Top 10 Fivetran Alternatives & Competitors [August 2024]

Big data only matters if you can use it.

And with so many data sources and destinations available, it's more complex than ever before to move raw data to where you'll store and analyze it.

Enter Fivetran, one of the most popular ETL/ELT tools around. Fivetran helps you leverage big data for decision making by moving it from its original source to a format that works for your data warehouse.

But Fivetran is far from the only option on the market, and there are plenty of reasons why it might not be the best choice for your business.

Is Fivetran right for your business?

Fivetran is one of the oldest, most established data integration platforms in the industry. It's an industry leader with a roster of well-known companies including Condé Nast, Lufthansa, Square, and WeWork.

But just because Fivetran is one of the most recognizable names in the industry doesn't necessarily mean it's the best option for you.

Its business model is based on the most popular enterprise data connectors, and that's where it puts all its focus. Fivetran also charges based on monthly active rows, leaving prices that can be hard to predict month-to-month.

Fivetran pricing

Standard select: Est. $60/month (capped at 1 user and 500k monthly active rows)
Starter: Est. $120/month (capped at 10 users)
Standard: Est. $180/month
Enterprise: Est. $240/month
Business Critical: Contact sales
14-day free trial available

Fivetran's top features

A commitment to supporting the most popular connectors, especially for enterprise applications
Native warehouse transformation, which are especially useful for connectors with complex data models
Change data capture workflow to replicate changes into a data warehouse

Fivetran's drawbacks

The monthly active row pricing model can be hard to understand and predict.
The pricing model can also get expensive very fast---especially for large datasets.
Limited support outside of major connectors. There's a good chance Fivetran will never support these connectors and you'll need to build and maintain them yourself.
Destinations limited to the most common data integrations, like Snowflake, Google BigQuery, Amazon Redshift, and Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics.
Only supports ELT workloads, so if you prefer ETL orchestration you'd need a different tool.

What do users say about Fivetran?

Here are excerpts from customer reviews on G2 as of March 8, 2023:

Limited customization: "Customization options are limited. Single tables can get shockingly expensive. Where 95% of our cost for a database is coming from the messages tables."
Disappearing discounts: "I have been through three account managers. My current manager tricked me into an annual contract by promising discounts which were never applied. [...] Overall, it's been a turbulent experience."
Unreliable data connectors: "Some small subset of connectors seem unstable at times, so real-time data can be affected. In some cases the connectors and fields require some external calculation or validation. This makes it if you run multiple systems at the [same] time."
Expensive for large volumes of data: "Fivetran can be expensive, especially for small to medium-sized businesses. Its pricing model is based on the number of rows processed per month, which can quickly add up if you're dealing with a large volume of data."

Let's be straight up. You're here because you're researching better Fivetran alternatives. Since you're scoping out the competitors on the market, let's get into them.

Top 10 Fivetran Alternatives

Portable
Airbyte
Matillion
Stitch
Hevo
Rivery
Meltano
CData
Segment
Precog

1. Portable

Portable is built on serving the kind of long-tail connectors Fivetran doesn't support. It supports 250+ connectors and creates custom integrations on request, all maintained to ensure ongoing data quality even for changing APIs.

For teams without the resources to create and maintain hard-to-find connectors, Portable creates an easy way to use the data you already have.

Portable pricing

Manual: Free for unlimited data sources, destinations, and volumes with manual sync
Scheduled data flow: $200/data flow with unlimited sources, destinations, and volumes
Custom: For specific needs

What's included with Portable?

250+ data source connectors
Support for major cloud data warehouse providers
Unlimited data sources, destinations, and volumes
Free development and maintenance of new data integrations
Hands-on support

Prebuilt connectors

Portable offers 250+ prebuilt connectors for common applications that major competitors don't support.

Custom connectors

Looking for an open-source Fivetran solution? It's more than likely you need a custom data integration to work with your specific platform.

Portable will build and maintain the data connector you need at no additional cost. Development is fast and new connectors are usually available in days or even hours.

From there, your data team can manage it with our no-code/low-code interface.

Maintenance and support

Portable offers hands-on customer support to resolve any issues quickly.

Pros

Transparent, simple pricing with unlimited data
Try all connectors for as long as you want with no charge
250+ long-tail connectors that other ETL solutions don't support
Custom connector creation and support at no additional cost

Cons

Doesn't yet support the largest enterprise data sources (e.g., Salesforce or QuickBooks)
Doesn't focus on databases as sources
Not available internationally

Who is Portable best suited for?

Companies that need bespoke API-connected data integrations for long-tail applications, but who don't have the capacity for building and maintaining their own connectors.

