Yes, there are a couple of ways to experience Databricks for free:

1. Databricks Community Edition (DCE)

• Fully Managed: Databricks handles the setup and management on a limited-scale cloud environment.
• Great for Learning Databricks, experimenting with small projects, and collaborating within small groups.
  • Limitations: Reduced compute power and storage compared to paid versions.
  • Lacks some advanced features like the REST API, job scheduling, and whole cluster customization.

How to Access:

1. Visit https://community.cloud.databricks.com/
2. Click “Sign Up”

2. Databricks 14-Day Free Trial

• Full Features:  Access the complete Databricks platform with all its capabilities.
• Your Cloud: You’ll deploy this trial on your AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud account (cloud costs may apply).
• Suitable for:  Testing production-level workloads and evaluating features before committing to a paid plan.
  • Limitations: Time-limited to 14 days
  • You may incur costs from your cloud provider for computing and storage resources.

How to Access:

1. Visit https://www.databricks.com/try-databricks
2. Fill in the form to start the trial

Key Considerations

• Functionality: The Free Trial offers the full range of Databricks features, while the Community Edition has limitations.
• Deployment: The Free Trial requires your cloud account, while the Community Edition is a cloud-based solution managed by Databricks.
• Use Case: The Community Edition is ideal for learning and small projects. Consider the Free Trial for more demanding workloads or evaluating full features.