Fivetran’s March 2025 pricing changes caught many teams off guard. The new Monthly Active Rows (MAR) billing model has created unpredictable costs that can spike 3x overnight if you misjudge your data volume.
If you’re researching Fivetran alternatives, you’re probably dealing with bill shock, implementation complexity, or both. This guide compares 13 proven alternatives to help you find a better solution for your team’s data integration needs.
Why Teams Are Switching from Fivetran
You know that feeling when your data integration bill arrives and it’s triple what you expected? That’s become a common experience with Fivetran’s MAR pricing model.
Here’s what’s driving the search for alternatives:
Cost Unpredictability: MAR billing counts new, modified, and deleted rows separately per connector. Teams report bills that can be “3x normal if you misjudge row volume for a few days.”
Implementation Complexity: Despite “5-minute setup” promises, most teams need weeks of technical work. Business users still depend on IT for configuration and troubleshooting.
Over-Engineering: Fivetran was built for enterprise data engineers but markets to business teams. This creates a gap between marketing promises and actual complexity.
The reality? 80-90% of your time gets spent on data preparation instead of actual analysis. You shouldn’t need a computer science degree just to move data from point A to point B.
The Complete Fivetran Alternatives List
Here’s your lineup of better options, from budget-friendly to enterprise-grade:
Tool | Best For | Pricing Start | Setup Time | Technical Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mammoth | Business Teams | $19/month | Hours | None |
Airbyte | Open Source | Free | Days | High |
Hevo Data | Predictable Costs | $239/month | Days | Medium |
Stitch Data | Budget-Conscious | $100/month | Hours | Low |
Estuary Flow | Real-Time Data | Custom | Weeks | High |
Matillion | Cloud Warehouses | $2/credit | Days | Medium |
Portable | Long-Tail Connectors | Custom | Days | Medium |
Rivery | Marketing Teams | Custom | Days | Low |
Integrate.io | Enterprise | Custom | Weeks | High |
Datachannel | Asian Markets | Regional | Days | Medium |
Polytomic | Reverse ETL | Free tier | Days | Medium |
Improvado | Marketing Attribution | Enterprise | Weeks | Low |
Zapier | Simple Automation | $19.99/month | Minutes | None |
13 Best Fivetran Alternatives (2025)
1. Mammoth Analytics – Best for Business Teams
What it is: No-code data automation platform designed specifically for business analysts and ops teams.
Why teams choose it: Simple pricing ($19/month per user), drag-and-drop interface, and working pipelines in hours instead of weeks.
Best for: Growing businesses that want 80% of enterprise functionality without the complexity.
Starbucks transformed their global reporting using Mammoth, processing 1 billion+ rows monthly and reducing report generation from 20 days to 2 hours. They saw a 1400% ROI improvement and 53% reduction in monthly maintenance costs.
“We went from drowning in unorganized data from 17 countries to automated insights in hours. The transformation was incredible.” – Starbucks Data Team
Pricing: $190/year per user (or $19/month). 7-day free trial with no credit card required.
Pros:
- Business-user friendly interface
- Predictable pricing that scales with team, not data volume
- Customer success with proven ROI metrics
- No-code transformations eliminate technical dependencies
Cons:
- Newer platform with smaller connector library than enterprise tools
- Less suitable for complex real-time streaming requirements
2. Airbyte – Best Open-Source Option
What it is: Open-source data integration platform with 600+ connectors and community-driven development.
Why teams choose it: Transparency of open-source code, cost savings with self-hosting, and active developer community.
Best for: Technical teams comfortable with self-hosting who want full control over their data pipelines.
Pricing: Free self-hosted version available. Airbyte Cloud starts at $2.50 per credit with usage-based billing.
Pros:
- Largest connector library (600+)
- Open-source transparency
- Active community contributions
- Significantly cheaper than Fivetran
Cons:
- Requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance
- Self-hosted version needs infrastructure management
- Limited customer support on free tier
3. Hevo Data – Best for Predictable Pricing
What it is: Cloud-based ETL platform focused on simplifying data integration for growing companies.
