Apache Impala
Input—per 1M tokens
Output—per 1M tokens
Context—tokens
WeightsClosed
About
Apache Impala is ranked #8 of 31 in OLAP software on Inferse. It runs on API, Linux, macOS, Self-hosted. There is a free plan.
Compared on OLAP software
- Free plan
- Yesimpala.apache.org
- Real-time ingestion
- Yesimpala.apache.org
Facts
- Product type
- Apache Impala is an open-source native analytic database for open data and table formats.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Query performance
- Impala provides low-latency and high-concurrency BI and analytic queries on the Hadoop ecosystem.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Scaling
- Impala scales linearly, including in multitenant environments.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Infrastructure reuse
- Impala uses the same file and data formats, metadata, security, and resource-management frameworks as Hadoop deployments.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- SQL compatibility
- Impala supports SQL and uses the same metadata and ODBC driver as Apache Hive.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Storage systems
- Impala supports data in HDFS, HBase, and Amazon S3.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Data formats
- Supported formats include delimited text, Parquet, Avro, SequenceFile, and RCFile, with Snappy, GZIP, Deflate, and BZIP compression codecs.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Client interfaces
- Clients can connect through impala-shell, Hue, JDBC, or ODBC.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Kudu integration
- Impala can query Kudu tables and perform efficient update or delete operations when data changes continuously or in small batches.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Iceberg integration
- Impala can add existing Iceberg tables to the Hive Metastore with CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE and interact with them.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Security
- Impala integrates Kerberos authentication with Apache Ranger fine-grained authorization and provides auditing capabilities.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Encrypted connections
- JDBC and ODBC applications can use Kerberos authentication, TLS/SSL encryption, or both.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The downloads page lists releases with SHA512 checksums and GPG signatures, and says DEB/RPM packages are available from GitHub Releases.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Support channels
- The project provides user and developer mailing lists, Jira issues, Slack, Stack Overflow, and Quora community channels.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
- Batch-processing limitation
- Impala does not replace MapReduce-based batch frameworks such as Hive, which are suited to long-running ETL and batch jobs.impala.apache.org · 1 Oct 2026
Best Apache Impala alternatives
See all 12
7.4 Exasol $3.30/mo first paid tier Free plan 
7.3 Apache Doris See plans price on the maker's page 
7.3 Apache Druid Free free plan, no paid price published Free plan 
7.3 InfluxDB See plans price on the maker's page Free plan 
7.3 Oracle Autonomous AI Lakehouse Free free plan, no paid price published Free plan 
7.3 TDengine $281.25/mo first paid tier Free plan 
Where it ranks on Inferse
- Best OLAP Software in 2026#8 of 31
- Best OLAP Databases in 2026#7 of 28
- Best Query Engine Software in 2026#6 of 25
Sources
- impala.apache.org· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build/asf-site-html/topics/impala_· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build/html/topics/impala_client.ht· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build/html/topics/impala_kudu.html· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build/html/topics/impala_iceberg.h· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build/asf-site-html/topics/impala_· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/docs/build3x/html/topics/impala_kerbero· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/downloads.html· checked 1 Oct 2026
- impala.apache.org/community.html· checked 1 Oct 2026
- apache.org/free/· checked 1 Oct 2026