Fivetran vs IDMC

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Our analysts compared Fivetran vs IDMC based on data from our 400+ point analysis of ETL Tools, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Fivetran is a cloud-native data extraction tool that simplifies and streamlines the data analysis process with a zero-maintenance pipeline that ensures expedient, transparent delivery of data from source to warehouse. Built to empower analysts, it allows users to accelerate analytics and achieve faster time-to-insights without the need for complex engineering, promoting more efficient data-driven decision-making for users of all technical skill levels.

Suitable for small to large companies, it is a public-cloud hosted SaaS available through annual subscriptions, paid via invoice. Pricing is volume based with three tiers of plans, in ascending order of offerings and cost: Starter, Standard and Enterprise.

Pros
  • Easy to use interface
  • Connects to many data sources
  • Fast and reliable data pipelines
  • Centralized data management
  • Scalable for large data volumes
Cons
  • Limited customizability
  • Can be expensive for complex needs
  • Not ideal for real-time data
  • Limited support for data transformations
  • Learning curve for advanced features
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Informatica IDMC is a cloud-based ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tool designed to simplify data integration for businesses of all sizes. It excels in user-friendliness, offering a drag-and-drop interface and visual mapping tools, making it accessible to users with limited coding experience. This ease of use positions it well for mid-sized and larger companies looking for a scalable solution to manage complex data pipelines. IDMC boasts robust data integration capabilities, seamlessly connecting to diverse sources like databases, cloud applications, and file formats. Its built-in data cleansing and validation features ensure data accuracy and reliability, crucial for data-driven decision-making. Users also appreciate its collaboration tools, facilitating teamwork and knowledge sharing among data professionals. However, IDMC's strengths come with caveats. Its cloud-native nature, while convenient, can lock users into the Informatica ecosystem, potentially hindering migration to other cloud providers. Additionally, its pricing follows a consumption-based model, making it difficult to pinpoint a fixed cost. While potentially cost-effective for high-volume users, smaller organizations might find the upfront IPU purchase and ongoing consumption fees prohibitive. Ultimately, IDMC's user-friendliness, comprehensive data integration, and collaboration tools make it a compelling choice for mid-sized and larger businesses seeking a cloud-based ETL solution. However, its pricing model and potential vendor lock-in require careful consideration before adoption.

Pros
  • User-friendly interface
  • Handles complex ETL tasks
  • Robust data integration
  • Scalable for large datasets
  • Strong support community
Cons
  • Can be expensive
  • Steep learning curve
  • Limited customization
  • Occasional performance issues
  • Vendor lock-in concerns
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$55 Monthly
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$1,000 Monthly
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Product Assistance