2. Airbyte

Airbyte is a relative newcomer to the data ingestion and ELT world, but it's been growing fast. Unlike Fivetran, Airbyte is open source which offers some unique advantages (and a few disadvantages).

Airbyte pricing

Open source: Completely free, as you manage the infrastructure yourself
Cloud: $2.50/credit (one million rows = 6 credits; 1 GB = 4 credits)
Cloud high volume: Custom pricing for those that need more than 5,000 credits

What's included with Airbyte?

170+ data source connectors (not all available on cloud service)
Open-source solution with direct access to code
Change data capture support for databases
Support for data warehouses and data lakes as destinations
Credit-based pricing model or free option with self-hosting
Warehouse-native data transformation

Prebuilt connectors

Airbyte currently has 170+ data connectors available for its open-source platform. Not all of these are available on the newer cloud offering, but all 170+ will probably be available in the near future.

Custom connectors

You can request custom connectors on the Airbyte website, but they'll prioritize those with the largest appeal. Because Airbyte is open source, you can code them yourself, but you'll need to learn the Airbyte protocols, set up the integration, and maintain it yourself.

Maintenance and support

Despite being new software, Airbyte has a robust community 12,000+ users strong. Paid plans also include in-app chat support with a one-hour response time.

Pros

Open-source platform you can deploy on your own
Engineer-focused platform with a CDK to speed up development
Support for 20 destinations, more than many competitors including Fivetran

Cons

You'll need to develop and maintain long-tail connectors yourself
Credit-based pricing model can be hard to predict
Cloud service missing several popular connectors and destinations (e.g., WordPress, Google Analytics 4, Apache Kafka)

Who is Airbyte best suited for?

Engineering teams who are willing and able to develop and maintain custom connectors using Airbyte's CDK.

3. Matillion

Matillion is an established data pipeline player that focuses on enterprises.

Whereas most ETL platforms are either SaaS (hosted in the cloud) or open-source (available to deploy on your own), Matillion offers an on-premises solution that is hosted locally but with closed-source software.

Matillion pricing

Free: Up to one million rows/month
Basic: $2.00/credit
Advanced: $2.50/credit
Enterprise: $2.70/credit

What's included with Matillion?

110+ data source connectors
on-premises deployments available
Cloud data transformation presented with graphic user interface (GUI)
Consumption-based pricing model
Integrates with Matillion Data Loader and Matillion ETL

Prebuilt connectors

Matillion has 110+ connectors. Its ETL solution may contain data connectors that aren't part of the Data Loader product.

Custom connectors

Matillion doesn't support long-tail data sources. Customers can use the GUI to create basic API integrations, though the customer is responsible for maintenance.

Maintenance and support

Matillion offers a support portal for clients. One advantage Matillion's built-in data transformation is that support is integrated into one platform instead of spread across a larger tech stack.

Pros

Strong data transformation capabilities built-in
On-premises option available
Since Matillion offers loading and transformation, it can be easier to implement data governance

Cons

Matillion's GUI-based transformations can have a learning curve
Fewer data connections than other competitors, including Fivetran
Fewer partnerships with transformation tools, with the focus on Matillion's tools

Who is Matillion best suited for?

Large enterprises looking for an all-in-one tool that will handle transformations, especially companies looking for an on-premises solution.

4. Stitch

Stitch is an ETL tool owned by Talend that focuses on business intelligence.

Stitch is designed to simplify data management with automation like monitoring and alerting, and integrates with the Singer open source protocol.

You can perform data transformations in Stitch itself using Java, SQL, Python, dbt, or a UI, or you can connect Stitch to a third-party processing engine.

Stitch pricing

Standard: Starts at $100/month (for 5 million monthly active rows, 1 destination, and 10 sources)
Advanced: $1250/month (up to 100 million rows and 3 destinations)
Premium: $2500/month (up to 1 billion rows and 5 destinations)
14-day free trial available

What's included

130+ data source connectors
Integration with the Singer protocol for open source development
Cost-effective ETL solution for common data sources
Support for the most common warehouses and data lakes
Pricing based on rows per month with costs increasing with the number of active destinations

Prebuilt connectors

Stitch includes 130+ data sources. A few are categorized as enterprise data sources and are only available on the Advanced and Premium plans.

Custom connectors

Stitch has its own REST API and also integrates with Singer, an open-source standard for data connections. Interchangeable "Taps" (source connectors) and "Targets" (destination connectors) make new connectors very flexible, though your team will still be responsible for development and maintenance.

Maintenance and support

Stitch offers email and chat support for all customers during business hours. Some customers may also be eligible for phone support and dedicated Global Customer Success Management.

