of three components:

Cloud services - Snowflake uses ANSI SQL to empower users to optimize their data and manage their infrastructure, while Snowflake handles the security and encryption of stored data.
Query processing - Snowflake's compute layer is made up of virtual cloud data warehouses that let you analyze data through requests. Each of the warehouses does not compete for computing resources, nor do they affect the performance of each other.
Database storage - Snowflake automatically manages all parts of the data storage process, including file size, compression, organization, structure, metadata, and statistics.

Snowflake has many valuable vital features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Snowflake architecture provides nearly unlimited scalability and high speed because it uses a single elastic performance engine. The solution also supports unlimited concurrent users and workloads, from interactive to batch.
Snowflake makes automation easy and enables enterprises to automate data management, security, governance, availability, and data resiliency.
With seamless cross-cloud and cross-region connections, Snowflake eliminates ETL and data silos. Anyone who needs access to shared secure data can get a single copy via the data cloud. In addition, Snowflake makes remote collaboration and decision-making fast and easy via a single shared data source.
Snowflake’s Data Marketplace offers third-party data, which allows you to connect with Snowflake customers to extend workflows with data services and third-party applications.

There are many benefits to implementing Snowflake. It helps optimize costs, reduce downtime, improve operational efficiency, and automate data replication for fast recovery, and it is built for high reliability and availability.

Below are quotes from interviews we conducted with users currently using the Snowflake solution:

Sreenivasan R., Director of Data Architecture and Engineering at Decision Minds, says, "Data sharing is a good feature. It is a majorly used feature. The elastic computing is another big feature. Separating computing and storage gives you flexibility. It doesn't require much DBA involvement because it doesn't need any performance tuning. We are not doing any performance tuning, and the entire burden of performance and SQL tuning is on Snowflake. Its usability is very good. I don't need to ramp up any user, and its onboarding is easier. You just onboard the user, and you are done with it. There are simple SQL and UI, and people are able to use this solution easily. Ease of use is a big thing in Snowflake."

A director of business operations at a logistics company mentions, "It requires no maintenance on our part. They handle all that. The speed is phenomenal. The pricing isn't really anything more than what you would be paying for a SQL server license or another tool to execute the same thing. We have zero maintenance on our side to do anything and the speed at which it performs queries and loads the data is amazing. It handles unstructured data extremely well, too. So, if the data is in a JSON array or an XML, it handles that super well."

A Solution Architect at a wholesaler/distributor comments, "The ability to share the data and the ability to scale up and down easily are the most valuable features. The concept of data sharing and data plumbing made it very easy to provide and share data. The ability to refresh your Dev or QA just by doing a clone is also valuable. It has the dynamic scale up and scale down feature. Development and deployment are much easier as compared to other platforms where you have to go through a lot of stuff. With a tool like DBT, you can do modeling and transformation within a single tool and deploy to Snowflake. It provides continuous deployment and continuous integration abilities. There is a separation of storage and compute, so you only get charged for your usage. You only pay for what you use. When we share the data downstream with business partners, we can specifically create compute for them, and we can charge back the business."

Snowflake was previously known as Snowflake Computing.