Informatica vs Matillion: The Top 5 Differences Explained

ETL tools are very important to a business dealing with varied data sources. An efficient ETL tool provides the platform to migrate data from multiple sources to a single destination and run analytics on it. With the market flooded with ETL tools, choosing which tool is right for your organization can be challenging. 

This blog is about two leading ETL tools: Informatica vs Matillion. Both have different features that address different business needs.

Informatica Overview

G2 Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (523)

Informatica is renowned for its powerful data management platform. It offers a broad array of tools that respond to the many needs in data management, such as ETL, data governance, and data quality. Probably the most famous and widely used products offered by Informatica are Informatica PowerCenter, Informatica MDM, and Informatica Data Quality. These tools collectively provide features such as data integration, data management, and data quality. It operates on-premise and on the cloud. 

Key Features of Informatica 

• Connectivity and integrations: Informatica supports 100+ data connectors from various data sources, including databases(SQL, Oracle), enterprise applications(Salesforce), web services, etc. 
• Data Transformation: Informatica provides extensive data transformation to clean and prepare data for analysis. It allows the creation of sophisticated transformations using a drag-and-drop interface.
• AI Tools: AI-powered tools like Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud help reduce manual work and time by creating and maintaining data flow. It also offers the feature of quickly building and deploying Gen AI apps without coding.  
• Intelligent Automation: Informatica provides the option to automate complex business and user workflows. 

Pricing

Informatica provides volume-based pricing, where you pay for only the services you require now and can swap for other services in the future. The company’s AI engine also helps optimize costs. It is a consumption-based pricing model where you can use Informatica Pricing Units (IPUs) to access all cloud services. 

Refer to their pricing page for more information.

When to use Informatica? 

Informatica is the go-to choice for organizations that need data integration across complex environments and require them to create complex workflows. It is also a complete solution; organizations that need tools for data quality, data governance, data integration, etc., can find them all in one solution. Businesses looking to incorporate AI into their data management strategy will find Informatica very convenient. 

Matillion Overview

G2 Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (77)

Gartner Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars (135)

Matillion is a cloud-native platform for building and maintaining data pipelines. It provides options for technical and non-technical users to develop pipelines and perform data transformations. Using Matillion’s AI capabilities, users can quickly build complex pipelines using plain-language prompts. Matillion boasts seamless integration with cloud data warehouses such as Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, and databricks. 

Key Features of Matillion 

• Scalability: Matillion is highly scalable due to its cloud-native design and architecture, which allows businesses to scale quickly as data grows. 
• Intuitive Interface: Matillion’s no-code interface allows users to create and maintain data pipelines without coding easily. It also offers a high-code option for users with coding experience. 
• AI tools: It provides an option to create AI pipelines to improve business workflows and analytics with GenAI.
• CDC: Matillion supports CDC(Change Data Capture) with the help of which data is always consistent and up to date. 
• Custom Connectors: In addition to Matillion’s extensive list of pre-built connectors, it also provides the option to build custom connectors to pull data via REST API.

Pricing 

Matillion’s pricing is divided into three pricing models: 

• Basic: Priced at $2.00/ credit
• Advanced: Priced at $2.50/ credit
• Enterprise: Priced at $2.70/ credit

Matillion’s pricing model is designed to be predictable and flexible. Enterprise customers can add dedicated support and AI capabilities at an extra charge. 

Refer to their pricing page for more information.

When to use Matillion?

With its cloud-native architecture, Matillion becomes the ideal solution for organizations that manage large datasets and require scalable workflows. It is also a cost-effective option for organizations already using data warehouses in their data management strategy. Matillion is compatible with companies that perform transformations in the data warehouse post-loading data.

Comparison Table- Informatica vs Matillion vs Hevo data 

Features	Informatica	Matillion	Hevo Data
G2 Ratings	4.3 out of 5 (523)	4.4 out of 5 stars (77)	4.3 out of 5 (234)
Deployment Type	On-prem, Cloud, Hybrid	Cloud-native	Cloud-native
Scalability	Highly scalable	Scales with cloud setup	Highly scalable
Data Integration	Extensive connectors	Deep integration with cloud warehouses	150+ Pre-build connectors, real-time integration
Interface	Comprehensive,  requires expertise	User-friendly	No-code, intuitive interface.
Automation	Workflow automation	Automated job orchestration, scheduling	Fully automated data pipelines, Scheduling
Transformation Capabilities	Both pre-load and post-load transformations	Post-load transformations only (ELT)	Both pre-load and post-load transformations
Pricing and Cost	Subscription-based, higher cost compared to Matillion and Hevo	Usage-based, three tiers of pricing options	Transparent and predictable pricing
Security and Compliance	GDPR, SOC2 Type II, HIPAA compliant	SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR Compliant	SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR Compliant, and end-to-end encryption
Support and Community	Strong and extensive resources and tutorials.	Documentation and additional paid support	Extensive documentation and strong customer support with live chat and email.
Best for	Organizations looking to solve various data management requirements, such as ETL, data governance, and data quality.	Organizations that have already adopted data warehousing and need a cloud data warehouse integration tool.	Companies looking for a cost-effective solution for real-time data integration with no-code setup.