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Product Insights

  • Five-Minute Setup: The platform boasts a zero-maintenance configuration process that can have users up and running in 10 clicks.
  • Data Simplified: Users can simplify their data stack with streamlined data extraction and preparation processes, allowing for more accurate and efficient access to analytics.
  • Optimized Loading: Automatic updates reduce data entry tasks and ensure real-time accuracy across storage facilities. The platform also reduces workloads on cloud data warehouses by putting the brunt of demand on their servers instead of the warehouses’. 
  • Centralize Data: The solution helps users to extract data from disparate sources and load it into their data warehouse to create a single, cohesive source of truth in the cloud.
  • Flexibility: Standing apart from many traditional data tools, Fivetran utilizes ELT (extract, load, transform) over ETL (extract, transform and load). By flipping the last two steps of the process and postponing data transformation, it ensures that stored data won’t be compromised by transformations, allowing users to perform analysis more deliberately and securely.
  • Smooth Integrations: Integration with other systems is intuitive and smooth with this platform. Its seamless data sync allows users to draw data from their CRM, ERP or other business solutions as well as a range of cloud data sources, allowing for real-time monitoring.
  • Data Security: The system has advanced security features and is compliant with PCI, HIPAA, GDPR and SOC 2 standards. It also encrypts data in motion and at rest, purging data after every sync. 
  • Built to Scale: The platform helps users navigate a world of exponential data growth, with instantly scalable cloud resources, optimized processes and pricing plans that keep up with companies as they grow. 
  • Free Trial: Interested buyers can receive a free 14-day trial of the platform to test connectors and features by signing up on the vendor’s website. Users can add up to two sources and set up an unlimited number of connectors for those sources, pointing to one destination. Users interested in adding more sources or destinations can contact the Fivetran sales team for more information.
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  • Unified Data Platform: Consolidate data from diverse sources into a single, accessible repository.
  • Streamlined Workflows: Automate data extraction, transformation, and loading processes for improved efficiency.
  • Enhanced Data Quality: Ensure data accuracy and consistency through validation and cleansing routines.
  • Flexible Data Manipulation: Apply a wide range of transformations to prepare data for analysis.
  • Visual Mapping Tools: Design and implement data flows with intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
  • Scalable Processing Power: Handle large datasets efficiently with parallel processing capabilities.
  • Empowered Business Users: Provide self-service data access and analysis tools for informed decision-making.
  • Advanced Reporting & Visualization: Generate insightful reports and dashboards to communicate data effectively.
  • Improved Collaboration: Foster data-driven collaboration across departments and teams.
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  • Data Connectivity: The solution has data connectors for 100 sources, with the option for users to create their own data connector to APIs not yet natively supported. It directly pulls information from cloud applications. Users can also upload or email files into a cloud storage service and have that data loaded into their warehouse. The system reflects changes made to live files such as Google Sheets.
  • Extract Data: The solution connects natively to over 100 SaaS sources, automatically extracting information from those sources after an admin has granted the tool access through OAuth. The system normalizes, cleanses and standardizes data before loading.
  • Data Sync: Upon connection, the system performs a historical sync. From there, instead of arduously reloading full data dumps from APIs and databases, the solution optimizes loadings by incrementally updating data sources in batches, with data load time configurable as frequently as five minutes and as infrequent as every 24 hours.
  • Load into Cloud Data Warehouses: Fivetran supports modem cloud warehouses like BigQuery, Snowflake, Azure and Redshift.
  • Transform Data: The platform preps data, normalizing schemas from APIs, so that it can be analyzed instantly. Transformations always happen in the warehouse so that the raw data is always available alongside the transformed data; data will never be lost and the transformations can be edited and run again on the raw data.
  • Alerts: The system notifies users if there are delays or issues in any step of the process.
  • Dashboards: Users interact with the platform via dashboards that display information about ELT processes in a visual, easy-to-digest format.
  • System Logs: The solution maintains transparency with granular system logs of every sync that users can cross-reference in their own logging system.
  • Metadata Management: A suite of policies and procedures allows users to manage the data which describes other data such as file size, date of data creation, tags, titles, authors, etc.
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  • Visual Data Mapping: Drag-and-drop interface for intuitive design of data flows.
  • Codeless Transformations: Apply data transformations without extensive coding knowledge.
  • Cloud-Native Architecture: Scalable and flexible deployment on major cloud platforms.
  • AI-Powered Data Integration: Automated pattern discovery and data lineage tracking.
  • Hybrid Data Integration: Connect to both on-premises and cloud-based data sources.
  • Data Quality Management: Built-in tools for data profiling, cleansing, and validation.
  • Metadata Management: Comprehensive catalog of data assets for better visibility and governance.
  • Data Security & Compliance: Role-based access control, encryption, and audit trails.
  • Real-Time Data Integration: Capture and process streaming data for instant insights.
  • Self-Service Data Access: Empower business users with data exploration and analysis tools.
  • Collaboration & Integration: Seamless integration with other Informatica products and third-party tools.
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Product Ranking

#7

among all
ETL Tools

#37

among all
ETL Tools

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Platform Capabilities
Platform Security
Metadata Management
Data Transformation
Data Sources and Targets Connectivity
Data Delivery
Data Quality
Metadata Management
Performance and Scalability
Platform Capabilities

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Fivetran
IDMC
+ Add Product + Add Product
Data Delivery Data Quality Data Sources And Targets Connectivity Data Transformation Metadata Management Platform Capabilities Workflow Management 86 75 93 94 96 100 81 100 100 98 96 100 100 96 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 28 reviews
Great User Sentiment 596 reviews
92%
of users recommend this product

Fivetran has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 28 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

84%
of users recommend this product

IDMC has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 84% when considering 596 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

n/a
4.2 (282)
4.64 (14)
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4.6 (14)
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4.2 (314)

Awards

Fivetran stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated IDMC and concluded it deserves the award for the Best Overall ETL Tools available today and earns best-in-class honors for Data Sources and Targets Connectivity.

