Fivetran vs Airbyte: Comparison of Leading Data Integration Tools

Choosing between Fivetran and Airbyte often feels like choosing between reliability and flexibility. 

Fivetran’s fully managed pipelines automate data flows – “virtually eliminating maintenance overhead” with around 99.9% uptime  – making it perfect for teams wanting plug-and-play reliability.

By contrast, Airbyte’s open-source architecture “offers a flexible platform with a vast connector library” and full control over deployment (no vendor lock-in).

Choosing between them isn’t easy. In this blog, we provide a head-to-head comparison of Airbyte vs. Fivetran, evaluating them on critical factors like connectors, pricing, transformations, and deployment. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding to confidently decide which tool is the right fit for your data stack.

What is Fivetran?

• G2 Rating: 4.2 (377 reviews)
• Capterra Rating: 4.7 (20 reviews)

Fivetran is an automated data movement platform that offers fully managed data connectors to sync data from SaaS applications, APIs, databases, and other structured data sources into target analytical destinations like data warehouses and data lakes.

Fivetran is built around the principle of Change Data Capture (CDC). This capability was supercharged with the acquisition of HVR in 2021, integrating HVR’s log-based CDC technology directly into the Fivetran platform. Fivetran’s approach to transformation is centered around dbt Core. This means users can leverage their existing dbt projects or build new ones, with Fivetran handling the orchestration, scheduling, and operational overhead associated with running dbt jobs.

Fivetran is suitable for businesses that deal with high-volume transactional data, require efficient and low-impact CDC, operate under stringent security and governance policies, and ultimately want a dependable, hands-off solution for data ingestion.

Key Features of Fivetran

• Data Connectors: Fivetran supports 500+ data connectors, making integrating data from multiple sources easy.
• Automated Data Sync: It automatically synchronizes data, ensuring your data is always fresh and ready for analysis.
• Security: Fivetran adheres to SOC 1 & 2, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA, CCPA, GDPR, and HITRUST regulations.
• Support and Community: Fivetran offers robust customer support and a vibrant community, which provides ample resources for troubleshooting and learning.

What is Airbyte?

• G2 Rating: 4.5 (47 reviews)
• Capterra Rating: N/A

Airbyte is an open-source ETL tool that allows you to customize your data pipelines according to your specific needs. It’s designed to handle large-scale data integration easily and offers a community-driven approach to building data connectors. It uses Debezium as an embedded library to capture and monitor changes in your database. Airbyte also provides AI-assisted functionality, which reads through your API documentation and autofills the configuration fields while setting up the ETL pipeline.

What truly sets Airbyte apart is its commitment to open-source principles and its powerful Connector Development Kit (CDK). While many platforms offer connectors, Airbyte empowers users to build new connectors in any programming language (packaged as Docker containers). This community-driven approach, coupled with features like AI-assisted connector configuration, fosters a transparent, rapidly evolving ecosystem.

Airbyte is an exceptional choice for engineering teams that champion open-source solutions and require unparalleled flexibility in their data integration strategy. If you’re looking to break free from vendor lock-in, need to connect to unique or internal data sources, or seek a cost-effective yet powerful ELT tool, Airbyte offers a compelling platform.

Key Features of Airbyte

• Data connectors: Airbyte supports 350+ data connectors, with 271 connectors in their Marketplace.
• Building new connectors: Users can develop their own connectors using the language of their choice.
• Alerts: Airbyte houses an automated alert mechanism that will notify all users when an issue arises.
• No Security Compliance Issues: Since Airbyte can be self-hosted, it inherits the security posture of your own infrastructure.

Check out our blog on Top 10 Airbyte Alternatives to compare Airbyte with other Data pipeline tools.

Fivetran vs. Airbyte vs. Hevo

Use cases:

	Fivetran	Airbyte	Hevo
Primary use cases	-Automate ELT pipelines to data warehouses -Managed, reliable data movement -Change Data Capture (CDC)	-Open-source, flexible data integration -For engineering teams needing customization -Self-hosted data pipelines	-No-code, automated ELT pipelines -Real-time data replication -Automated schema mapping and evolution
Secondary use cases	-dbt Core integration for transformations -Automate schema management -High-volume data replication (HVR)	-Building custom connectors (via CDK) Community -Driven connector support -Data integration for internal tools	-Building custom connectors (via CDK) Community -Driven connector support -Data integration for internal tools

Connectors:

	Fivetran	Airbyte	Hevo
Connector library	700+ connectors (includes 450+ “lite” connectors)	350+ open-source connectors	150+ pre-built, maintained connectors
Connector support	– Pre-built and managed by Fivetran- limited customization	– Users can build custom connectors in days – strong community support	– Features a REST API connector for custom sources – Connectors are managed by Hevo
Notable integrations	-Major databases (Postgres, MySQL), SaaS APIs (Salesforce), cloud storage (S3)	-Long-tail data sources, internal databases, and APIs	Popular cloud data warehouses (Snowflake, Redshift, BigQuery) and SaaS tools

Total cost of ownership:

	Fivetran	Airbyte	Hevo
Pricing model	MAR (monthly active rows) based model	-Open-source: Free software (requires infra/eng costs) -Cloud: Credit-based (compute time)	Volume-based tiered pricing with a free plan
Predictability	Unpredictable; can spike with high-volume updates or backfills	-Open-source: Predictable infra costs -Cloud: More predictable than MAR	Predictable, based on event volume and tiers
Cost considerations	Can become expensive for large-scale datasets or frequent updates	– Open-source requires engineering time, hosting, and maintenance costs	Low entry cost

Deployment:

	Fivetran	Airbyte	Hevo
Platform Options	Cloud-based (fully managed) and self-hosted (for HVR)	Cloud-based (Airbyte Cloud) and self-hosted (open-source)	Cloud-based SaaS (fully managed)
Setup complexity	Easy and minimal configuration required	-Cloud: Easy -Self-hosted: Moderate (requires engineering)	Easy; designed for non-technical users
Maintenance needs	Low (managed service)	-Cloud: Low-Self-hosted: Medium to high	Low (managed service)

Performance:

	Fivetran	Airbyte	Hevo
Performance	High for batch processing; reliable and stable	Varies based on self-hosted infrastructure and connector quality	Good for both real-time and batch processing
Scalability	Scales well for cloud and batch-focused workloads	Highly scalable with self-hosting; user controls resources	Scales well for cloud-native, real-time workloads
Latency	Near real-time (minutes)	Configurable by the user; can be near real-time	Real-time (seconds to minutes)

Security:

	Fivetran	Airbyte	Hevo
Certifications	SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR	-Cloud: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, CCPA-Self-hosted: User’s responsibility	SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA
Compliance support	Strong enterprise-grade security and compliance	-Cloud: Strong for managed platform -Self-hosted: Depends entirely on the user’s implementation	Good for cloud-native workloads and regulated industries

Head-to-Head Comparison: Fivetran vs Airbyte

Features

Fivetran

• Automated Data Integration: Fivetran automates data integration, ensuring continuous data syncing from source to destination without manual intervention.
• Prebuilt Connectors: Fivetran supports many data sources with over 500 prebuilt connectors. However, these connectors are non-customizable and mainly cater to structured data.
• Transformations: Fivetran provides limited preload transformations, allowing users to drop columns and mask data. For more complex transformations, it integrates seamlessly with dbt Core.
• Maintenance-Free: Fivetran automatically manages schema changes, reducing your engineering team’s burden.

Airbyte

• Customizable Connectors: With over 350 customizable connectors, Airbyte supports structured and unstructured data sources.
• Transformations: Airbyte primarily focuses on post-load transformations using dbt, offering flexibility in handling data transformations after loading.
• Open Source: Being open-source, it allows for extensive customization and transparency. You can modify the code to suit your specific needs.
• Community and Support: A vibrant community that contributes to the continuous improvement of the platform. Plus, you can get professional support if needed.

Looking to compare Airbyte with another leading ELT tool? Check out our Airbyte vs. Airflow comparison for a deeper dive.

Pricing

Fivetran

• Free Plan: This plan is for individuals automating ELT for small volumes of data. It gives access to Standard Plan features and up to 500,000 monthly active rows (MAR) free of charge.
• The Starter Plan: This plan is for achieving modern ELT for your application and file sources. You can access up to ten users for a one-hour sync. Fivetran does not allow Database connectors in its starter plan; it is limited to an enterprise plan.
• The Standard Plan: It allows you to centralize product and transactional data from your databases. Unlimited users can access it for 15-minute syncs.
• The Enterprise Plan: It lets you connect to an enterprise database connector for 1-minute syncs. It also allows for detailed roles and support for teams. This means a few connectors are unavailable in plans lower than the Enterprise plan. To get the sync to 1 min, Fivetran usually connects to HVR to get the same.

