Google Colab and Jupyter Notebook: Key Differences Explained

Creating, organizing, and sharing computational paperwork is crucial in programming and information science. Most folks flip to one of many two hottest instruments, Google Colab and Jupyter Notebook, to assist them handle their information.

SEE: Learn how you can turn into a knowledge scientist.

What is Google Colab?

Google Colab is a instrument provided by Google Research that permits customers to jot down and run Python code of their net browsers. Colab is constructed on open supply Jupyter and allows you to create and share cloud-hosted compute information with out downloading or putting in something.

What is Jupyter Notebook?

Jupyter is the unique free, open supply, web-based interactive computing platform born from the IPython challenge; Jupyter Notebook is an internet utility that permits customers to create and share computational paperwork.

Google Colab and Jupyter Notebook: comparability desk

Google Colab and Jupyter Notebook: costs

Google Colab and Jupyter Notebook are each free. Jupyter Notebook was launched as an open supply instrument below the liberal phrases of the modified BSD license, making it 100% free.

While Google Colab can be free, you will have to pay for superior options as your computing wants develop. Below are the paid plans provided by Google Colab:

• Pay as you go: There are not any mounted subscription prices for this plan; you solely pay for what you utilize.
• Professional collaboration: For $9.99 a month, you get 100 compute models, entry to machines with bigger reminiscence, and the power to make use of a terminal with the digital machine linked.
• Pro+ Collaboration: For $49.99 per thirty days, you will get 500 compute models, sooner GPUs, and background working capabilities.

Feature Comparison: Google Colab and Jupyter Notebook

Cloud-based

The essential differentiator of Google Colab from Jupyter Notebook is that it’s cloud-based and Jupyter shouldn’t be. If you’re employed in Google Collab, you do not have to fret about downloading and putting in something in your {hardware}. It additionally means you’ll be able to relaxation simple realizing that your work will likely be mechanically saved and backed up within the cloud with out you having to do something.

Google Colab is nice if you must work throughout a number of gadgets, similar to a pc at house and one at work, or a laptop computer and a pill, as a result of it syncs seamlessly between gadgets.

Instead, Jupyter Notebook runs in your native pc and the information are saved to your arduous drive. Jupyter gives an autosave interval that you may change but it surely would not again as much as a cloud. Therefore, in case your pc is affected, you might be out of luck. Jupyter cannot sync or share your information throughout a number of gadgets and not using a third-party file sharing service like Dropbox or GitHub.

Collaboration

We could not discuss Jupyter Notebook vs. Google Colab with out mentioning the collaboration. As the identify suggests, Google Colab is designed to make it simple to share your notebooks with anybody, even when they don’t seem to be a knowledge scientist. Other folks can view your pocket book with out downloading any software program – an enormous plus should you usually work with non-tech savvy individuals who want entry to information.

In distinction, everybody else wants to put in Jupyter Notebook on their system to share their notebooks. This will not be an impediment should you work solely with builders, information scientists, and different technicians who will have already got Jupyter put in. If you’re employed on a extra various group, you would possibly think about Google Colab as a result of file sharing is simpler.

Installing the library

Since Google Colab is cloud-based, the instrument comes pre-installed with varied libraries. This means you do not have to half with helpful disk area or time to manually obtain libraries. The free model additionally features a sure stage of graphics processing models, reminiscence and execution time, which can range. You can improve to one of many paid plans if extra capability is required. Google doesn’t disclose limits for any of its Colab plans as a result of want for flexibility.

With Jupyter Notebook, you will have to put in every library you need to use in your system utilizing pip or one other package deal supervisor. You may also be restricted by accessible RAM, disk area, GPU, and CPU. Having notebooks saved by yourself {hardware} is safer than in a third-party cloud. Therefore, manually putting in the library is usually a profit for delicate information.

R scripts

Both Google Colab and Jupyter Notebook enable customers to run R scripts, though they’re primarily designed for Python. In Google Colab, customers can now select to work with R by choosing it within the Runtime menu. For Jupyter Notebook, customers should set up an R kernel to work with R on their pc.

Pros and cons of Google Colab

Pro

• Simple interface and simple to navigate.
• Access GPU and TPU runtimes at no cost.
• Import suitable machine studying and information science initiatives from different sources.
• Automatic model checking much like Google Docs.
• Real-time collaboration options.
• Integrates with different instruments, together with GitHub, Jupyter Notebook, BLACKBOX AI, Codeium, CodeSquire, Google Workspace, Neptune.ai, StrongDM, Google Drive, and others.

Against

• The free plan gives you restricted assets.
• Some customers have reported points with the velocity of loading new databases and information frames which might be offline.

Pros and Cons of Jupyter Notebook

Pro

• Modern, intuitive and interactive consumer interface.
• Supports markdown language for documentation.
• The interactive interface makes it simple for customers to share photographs, code, and textual content in a single place.
• It helps a number of programming languages, together with Python, R, and Julia.

Against

• Some customers have reported that the software program slows down or crashes at occasions when working with massive information units or performing advanced calculations.
• Some Jupyter Notebook customers have reported that monitoring adjustments and collaborating utilizing model management instruments like Git will be troublesome as a result of notebooks are saved as JSON information.

Should your group use Google Colab or Jupyter Notebook?

Both Jupyter Notebook and Google Colab often is the proper alternative specifically circumstances. Google Colab is a wonderful alternative for entry-level builders or non-programmers who need to get began rapidly with out putting in something. It’s additionally an awesome thought for anybody who must share pocket book information with individuals who do not have the suitable software program put in on their gadgets.

Finally, Google Colab is a should for anybody who desires to again up their work to the cloud and sync their notebooks throughout a number of gadgets, however the ease of cloud sharing means lowered information safety.

Meanwhile, Jupyter is best for delicate information that should be evaded the cloud. Installing Notebooks by yourself {hardware} additionally means you will by no means have to fret about your GPU or runtimes being throttled, which may typically occur on free Colab accounts.

Review methodology

We examined each instruments by gathering main information from distributors’ web sites and documentation; this info consists of options, pricing, and use instances. We additionally examined every answer to achieve first-hand expertise with its usability. To perceive consumer expertise, we evaluated suggestions from present and previous customers from third-party evaluate websites.

Ben Abbott up to date this text in January 2024.