Informatica vs Matillion: What Sets Them Apart

Architecture and Deployment

• Informatica: Informatica offers multiple deployment options, such as on-prem, cloud, and hybrid, making it suitable for organizations with varying infrastructure needs. Its architecture contains various tools for various data management needs, allowing the tool to be flexible and efficient. 
• Matillion: Matillion is a cloud-native tool, meaning it only supports cloud deployment. This makes it ideal for businesses that have already adopted cloud services and are looking for a data integration solution. Its architecture is designed to be scalable. 

User Interface

• Informatica: Informatica’s user interface is overwhelming, with many options and tools. It requires a steeper learning curve than Matillion. It takes time to get used to. However, it is ideal for users who require high control over the ETL and data management process. 
• Matillion: Matillion’s interface is user-friendly and intuitive. Its drag-and-drop feature allows users to build pipelines swiftly and efficiently. It is more accessible than Informatica and can be used by people with less technical experience. 

Integration Capabilities

• Informatica: Informatica supports various sources, including databases, SaaS applications, and cloud environments. Its ability to manage data makes it suitable for enterprises with complex data processing needs. With its wide range of tools, Informatica ensures the data is always available and reliable. 
• Matillion: Matillion’s cloud-native architecture supports 150 + connectors and also supports post-load transformation. Its ability to connect seamlessly with cloud data warehouses such as Redshift, Snowflake, etc., makes it a perfect platform for enterprises already using these cloud warehouses. 

Pricing Model

• Informatica: Informatica offers volume-based pricing, which can be more expensive for small companies that do not use all the services they provide. However, the company’s AI engine helps optimize costs. 
• Matillion: Matillions offers a usage-based pricing model and provides a specific monthly amount of credits. There are various tiers, and additional add-ons are also available for enterprise customers. 

Customer Support and Community

• Informatica: Informatica provides extensive support with training programs and customer support. There is a widespread community of Informatica users and experts that help users troubleshoot issues and share best practices. 
• Matillion: Matillion also provides support in the form of technical assistance, documentation, and training. Its community is not that big compared to Informatica. Matillion provides dedicated support and guidance at an additional cost for its enterprise-level users. 

Pros and Cons

Informatica:

Pros:

• Provides a variety of data management tools and features
• Strong security and compliance features
• Multiple deployment options and advanced data transformation capabilities. 
• Widespread community to help users troubleshoot.
• Strong AI integration.  

Cons:

• A steeper learning curve, especially for new users. 
• Higher cost (not for small businesses)
• More complex setup and maintenance. 

Matillion:

Pros:

• Cloud-native design optimized for cloud data warehouses. 
• User-friendly UI that needs minimal technical expertise. 
• Quick setup and deployment option
• Cost-effective solution 

Cons:

• Provides only post-load transformation 
• Paid support options
• Less customizable as compared to Informatica
• Limited to cloud environments. 

Thinking Beyond Informatica and Matillion? Consider Hevo Data

Hevo Data offers a no-code, intuitive data integration platform for technical and non-technical users. It supports over 150+ data connectors and enables real-time data integration, enabling timely and accurate data flow across all your systems.

• Flexible Transformations: Perform pre-load and post-load transformations, giving more control over your data processing.
• End-to-End Encryption: Secure your data with encryption at rest and in transit.
• Automated Data Mapping: Automatically map source data to destination schema.
• 24/7 Support: Get help anytime with round-the-clock customer support.

Why Choose Hevo? Hevo Data is ideal for companies that require a cost-effective and scalable solution with less complexity as compared to traditional ETL solutions.

Conclusion

While both Informatica and Matillion provide powerful ETL solutions to a large extent, their relative strengths are different. Whereas Informatica is good at the complex, enterprise-level data integration of hybrid environments, Matillion offers smooth integration with its cloud-native solution optimized for cloud data warehouses. If budget-friendly no-code solutions are sought, Hevo Data offers real-time integrations, many prebuilt connectors, and an ability to scale seamlessly. Your choice among these tools will depend on your specific business needs, infrastructure, and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions