Microsoft Analytics Platform System vs Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics comparison

Microsoft Analytics Platform System and Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics are both solutions in the Data Warehouse category. Additionally, 66% of Microsoft Analytics Platform System users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics users who would recommend it.

Microsoft Analytics Platfor...

Read 9 Microsoft Analytics Platform System reviews

444 Views
293 Comparison Views

66% willing to recommend

Microsoft Azure Synapse Ana...

Read 97 Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics reviews

4,426 Views
2,877 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Microsoft Analytics Platfor...

Microsoft Azure Synapse Ana...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Microsoft Analytics Platform System and Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Data Warehouse solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Analytics Platform System vs. Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Analytics Platform System vs. Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics

September 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Analytics Platfor...

Average Rating

6.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Data Warehouse (17th)

Microsoft Azure Synapse Ana...

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Cloud Data Warehouse (5th)

Featured Reviews

MahmoudMohamed1

Senior Data Engineer at Tatweer Educational Technologies Company - TETCO

Offers smooth data integration between systems, but requires better real-time analytics capabilities

We leverage its capabilities for many applications. We can integrate with our databases, like Oracle, MySQL, or any other, using Microsoft Integration Services. This lets us continue using private databases without paying additional licensing fees. Additionally, the license includes Analytics services and Power BI, which work on-premises, unlike most other technologies that require cloud solutions.

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AnandTiwari

CTO at New Turn Technologies

Has consistently supported integration across diverse environments and streamlined deployment processes

Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics could improve their pricing structure. They currently have two separate pricing tiers: full log and partial log. I suggest they implement a single price and reduce charges on logs. They could implement a cap with some free tier or price tier based on the GBs of log collected. This would help customers use Azure more effectively. Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics is an excellent product because it includes both SIEM and orchestration capabilities with playbooks, but the log management part is very costly. Regarding future improvements, I would appreciate more application connectors for integration, particularly for on-premise based solutions. Many customers still maintain on-premise infrastructure, so having more integration possibilities for these environments would be beneficial.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"It is closely integrated with other products in the MS portfolio."

"The Cube Solution is quite different when compared to the rest of the competition and has unique functionality for advanced analytics."

"Helps our customers to discover trends, which provides useful information based on their business."

"This is a well-integrated solution and that integration empowers results."

"This solution will connect to any database, you can combine databases, and you can create a cube or tabular model."

"We leverage its capabilities for many applications. We can integrate with our databases, like Oracle, MySQL, or any other, using Microsoft Integration Services."

"I like that it's integrated with other Azure products."

"Microsoft Analytics Platform System's most valuable feature is its ecosystems and seamless integration with other Microsoft reporting platforms and databases."

"The most valuable features of Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics are its serverless flexibility and complete power have allowed me to explore various different use cases. While I am not an expert in the product, my experience in programming in Databricks has shown me that Microsoft's investments in Synapse could potentially lead to it becoming a complete replacement for Databricks in the future."

"The most advantageous aspect of Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics is its simplified data transformation process compared to traditional databases. This makes data cleansing and transformation more manageable and straightforward, which we appreciate. It is much easier to build as well."

"It is a highly stable solution and it's easy to use."

"The most valuable features are the flexibility and that it's easy to use as an end-user compared to AWS."

"Synapse Analytics' best feature is its ability to process large files."

"Azure elasticity allows us to scale as much as we want, and it is pay-as-you-go, so we can scale up as we need to."

"Its seamless integration with Azure services is most valuable. If somebody wants to use all Azure services, it is the best solution."

"The most valuable feature is performance gains."

More Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics pros

Cons

"Microsoft Analytics Platform System could have better support."

"I think the biggest problem with the product is that it does a data ingest model, which is very expensive."

"We need better real-time analytics capabilities. It's a bit challenging for us."

"Machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities need to be more friendly for beginning users."

"Releases of new products and functionality is never accompanied by associated documentation, training and resources that adequately explain the release."

"The flexibility of this solution needs to be improved because you cannot make changes at every one of the different steps."

"The pricing model needs to be improved."

"Functionality needs to be more up-to-date with competing products."

More Microsoft Analytics Platform System cons

"I'd like to see part of the service de-coupled."

"The product could be more feature-rich."

"One potential area for improvement could be the availability of an on-premises data lake implementation, as the product is currently only implemented in a cloud environment."

"Managing workloads and data transformation using Databricks should be a focus."

"I am pretty sure that there are areas that need improvement but I just can think of them off the top of my head."

"It's pay as you go, so you never know what your bill is going to be beforehand, and that's scary for customers. If you have someone who makes a mistake and the program's a loop that is running all night, you could receive a very expensive bill."

"From an infrastructure standpoint, I believe it can be more secure in terms of availability."

"The configuration for things like high-availability could be more user-friendly for non-technical users."

More Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate Microsoft Analytics Platform System a seven out of ten for pricing."

"We are currently paying $200,000 a year for all the different parts of the suite during an ingest model Microsoft now charges us $700,000 a year."

"The initial price is lower than Oracle, but extensive use of SQL may lead to a higher total cost of ownership."

"Users have to pay extra for premium-level technical support."

"We chose the serverless option for the database which has saved us a lot of money. Our costs are approximately £600 per month."

"The computer and storage costs are totally separate which allows you to work independently or manage costs."

"It goes by the usage, and there are some limits. Synapse goes by particular pricing, and it is expensive. Both Azure Synapse Analytics and Snowflake are pretty expensive. They don't have standard pricing. They deal with each customer differently."

