Introducing Databricks Free Edition

Today, we are excited to announce the availability of Databricks Free Edition, a product for learning and exploring the latest data and AI technologies for free. Free Edition offers the same suite of tools that were previously limited to paying customers, allowing everyone to experiment and learn all the latest in data and AI technologies. Try it today. 

With Free Edition, users can now:

• Build AI agents and applications using Mosaic AI, and learn how to prepare data, deploy, evaluate, and govern AI systems, while experimenting with some of the latest foundation models.
• Collaborate on data science and ML projects in shared notebooks that support Python, SQL, and more — perfect for group work, experimentation, and showcasing your work.
• Create beautiful, interactive dashboards and conversational data experiences powered by AI.
• Query and analyze data with SQL using the built-in SQL editor to sharpen your data analysis skills and explore real datasets like a pro.
• Learn how to build reliable data pipelines and become a data engineer using Databricks Lakeflow to ingest, transform, and orchestrate data from various sources.
• Get instant coding help while you learn with the AI-powered Databricks Assistant, which helps you write, fix, and understand code as you work.
• Invite friends and teammates to collaborate in a shared environment — explore, learn, and create together in real time, just like in the workplace.

All of this is available for free in the same environment used by millions of professionals at the world’s top companies. It is the fastest way to build real skills on real tools in today’s highly competitive AI and ML job market. 

Data and AI Job Demand

With growing demand, data and AI roles are facing heightened competition in today’s market. Forbes states that jobs related to AI and ML have grown nearly 74% annually over the last four years, and the majority of business leaders (66%) will not consider hiring a candidate who does not possess AI skills. The rate at which these fields are growing necessitates students and hobbyists to move beyond reading documentation, watching tutorials or practicing on tools that have limited real-world applicability. Hobbyists and learners need to learn and experiment with the tools they will be using in a professional capacity – and now they finally can with Databricks Free Edition. 

Explore Free Training Courses on Databricks Academy 

Databricks provides both the product and complementary self-paced, hands-on training resources to help data and AI learners build their technical skills. The training is available in multiple formats—including self-paced, instructor-led, and blended learning—tailored to different user roles and product areas to support Community Edition. Databricks also offers role-aligned certifications to validate data and AI skills on Databricks. These industry-recognized credentials assess knowledge of the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform and the core methodologies that support the use of the platform. 

Universities Use Free Edition to Build Future-Ready Talent

Free Edition has already made waves in universities, helping students and professors proliferate data and AI skills. 

We are thrilled to see Databricks’ commitment to democratizing access to cutting-edge data technologies for the global university community. At Texas A&M University and the Mays Business School, we believe equipping students with real-world experience in tools like the Databricks Free Edition is essential. By integrating these technologies into the classroom, we empower our graduates to lead innovation and drive data-driven transformation in the AI and big data era.

— Arnold Castro, Assistant Dean of AI of Mays Business School at Texas A&M

Get Started on Free Edition

Want to get started? Sign up for Free Edition today and read the supporting documentation to begin.