Analysts' Pick Award
Data Sources and Targets Connectivity Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Effortless Data Integration: Connects to hundreds of data sources with pre-built connectors and minimal setup.
Automated Data Pipelines: Schedules and runs data transfers reliably, freeing up time for analysis.
Centralized Data Management: Provides a single source of truth for all your data, simplifying reporting and decision-making.
Scalable for Growth: Handles large data volumes with ease, adapting to your evolving needs.
Improved Data Visibility: Makes data readily available for everyone in your organization, fostering data-driven decision-making.
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User-friendly interface: Intuitive drag-and-drop interface simplifies development and reduces reliance on coding expertise.
Cloud-native architecture: Streamlines deployment, eliminates infrastructure management, and offers automatic updates.
Comprehensive integration capabilities: Connects to a vast array of sources and targets, encompassing databases, cloud applications, and file formats.
Scalable performance: Handles large data volumes efficiently, ensuring timely data delivery for critical business processes.
Robust data quality features: Cleanses and validates data for accuracy, fostering reliable insights and decision-making.
Collaboration features: Enables teamwork and knowledge sharing among developers, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
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Limited Customizability: Relies on pre-built connectors, making complex data pipelines or transformations challenging.
Costly for Advanced Needs: Pricing scales with data volume and complexity, becoming expensive for intricate ETL processes.
Batch-Oriented Transfers: Focuses on scheduled data refreshes, not ideal for real-time needs or low-latency pipelines.
Basic Data Transformations: Offers limited built-in transformations, requiring additional tools for complex data manipulation.
Advanced Feature Learning Curve: Mastering custom connectors, scripting, or other advanced features requires technical expertise.
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Learning curve: While user-friendly, mastering its full capabilities can require a learning investment, especially for those new to ETL tools.
Cost: Can be relatively expensive compared to some alternatives, potentially limiting adoption for smaller organizations or those with tight budgets.
Limited customization: Certain features and integrations might offer less flexibility for tailored solutions compared to more open-source alternatives.
Technical support: Users have occasionally reported mixed experiences with the quality and responsiveness of technical support.
Cloud vendor lock-in: Being a cloud-native platform, migrating to a different cloud provider can involve challenges and potential data transfer costs.
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Users praise Fivetran for its ease of use and effortless data integration. "Setting up connectors is straightforward," one reviewer comments, "like plugging in appliances." This plug-and-play simplicity sets it apart from competitors like Stitch, often lauded for its flexibility but criticized for a steeper learning curve. However, Fivetran's strength in pre-built connectors comes at a cost: limited customizability. While users love its "seamless data movement," another user points out it's "not ideal for complex transformations," requiring additional tools that negate its initial ease. This lack of advanced ETL capabilities puts it behind platforms like Informatica PowerCenter, but at a fraction of the cost. Ultimately, Fivetran shines for its user-friendly approach and reliable data pipelines, perfect for businesses prioritizing simplicity and scalability. But for complex data manipulation or real-time needs, users might find themselves yearning for the power and flexibility of other ETL solutions.

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User reviews of Informatica IDMC in the past year paint a picture of a powerful ETL tool with strengths in user-friendliness, cloud-native architecture, and comprehensive data integration. Its intuitive interface and drag-and-drop features make it accessible even for those with limited coding experience, a major advantage over more complex competitors like Talend Open Studio. However, its cloud-based nature can be a double-edged sword: while it offers scalability and automatic updates, it also locks users into Informatica's infrastructure, potentially hindering migration to other cloud providers. The robust data quality features of IDMC are another highlight, cited as crucial for ensuring reliable data-driven decisions. Compared to competitors like Pentaho Data Integration, IDMC's built-in cleansing and validation capabilities are seen as a significant advantage, saving time and effort. However, some users have expressed concerns about the learning curve associated with mastering IDMC's full potential, especially compared to more lightweight alternatives like Fivetran. While cost is a common concern with any enterprise software, IDMC's price tag can be particularly prohibitive for smaller companies or those on tight budgets. Users often compare it to open-source options like Apache Airflow, which offer similar functionality at a fraction of the cost. However, the lack of built-in features and steeper learning curve of open-source options can negate the cost savings for some organizations. Ultimately, user reviews suggest that IDMC is a valuable ETL tool for organizations seeking a user-friendly, cloud-based solution with robust data integration and quality features. However, its pricing and potential vendor lock-in are important considerations. Weighing these strengths and weaknesses against the needs and budget of your organization will determine whether IDMC is the right ETL fit for you.

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