What is the difference between AWS Glue and EMR?

AWS Glue and Amazon EMR are both used for big data processing, but AWS Glue is a managed ETL service, while EMR is a scalable cluster-based data processing platform. Glue is serverless and optimized for ETL workflows, whereas EMR supports distributed processing frameworks like Spark, Hadoop, and Presto.

Key Differences: AWS Glue vs. EMR

1. Purpose – Glue is for ETL automation; EMR is for large-scale data analytics.

2. Serverless vs. Cluster-based – Glue is fully serverless, while EMR requires cluster setup.

3. Ease of Use – Glue has pre-built transformations, making it easier for ETL; EMR requires custom configurations.

4. Performance – EMR is more powerful for advanced analytics, while Glue is optimized for simpler ETL tasks.

5. Cost Model – Glue charges per ETL job execution, while EMR pricing depends on cluster size and usage.

Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose AWS Glue if:

• • You need a fully managed ETL service.

  • Your primary task is transforming and moving structured data.

  • You want automation and minimal setup.

• Choose EMR if:

• • You need scalable big data processing with Spark, Hadoop, or Presto.

  • You work with large-scale unstructured data.

  • You require advanced machine learning or data transformation.