Why teams choose it: Event-based pricing model provides cost predictability that MAR billing lacks.
Best for: Mid-market companies seeking balance between features and affordability.
Pricing: Starts at $239/month for 5 million events. Custom pricing for higher volumes.
Pros:
- Predictable event-based pricing
- Strong customer support reputation
- Pre-built transformations for common use cases
- Real-time data processing
Cons:
- Smaller connector library than Fivetran
- Limited customization for complex transformations
4. Stitch Data – Best Budget Alternative
What it is: Simple ETL tool focused on getting data from point A to point B without complexity.
Why teams choose it: Straightforward setup, low-cost entry point, and focus on core data integration needs.
Best for: Small teams with basic integration needs and tight budgets.
Pricing: Free tier for up to 5 million rows. Paid plans start at $100/month.
Pros:
- Very affordable pricing
- Simple setup process
- Good for basic ETL workflows
- Talend acquisition brings enterprise backing
Cons:
- Limited transformation capabilities
- Fewer connectors than competitors
- Basic monitoring and alerting
5. Estuary Flow – Best for Real-Time Data
What it is: Real-time data streaming platform with sub-100ms latency capabilities.
Why teams choose it: True real-time processing when batch updates aren’t sufficient.
Best for: Applications requiring immediate data freshness like fraud detection or live analytics.
Pricing: Usage-based pricing with custom quotes. Enterprise customers report 45% savings vs Fivetran.
Pros:
- Sub-100ms data latency
- Stream processing capabilities
- Cost savings for high-volume use cases
- Change data capture (CDC) specialization
Cons:
- Overkill for batch processing needs
- Steeper learning curve
- Newer platform with fewer case studies
6. Matillion – Best for Cloud Data Warehouses
What it is: Cloud-native ETL platform optimized for data warehouse transformations.
Why teams choose it: Deep integration with cloud data warehouses and visual transformation interface.
Best for: Teams heavily invested in cloud data warehouse ecosystems (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift).
Pricing: Starts at $2.00 per credit with consumption-based billing.
Pros:
- Native cloud data warehouse integrations
- Visual transformation designer
- Good performance for warehouse-based transformations
- Strong enterprise features
Cons:
- Requires cloud data warehouse subscription
- Can be complex for simple use cases
- Pricing can scale quickly with usage
7. Portable – Best for Long-Tail Connectors
What it is: ETL platform specializing in connectors for niche and long-tail data sources.
Why teams choose it: Unlimited volume pricing and connectors for tools larger platforms don’t support.
Best for: Companies using specialized software tools that lack connectors in mainstream platforms.
Pricing: Flat monthly fee per connector, regardless of data volume.
Pros:
- Unlimited data volume included
- Connectors for niche sources
- Simple per-connector pricing
- Quick connector development
Cons:
- Limited transformation capabilities
- Smaller platform with fewer enterprise features
- Less suitable for high-volume, complex workflows
8. Rivery – Best for Marketing Teams
What it is: Data integration platform with marketing-focused connectors and transformations.
Why teams choose it: Pre-built marketing data models and connectors for advertising platforms.
Best for: Marketing teams needing to consolidate data from multiple advertising and analytics platforms.
Pricing: Contact sales for custom quotes. Plans based on data volume and connectors.
Pros:
- Marketing-focused connector library
- Pre-built data models for common marketing use cases
- Visual data pipeline designer
- Good customer support
Cons:
- Limited beyond marketing use cases
- Custom pricing requires sales conversations
- Smaller than enterprise alternatives
9. Integrate.io – Best Enterprise Features
What it is: Enterprise-grade data integration platform with comprehensive ETL, ELT, and reverse ETL capabilities.
Why teams choose it: Full-featured enterprise platform with strong security and compliance features.
Best for: Large enterprises with complex compliance requirements and advanced integration needs.
Pricing: Custom pricing based on data volume and features. Enterprise-focused with higher price points.
Pros:
- Comprehensive enterprise features
- Strong security and compliance capabilities
- Advanced transformation options
- 24/7 support
Cons:
- Enterprise pricing levels
- Complex setup and configuration
- Overkill for small to mid-size teams
10. Datachannel – Best Indian Alternative
What it is: Data integration platform focused on serving Indian and Asian markets with local support.
Why teams choose it: Local support, competitive pricing for regional markets, and familiar interface.
Best for: Companies based in India or Asia seeking regional data integration support.
Pricing: Competitive pricing for regional markets with local currency billing.
Pros:
- Regional market focus
- Local customer support
- Competitive pricing for Asian markets
- Growing connector library
Cons:
- Limited global presence
- Smaller ecosystem compared to US-based alternatives
- Fewer enterprise customers and case studies
11. Polytomic – Best Reverse ETL
What it is: Specialized platform for reverse ETL, moving data from warehouses back to business applications.
Why teams choose it: Focus on the “last mile” of data activation and operational analytics.
Best for: Teams with mature data warehouses who need to sync clean data back to business tools.
Pricing: Usage-based pricing with free tier available. Paid plans scale with data volume.
Pros:
- Reverse ETL specialization
- Strong integrations with business applications
- Good for operational analytics use cases
- Developer-friendly APIs
Cons:
- Limited traditional ETL capabilities
- Requires existing data warehouse infrastructure
- Narrower use case than full ETL platforms
12. Improvado – Best for Marketing Attribution
What it is: Marketing data platform specializing in attribution and marketing analytics.
Why teams choose it: Advanced marketing attribution models and advertising platform integrations.
Best for: Enterprise marketing teams with complex attribution and campaign analysis needs.
Pricing: Enterprise-level pricing with custom quotes based on data sources and volume.
Pros:
- Advanced marketing attribution capabilities
- Comprehensive advertising platform connectors
- Built-in marketing analytics features
- Enterprise customer support
Cons:
- Very expensive for non-enterprise use cases
- Limited beyond marketing applications
- Long sales cycles and complex pricing
13. Zapier – Best for Simple Automation
What it is: Workflow automation platform that connects apps and automates simple data transfers.
Why teams choose it: Extremely easy setup, huge app ecosystem, and no technical skills required.
Best for: Small businesses needing simple app-to-app data syncing without complex transformations.
Pricing: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $19.99/month based on tasks and features.
Pros:
- Easiest setup of any option
- Massive app ecosystem (5,000+ integrations)
- No technical skills required
- Affordable for simple use cases
Cons:
- Limited for complex data transformations
- Not suitable for high-volume data processing
- Basic error handling and monitoring
How to Choose the Right Fivetran Alternative
For Business Teams: Choose Mammoth if you want enterprise capabilities without complexity. The $19/month pricing is transparent, and business users can manage workflows independently.
For Technical Teams: Consider Airbyte if you have development resources and want open-source flexibility. It offers the most connectors and customization options.
For Predictable Costs: Hevo Data’s event-based pricing provides the cost predictability that Fivetran’s MAR model lacks.
For Enterprise Requirements: Integrate.io offers comprehensive enterprise features, though at enterprise price points.
For Marketing-Specific Needs: Rivery or Improvado provide specialized marketing data capabilities.
Making the Switch: Migration Considerations
Data Continuity: Plan for overlap periods to ensure no data loss during migration. Most alternatives offer migration assistance.
Connector Coverage: Verify your critical data sources are supported. Check connector libraries before committing.
Team Training: Consider learning curves for your team. Business-friendly tools like Mammoth require minimal training, while technical platforms need more preparation.
Budget Planning: Factor in migration costs, training time, and any temporary tool overlap. Often the savings justify short-term transition costs.
Bottom Line
Fivetran’s MAR pricing changes have created a real opportunity to find better solutions. The key is matching your actual needs with the right tool’s strengths.
For most growing businesses, the sweet spot is a platform that provides enterprise capabilities without enterprise complexity or unpredictable costs. That’s exactly why companies like Starbucks and Bacardi chose solutions that empower business teams rather than create IT dependencies.
Ready to escape Fivetran’s pricing chaos? Try Mammoth’s 7-day free trial and see why customers achieve 1400% ROI improvements with predictable $19/month pricing. No contracts, no credit card required, and working pipelines in hours instead of weeks.