Pros

Robust transformations, including nested JSON
Fast setup in minutes and helpful customer support
Integrates well with Talend suite of data tools

Cons

Pricing is more affordable than Fivetran, but quickly gets expensive and can be hard to predict
Limited customer support for users with the standard plan
Singer connectors can break without warning and aren't maintained by Stitch

Who is Stitch best suited for?

Teams that only use the most common data sources or have the technical expertise to write their own connectors using the Stitch API or Singer protocol.

5. Hevo

Hevo is a no-code bidirectional data pipeline tool that offers ETL, ELT, and Reverse ETL. It includes built-in transformation features and integrates with all major destinations.

Hevo pricing

Free: Up to one million events (limited to 50+ data sources)
Starter: Starting at $239/month
Business: Custom quote

Hevo also offers Hevo Activate for reverse ETL:

Free: For up to 4 data warehouses and up to 3 SaaS targets
Starter: $199/month (4 data warehouses and up to 5 SaaS targets)
Business: Contact sales
Flexible subscription plans without lock-in

What's included with Hevo?

150+ data connectors (50+ available on free plan)
Real-time data migration
Support for data transformations using Python
24/7 live support

Prebuilt connectors

Hevo Data offers 150+ data connectors, but only 50+ are available on the free plan.

Custom connectors

Hevo doesn't have custom connector functionality. You'll need to use its REST API or webhooks sources to connect with less-common data sources or use a different data integration tool.

Maintenance and support

Hevo offers 24/7 email support that's generally well-reviewed by customers. On larger price plans, premium support is included.

Pros

Support for ETL, ELT, and Reverse ETL workloads
Complete automation with no code needed
Affordable pricing compared to other platforms, including Fivetran

Cons

Not as comprehensive support for long-tail connectors
Requires manual mapping for some migrations between tools
Less granular control over ingestion and loading frequencies

Who is Hevo best suited for?

Small businesses that use the most popular data sources and want an affordable, low-code ETL or ELT tool.

6. Rivery

Rivery is a cloud-based SaaS ELT tool that uses so-called "rivers" as ELT scripts. It offers no-code and code solutions using a GUI and native Python.

Rivery pricing

Starter: $0.75 per credit
Professional: $1.20 per credit
Enterprise: Custom pricing
One credit = one API pipeline execution, 100 MB of data replication, or one logic and transformation execution
14-day free trial available

What's included with Rivery?

200+ built-in data source connectors
15+ data destinations
24/7 customer support
Fully managed ELT
Logic, transformations, and Reverse ETL capabilities
Data starter kits to set up integrations quickly

Prebuilt connectors

Rivery offers 200+ prebuilt connectors out of the box. All connectors are available on all plans.

Custom connectors

Rivery's Custom API feature lets you import from any data source. Rivery can also build custom data connectors upon request.

Maintenance and support

Rivery offers 24/7 global support and dedicated customer success services depending on the plan you choose. Rivery has been recognized for its support, with a 9.8/10 rating on G2 (the industry average is 8.5).

Pros

Detailed API support for developers
Fast development that can get a data pipeline up and running in hours
Recognized for outstanding customer support by G2

Cons

Error alerts and messaging can be confusing, making it hard to spot the issue
Pricing is complex and can be hard to calculate and predict
Drag-and-drop user interface can be difficult to use for complex scripts

Who is Rivery best suited for?

Rivery is best for teams with limited technical expertise that want to get up and running quickly.

7. Meltano

Meltano is an open-source data operations platform for engineers. It spun out of GitLab in 2021, making Meltano one of the newest orchestration tools in space.

Meltano pricing

Currently, Meltano only offers a free open-source platform. However, a SaaS solution called Managed Meltano is currently planned and will be open to the public in 2023.

What's included with Meltano?

300+ connectors
Integration with Singer data format for source integrations
Open-source data management platform with MIT license
Version control through Git built-in
Detailed public-facing product roadmap

Prebuilt connectors

Meltano includes 300+ connectors out of the box, including AWS S3.

Custom connectors

Meltano has a comprehensive SDK that integrates with Singer for custom integrations. You can code your own Singer tap to connect to any long-tail source, though your team will be on the hook for development and maintenance.

Maintenance and support

Meltano has a small but fast-growing community. When the cloud-based SaaS product launches, Meltano may also offer paid customer support.

Pros

Open-source platform that's free if you host it yourself
Built-in best practices like Git version control, end-to-end CI testing, and separate staging and dev environments
Extensive existing connector library through Singer

Cons

Meltano doesn't offer no-code or low-code solutions
Currently, Meltano doesn't offer a fully managed option; you'll need to host the software yourself
Far less popular than the other open-source Fivetran competitor, Airbyte, with a smaller community and less support

Who is Meltano best suited for?

Data engineering teams with technical expertise who are looking for a code-first solution.

