Snowflake editions and pricing - Commands & Configuration

Introduction

Snowflake offers different editions to fit various business needs and budgets. Each edition provides a set of features and pricing options to help you choose what works best for your data and workload.

When you want to start with a basic data warehouse and pay only for what you use.

When you need advanced security features for sensitive data.

When your business requires high availability and disaster recovery.

When you want to share data easily with other Snowflake users.

When you need support for large-scale data processing and performance optimization.

Commands

This command lists the available Snowflake editions and their key features.

Terminal

SHOW EDITIONS;

Expected Output

name       | description

Standard   | Basic edition with core features

Enterprise | Adds advanced security and compliance

Business Critical | Includes data sharing and performance features

Virtual Private Snowflake | Dedicated infrastructure for high security

This command shows the current Snowflake account name to confirm which account you are using.

Terminal

SELECT CURRENT_ACCOUNT();

Expected Output

CURRENT_ACCOUNT()

myaccount123

This command returns the edition of Snowflake your account is currently using.

Terminal

SELECT SYSTEM$GET_EDITION();

Expected Output

SYSTEM$GET_EDITION()

Enterprise

This command shows recent credit usage for a specific warehouse to help understand pricing based on usage.

Terminal

SELECT WAREHOUSE_SIZE, CREDITS_USED FROM SNOWFLAKE.ACCOUNT_USAGE.WAREHOUSE_METERING_HISTORY WHERE WAREHOUSE_NAME = 'COMPUTE_WH' ORDER BY START_TIME DESC LIMIT 5;

Expected Output

WAREHOUSE_SIZE | CREDITS_USED

X-Small       | 0.5

Small         | 1.0

X-Small       | 0.4

Small         | 1.1

Medium        | 2.0

Key Concept

If you remember nothing else, remember: Snowflake editions differ by features and pricing, so choose the edition that fits your data needs and budget.

Common Mistakes

Assuming all Snowflake accounts have the same features regardless of edition.

Different editions unlock different features and security options, so using the wrong edition can limit your capabilities.

Check your account's edition with SYSTEM$GET_EDITION() and review the features before planning your data strategy.

Ignoring credit usage and costs when running warehouses.

Snowflake charges based on compute credits used, so running large warehouses without monitoring can lead to unexpected bills.

Regularly check warehouse credit usage with ACCOUNT_USAGE views to manage costs effectively.

Summary

Use SHOW EDITIONS to see available Snowflake editions and their features.

Use SYSTEM$GET_EDITION() to find out which edition your account uses.

Monitor warehouse credit usage to understand pricing and control costs.

Practice

1. Which Snowflake edition provides the most advanced security features like Tri-Secret Secure and HIPAA compliance?

easy

A. Standard Edition

B. Enterprise Edition

C. Business Critical Edition

D. Virtual Private Snowflake (VPS) Edition

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Snowflake editions and security features

   Snowflake offers multiple editions with increasing security and compliance features as you move up.

2. Step 2: Identify edition with advanced security

   The Business Critical Edition includes advanced security like Tri-Secret Secure and HIPAA compliance, which are not in Standard or Enterprise.

3. Final Answer:

   Business Critical Edition -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Advanced security = Business Critical Edition [OK]

Hint: Business Critical edition = highest security features [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Standard with Enterprise for security
• Thinking VPS has more security than Business Critical
• Assuming VPS Edition is standard offering

2. Which of the following is the correct way to describe Snowflake's pricing model?

easy

A. Pay only for compute credits and storage used

B. Flat monthly fee regardless of usage

C. Pay per user license only

D. Fixed yearly contract with unlimited usage

Solution

1. Step 1: Review Snowflake pricing components

   Snowflake charges based on compute credits consumed and storage used, not flat fees or per user licenses.

2. Step 2: Match pricing description

   Pay only for compute credits and storage used correctly states pay only for compute credits and storage used, which is Snowflake's usage-based pricing.

3. Final Answer:

   Pay only for compute credits and storage used -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Pricing = usage-based (compute + storage) [OK]

Hint: Snowflake pricing = pay for what you use [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking pricing is flat monthly fee
• Assuming per user license applies
• Believing yearly contract covers unlimited usage

3. If a Snowflake user runs queries consuming 100 compute credits and stores 500 GB of data for a month, which factor primarily affects the monthly bill?

medium

A. Only the compute credits used

B. Both compute credits and storage amount

C. Only the storage amount

D. Number of users accessing Snowflake

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand billing components

   Snowflake bills based on compute credits consumed and storage used, both contribute to cost.

2. Step 2: Analyze given usage

   User consumes 100 compute credits and stores 500 GB, so both factors affect the bill.

3. Final Answer:

   Both compute credits and storage amount -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Billing = compute + storage [OK]

Hint: Monthly bill = compute credits + storage used [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring storage cost in billing
• Assuming only compute credits matter
• Thinking user count affects billing

4. A company is using Snowflake Standard Edition but needs features like multi-cluster warehouses and enhanced security. What is the best fix?

medium

A. Upgrade to Enterprise Edition

B. Switch to Standard Edition again

C. Reduce compute credits usage

D. Use only one warehouse to avoid multi-cluster

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify missing features in Standard Edition

   Standard Edition lacks multi-cluster warehouses and advanced security features.

2. Step 2: Choose edition with required features

   Enterprise Edition supports multi-cluster warehouses and enhanced security, so upgrading is needed.

3. Final Answer:

   Upgrade to Enterprise Edition -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Need multi-cluster + security = upgrade edition [OK]

Hint: Upgrade edition for advanced features [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to reduce compute credits instead of upgrading
• Staying on Standard Edition expecting new features
• Avoiding multi-cluster by limiting warehouses

5. A startup expects low data storage but high query volume. Which Snowflake edition and pricing approach best fits their needs to optimize cost?

hard

A. Virtual Private Snowflake with fixed compute allocation

B. Enterprise Edition with always-on warehouses for performance

C. Premier Edition with fixed monthly fee for unlimited usage

D. Standard Edition with auto-suspend warehouses to save compute credits

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze startup's usage pattern

   Low storage but high query volume means compute cost is main factor; storage cost is low.

2. Step 2: Choose edition and pricing to optimize compute cost

   Standard Edition is cost-effective; using auto-suspend warehouses saves compute credits by pausing idle compute.

3. Step 3: Evaluate other options

   Enterprise and Premier are costlier; always-on warehouses waste compute credits; fixed fees don't fit startup's usage.

4. Final Answer:

   Standard Edition with auto-suspend warehouses to save compute credits -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Low storage + high queries = Standard + auto-suspend [OK]

Hint: Auto-suspend saves compute credits for bursty queries [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing expensive editions without need
• Ignoring auto-suspend to save costs
• Assuming fixed fees are cheaper for startups