"Very costly solution and other products are available for less."

"This solution starts at €1000.00 a month for just the basics and can go up to €300,000.00 per month for the fastest version."

"It just depends on how big your instance is. It could be anywhere from 1,000 to 50,000 per year depending on how big your instance is. You pay based on how big you make your database. Essentially, they charge you per hour of usage."

"I'm not sure of the exact cost, however, it is around $100,000 a year."

"The pricing is competitive, but only when you pay upfront. If you pay as you go, it's not as competitive. I'd give pricing a rating of seven out of ten."

More Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Manufacturing Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Large Enterprise	7

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	29
Midsize Enterprise	18
Large Enterprise	55

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft Analytics Platform System?

We leverage its capabilities for many applications. We can integrate with our databases, like Oracle, MySQL, or any other, using Microsoft Integration Services.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Analytics Platform System?

It's not too confusing. It's based on features, and we don't have to buy additional licenses.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft Analytics Platform System?

We need better real-time analytics capabilities. It's a bit challenging for us. Moreover, there are some permission limitations.

See all answers

How does Amazon Redshift compare with Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics?

Amazon Redshift is very fast, has a very good response time, and is very user-friendly. The initial setup is very straightforward. This solution can merge and integrate well with many different dat...

See all answers

What do you like most about Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics?

The product is easy to use, and anybody can easily migrate to advanced DB.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics?

Pricing only.

See all answers

Comparisons

Teradata vs Microsoft Analytics Platform System

Compared 27% of the time

Treasure Data vs Microsoft Analytics Platform System

Compared 17% of the time

IBM Netezza Performance Server vs Microsoft Analytics Platform System

Compared 16% of the time

More Microsoft Analytics Platform System Competitors

Snowflake vs Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics

Compared 18% of the time

Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse vs Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics

Compared 13% of the time

Amazon Redshift vs Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics

Compared 11% of the time

SAP BW4HANA vs Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics

Compared 7% of the time

Apache Hadoop vs Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics

Compared 5% of the time

More Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Analytics Platform System

October 2025

Microsoft Analytics Platform System report

Download Microsoft Analytics Platform System product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics

October 2025

Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics report

Download Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics product report

Also Known As

Microsoft APS, MS Analytics Platform System

Azure Synapse Analytics, Microsoft Azure SQL Data Warehouse, Microsoft Azure SQL DW, Azure SQL Data Warehouse, MS Azure Synapse Analytics

Overview

The Microsoft Analytics Platform System can meet the demands of your evolving data warehouse environment with its scale-out, massively parallel processing integrated system supporting hybrid data warehouse scenarios. It provides the ability to query across relational and non-relational data by leveraging Microsoft PolyBase and industry-leading big data technologies. It offers the lowest price per terabyte for large data warehouse workloads.

Microsoft

Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics is an end-to-end analytics solution that successfully combines analytical services to merge big data analytics and enterprise data warehouses into a single unified platform. The solution can run intelligent distributed queries among nodes, and provides the ability to query both relational and non-relational data.

Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics is built with these 4 components:

Synapse SQL
Spark
Synapse Pipeline
Studio

Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics Features

Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics has many valuable key features, including:

Cloud Data Service: WIth Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics you can operate services (data analytics, machine learning, data warehousing, dashboarding, etc.) in a single workspace via the cloud.
Structured and unstructured data: Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics supports both structured and unstructured data and allows you to manage relational and non-relational data - unlike data warehouses and lakes that tend to store them respectively.
Effective data storage: Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics offers next-level data storage with high availability and different tiers.
Responsive data engine: Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics uses Massive Parallel Processing (MPP) and is designed to handle large volumes of data and analytical workloads efficiently without any problems.
Several scripting languages: The solution provides language compatibility and supports different programming languages, such as Python, Java, Spark SQL, and Scala.
Query optimization: Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics works well to facilitate limitless concurrency and performance optimization. It also simplifies workload management.

Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics Benefits

Some of the benefits of using Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics include:

Database templates: Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics offers industry-specific database templates that make it easy to combine and shape data.
Better business insights: With Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics you can expand discovery of insights from all your data and apply machine learning models to all your intelligent apps.
Reduce project development time: Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics makes it possible to have a unified experience for developing end-to-end analytics, which reduces project development time significantly.
Eliminate data barriers: By using Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics, you can perform analytics on operational and business apps data without data movement.
Advanced security: Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics provides both advanced security and privacy features to ensure data protection.
Machine Learning: Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics integrates Azure Machine Learning, Azure Cognitive Services, and Power BI.

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics users who are currently using the solution.

PeerSpot user Jael S., who is an Information Architect at Systems Analysis & Design Engineering, comments on her experience using the product, saying that it is “Scalable, intuitive, facilitates compliance and keeps your data secure”. She also says "We also like governance. It looks at what the requirements are for the company to identify the best way to ensure compliance is met when you move to the cloud."

Michel T., CHTO at Timp-iT, mentions that "the features most valuable are the simplicity, how easy it is to create a dashboard from different information systems."

A Senior Teradata Consultant at a tech services company says, "Microsoft provides both the platform and the data center, so you don't have to look for a cloud vendor. It saves you from having to deal with two vendors for the same task."

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Transport for London, E-Plus Mobilfunk GmbH & Co. KG, Prometeia, Tangerine, SSM Health Care, Service Corporation International

Toshiba, Carnival, LG Electronics, Jet.com, Adobe,

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Analytics Platform System vs. Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics

September 2025

Free Report: Microsoft Analytics Platform System vs. Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics

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