8. CData

CData is a universal connectivity provider for data-driven businesses. It features a suite of applications including ELT/ETL tools, data visualization, data dashboards, cloud connectivity, and more.

CData pricing

Starter: $149/month (one data source)
Standard: $499/month (five data sources)
Professional: $999/month (up to 10 data sources)
Enterprise: Not disclosed, contact sales (up to 10+ data sources)
Additional solutions available at different prices

What's included with CData?

250+ connectors
Suite of tools including Sync, Arc, and more
Optimized speed across drivers
Well-reviewed customer support team
Support for ETL, ELT, and Reverse ETL
Cloud-based or on-premises solutions available

Prebuilt connectors

CData includes 250+ prebuilt real-time data sources. CData refers to these connectors as "drivers."

Custom connectors

CData has a Universal API Driver that you can use to connect to additional data sources.

Maintenance and support

CData generally gets good reviews for its customer support. The company offers email support for all plans. Enterprise plans with more than five users have Premium Support, which offers phone support, priority resolution, and 24-hour response time.

Pros

Affordable cloud plans with straightforward, easy-to-understand pricing
Large number of connectors for the most popular data sources, including Oracle
Suite of tools for the complete data pipeline

Cons

Since each tool is sold separately, pricing can become expensive if you need several solutions
Some users say documentation is complex and can be hard to understand
Not much of an active community for support
Limited support for custom fields in data apps

Who is CData best suited for?

Companies newer to data pipeline tools looking for an ETL solution focused on SQL servers.

9. Segment

Segment is a data platform focused on customer data, acquired by Twilio in 2020. It includes unique functionality for managing customer data, like merging personas and segmentation based on stages in the customer journey.

Segment pricing

Free: Up to 1,000 monthly visitors and 2 data sources
Team: Starts at $120/month for 10,000 monthly visitors
Business: Custom pricing with negotiable data volume and features

What's included with Segment?

300+ connectors
Data governance and debugging
Support for embedding pixels and creating user profiles and segments
Exports user data to marketing providers and CRMs

Prebuilt connectors

Segment includes 300+ connectors built-in. They're available on all plans, including the free plan.

Custom connectors

Segment has a Functions tool that allows users to develop their own custom connections.

Maintenance and support

Segment offers four separate levels of support: Standard (included on every plan), Advanced, Premium, and Premium Plus. Teams need to have a plan of at least $60,000 to purchase a support plan.

Pros

Easy-to-use and intuitive UI
Affordable pricing and a free plan that works with small businesses
Designed to work with customer data warehouses and offers unique features that set it apart from competitors, including Fivetran

Cons

Monthly tracked user pricing can become expensive for use cases with lots of visitors
Not all data integrations leverage APIs, meaning not all data is imported
Focused on marketing and sales data, with limited integrations outside of that scope

Who is Segment best suited for?

Sophisticated marketing and data teams that focus exclusively on customer data.

10. Precog

Precog is a no-code universal data connector platform for cloud ETL. It uses an AI engine built on multidimensional relational algebra to obtain and apply schema data automatically, making it fast and easy to create new data workflows.

Precog pricing

Not disclosed. Must request a trial or demo to see pricing (pricing based on data source)

What's included with Precog?

10,000+ data sources built-in
Support for 100+ destinations
SaaS and on-premises solutions available
No-code solution that doesn't require technical expertise

Prebuilt connectors

Precog offers over 10,000 data sources---thousands more than Fivetran.

Custom connectors

Using Precog's AI, you can create new data connectors in minutes or hours without using code. Precog creates new data sources upon request within 48 hours.

Maintenance and support

Precog offers customer support, with specific details based on your needs.

Pros

More out-of-the-box data sources than any other platform
Straightforward, no-surprises pricing
AI engine that can understand new data sources and schema without code
SaaS and on-premises options available

Cons

Fairly new platform with limited community
No-code basis can be limiting for teams with technical expertise
Connector-based pricing can be expensive for teams with a large number of sources

Who is Precog best suited for?

Teams looking for a no-code option for importing data from hard-to-find data sources.

Fivetran Alternatives: The Bottom Line

Fivetran is one of the industry leaders, but pricing can get out of hand quickly and unexpectedly, and you'll only find connectors for the most popular data sources. This is especially true if you manage large volumes of e-commerce or marketing data--- you need certainty.

There are better ETL solutions out there that offer more use cases, data integrations, and flexibility that data analytics teams need.

If you're looking for transparent pricing or help connecting long-tail data sources, a promising Fivetran alternative might be a better fit.

Looking for the best Fivetran alternative?

Get started with Portable today. If you need a custom ETL connector, just reach out and we will build it.