Data and analytics · Data and AI platforms
Snowflake
Managed data cloud with Cortex AI, agents and Snowflake Intelligence running next to your data.
- Vendor
- Snowflake
- Pricing model
- Platform Credits by edition for compute and storage; separate AI Credits for AI features since April 2026.
- Runs on
- Snowflake on AWS, Azure or Google Cloud
- Agentic OS layer
- Context
- Industries
- Any industry
- Last reviewed
- November 2026
Our verdict
The simplest way to run governed analytics and AI on the same data, with little to manage. AI spend sits on its own meter now, and model choice drives most of it.
What it is
Snowflake is a fully managed data platform for warehousing, data sharing and applications. Cortex adds AI functions in SQL, Cortex Search, Cortex Analyst for natural-language questions, Cortex Agents and Snowflake Intelligence, all running inside the platform so data does not leave.
Since April 2026, AI features bill in AI Credits, separate from the edition-priced Platform Credits used for warehouses and storage.
Best for
Analytics and data teams that live in SQL and want AI on governed data with minimal operations.
Not the right fit
Teams that want heavy custom ML engineering on open formats, where Databricks is stronger.
Key capabilities
Cortex AI functions
Classify, extract, summarise and complete from SQL.
Cortex Analyst and Agents
Natural-language questions and agents over your data.
Data sharing
Share live data with partners without copying.
Near-zero operations
Fully managed scaling and maintenance.
Strengths
- Very little to manage
- AI runs where the data is
- Strong data sharing and marketplace
Watch-outs
- Separate AI and Platform credit meters
- Capacity discounts do not apply to AI Credits
- Frontier models in bulk get expensive quickly
Pricing
Platform Credits cost about $2 (Standard), $3 (Enterprise) and $4 (Business Critical) on demand, with storage around $23 per TB per month on capacity. AI Credits are $2.00 with global routing or $2.20 with regional routing, regardless of edition. ACV-based discounts apply to AI Credits; pre-paid capacity discounts do not.
Checked November 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm current pricing with Snowflake before you budget.
Security and governance
Role-based access, masking, row access policies, private connectivity and regional processing options.
How we would roll it out
- Choose routing for residencyRegional routing keeps AI processing in region, at a small premium.
- Pick models per taskUse small models for bulk work; save frontier models for hard cases.
- Set budgets on AI featuresUse resource budgets for AI services from day one.
Compare with
Other tools in Data and analytics, closest match first.
Databricks
Data and AI platforms
Data and AI platform built on the lakehouse, with governance, model serving and Agent Bricks.
Best for Engineering-led data teams building data, ML and agents on one governed platform.
Microsoft Fabric and Power BI
Data and AI platforms
Microsoft's unified analytics platform and the world's most used BI tool, with Copilot across both.
Best for Microsoft organisations that want data and BI in one licence.
Choosing between Snowflake and the alternatives?
Book a call. We look at your systems, data and governance together and tell you which platform fits, and what to build on it first.