Airbyte

• Open Source Edition: Free to use with community support. Ideal for small teams or projects with technical expertise.
• Cloud Edition: Designed for startups and small teams, the Cloud Starter Edition offers a pay-as-you-go model with $2.50 per credit. This includes access to all the features available in the cloud with no upfront costs.
• Team Edition: This tier offers custom pricing and is designed for larger organizations. It provides additional features and enhanced support, including enterprise-grade security, dedicated customer success, and professional support.
• Enterprise Edition: This tier offers customized pricing for large-scale enterprises requiring advanced features, priority support, and custom solutions. It offers extensive customization, advanced security options, and dedicated account management.

Data Handling and Transformation

Fivetran

• Pre-Load Transformations: Limited preload transformation capabilities directly within the UI. Users can drop columns and mask data before loading.
• Post-Load Transformations: Fivetran relies on dbt Core, a popular transformation tool in the modern data stack, for more complex transformations.
• Schema Management: Automatically adapts to schema changes, ensuring minimal disruptions.

Airbyte

• Pre-Load Transformations: Lacks significant preload transformation features, focusing more on the extraction and loading phases.
• Post-Load Transformations: Strong emphasis on post-load transformations using dbt, allowing for powerful and flexible data manipulation after loading.
• Custom Connectors: The ability to create custom connectors means you can handle various data sources and formats.

Dive into our comparison of Airbyte and Stitch to see how they stack up against Fivetran and other data integration tools in 2025

Deployment Options

Fivetran

• SaaS (Software as a Service): Fivetran operates as a fully managed service in the cloud. This means you don’t need to worry about infrastructure, updates, or maintenance. Fivetran handles everything, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.
• Hybrid: Fivetran supports a hybrid deployment model for organizations that must keep certain data on-premises while leveraging the cloud for other operations. This setup allows for flexibility in data handling and ensures compliance with data sovereignty and security requirements.
• Self-Hosted: While Fivetran primarily operates as a SaaS, there are options for on-premises deployments in special cases. This is particularly useful for enterprises with strict data governance policies that necessitate keeping data within their infrastructure.

Airbyte

• Airbyte Cloud: This fully managed service, hosted by Airbyte takes care of all infrastructure, updates, and maintenance. It’s an ideal option for teams looking for a hassle-free, scalable solution without the need to manage their own servers.
• On Your Infrastructure: Airbyte’s open-source nature allows you to deploy the platform on your infrastructure. This option gives you full control over your data and environment, ensuring compliance with internal security policies and data governance requirements.

Customers

Fivetran

• E-Commerce: Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Everlane
• Finance: Square, kiva, Axos bank
• Education: Cengage, Udacity, University of Colorado

Airbyte

• E-Commerce: Cart.com, SoleSavy
• Finance: PensionBee, BetterSaver, Invesco
• Education: Intellum, CodeSandbox

When should you consider Fivetran?

You should consider Fivetran when your primary goal is to implement a reliable, automated, and maintenance-free data pipeline with minimal engineering effort. Fivetran is the ideal choice for teams that want a “set-it-and-forget-it” solution. 

Its strengths lie in its fully managed SaaS platform, which automatically handles schema changes and ensures continuous data syncing. If your data sources are well-supported by their connectors and you have the budget for a premium, hands-off service, Fivetran is an excellent choice.

When should you consider Airbyte?

Choose Airbyte if you want deep control over your tools and data pipelines. It’s built for those who see open-source as an opportunity, not a burden. This means you can tailor its connectors to handle any data source (structured or not) and even create custom solutions for proprietary systems. 

For engineering teams that prioritize data sovereignty and security, the ability to self-host Airbyte on your own infrastructure is a critical advantage. Ultimately, Airbyte is the go-to platform for hands-on technical teams who want a cost-effective, transparent, and highly adaptable tool.

Why is Hevo the Best Alternative to Fivetran and Airbyte?

When choosing an ETL tool, both Fivetran and Airbyte have their strengths and limitations. Fivetran is known for its simplicity and automation, but it offers limited pre-load transformation and customization options. Airbyte, while highly flexible and customizable, can be complex and has a steep learning curve.

Enter Hevo Data, which is quickly taking over the ETL landscape. Hevo offers a user-friendly interface, robust data integration, and seamless automation. It supports various sources and destinations, making it versatile across different industries. 

For transformation, Hevo provides a Python platform to run your custom scripts, or you can use a simple, intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Hevo’s real-time data pipeline lets you quickly access and analyze your data. Additionally, Hevo’s transparent pricing structure and excellent customer support make it a better choice. These features combine to place Hevo at the forefront of the ETL market. 

Want to explore more data integration tools? Check out our blog to compare top tools and find the right fit for your business needs.

Sign up for 14-day free trial with Hevo and overcome all the challenges you are facing with Fivetran or Airbyte.

Frequently Asked Questions on Fivetran vs Airbyte