Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 1, 2026
Snowflake and Azure Data Factory are competitors in cloud data management and integration solutions. While Snowflake is favored for its data management and warehouse capabilities, Azure Data Factory leads with its integration features.
Features: Snowflake excels in path applications, time travel retrieval, and scalability. It offers ease of management and zero-copy cloning, which streamlines data operations. Azure Data Factory stands out with its intuitive data flow operations, effective orchestration, and ability to support various data sources, particularly in hybrid scenarios. Its integration with other Azure services enhances its versatility.
Room for Improvement: Snowflake users suggest improvements in AI tool integration, better handling of unstructured data, and reduced costs. Enhanced external tool integration and user experience with pipelines are also needed. Azure Data Factory could improve performance during heavy loads, provide better monitoring capabilities, and enhance integration with SAP and other third-party solutions. Easier use and clearer pricing are also desired.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Snowflake is predominantly cloud-based with responsive customer support, but lacks some service-level agreements. Azure Data Factory offers hybrid cloud deployments, and while it generally provides helpful customer service, its technical support documentation and real-time assistance could be improved.
Pricing and ROI: Snowflake uses a credit-based pricing model which can be cost-effective, but unpredictable. It delivers strong ROI. Azure Data Factory has a pay-as-you-go model seen as cost-effective, though the usage-based pricing sometimes makes cost prediction challenging. Both solutions are seen as solid investments, with Azure Data Factory being particularly effective in cutting down on data integration expenses.
To learn more, read our detailed
Azure Data Factory vs. Snowflake Report (Updated: December 2025).
