Summary IconKEY TAKEAWAY
  • Keboola alternatives suit teams that need simpler setup and faster deployment.
  • Hevo Data is the best option for teams that want reliable, low-maintenance pipelines at scale.
  • Stitch and Dataddo work well for small teams with basic analytics needs and tight budgets.
  • Matillion, Talend, and Azure Data Factory support complex, enterprise-grade workflows.
  • The best choice depends on data volume, data movement frequency, team skills, and pricing clarity.

You might be using Keboola for data integration or considering it for your next ETL workflow. It’s simple and cloud-based, but is it the right long-term fit for your growing data needs?

As your data volumes increase and use cases expand, you may start looking for tools that are faster, more scalable, or more flexible than Keboola. 

This guide shows you the best options on the market right now. You’ll get real-world comparisons, pros and cons that actually matter, pricing clarity, and practical advice to help you choose the platform that will accelerate your growth.

What Is Keboola?

G2 rating: 4.6/5 (137)

Keboola is a cloud-based data integration and ETL platform designed to help teams collect, transform, and move data between various sources and destinations. It supports integrations with databases, SaaS tools, and cloud storage systems. Users can orchestrate data pipelines through a modular component-based approach.

The platform is commonly used by small to mid-sized businesses and data teams that rely on multiple SaaS applications. Keboola works well for teams that want more control over workflows, governance, and scheduling without fully building pipelines from scratch.

Why Are People Moving Away From Keboola?

While Keboola is powerful, many teams eventually encounter limitations as their data stack matures. Here are some commonly cited challenges, supported by real-world user feedback from platforms like G2, Capterra, and community forums.

1. Steep learning curve

Keboola’s flexibility is often highlighted as a key advantage. However, this flexibility also brings a noticeable learning curve. Setting up and managing data pipeline tools usually requires prior experience with data integration tools and a solid understanding of Keboola’s modular architecture. As a result, new or less technical users may find the initial setup and day-to-day management challenging at first.

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There’s a bit of a learning curve at first, especially if you\'re not used to data pipeline tools, but the documentation is strong and the customer support is excellent. Once you’ve built your first few pipelines, everything clicks into place.
Elliot F
Managing Director

2. Limited permission control

Keboola provides only a limited set of access roles, which can restrict fine-grained control over project permissions. This design makes it difficult to specify who can edit or trigger selected flows and often results in broad, all-or-nothing privileges. While the platform supports multiple branches, it does not offer native conflict resolution or pull-request mechanisms, which limits collaborative version management.

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Limited oversight what going on in the project you administer. Few access roles you have does not give you enough control of who can edit or trigger selected flows. It is either all or nothing. You can have multiple branches but conflict resolution was a big no to avoid it, no way to have pull requests.
Michal P
Data Architect

3. DAG complexity

Keboola’s Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure can be complex to manage, particularly when a modification in an early transformation step affects downstream processes. Although recent updates have improved visibility and control, navigating these interdependencies can still present challenges for users working with multi-stage workflows.

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I find the Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) a bit confusing at times, particularly in how a small change in the first step of a transformation can have unforeseen impacts on later stages. It\'s getting better with new features, but it still poses a challenge.
Pavel S.

4. Connector’s performance limitations

Keboola’s connector reliability can vary, and certain integrations may require frequent troubleshooting to maintain consistent data ingestion. This is particularly noticeable with social media sources, where connection stability and data continuity can be difficult to maintain without ongoing intervention.

Top 10 Keboola Alternatives to Consider

Here’s a summary of the top 5 alternatives compared based on different factors:

Hevo LogoTry Hevo for Freefivetrantalend logomatillionBoomi logo
Best for
Real-time ETL for cloud-native teams
Enterprise hands-off pipelines
Complex enterprise data integration
Cloud data warehouse transformations
Enterprise application & API integration
Key advantage
No-code, 150+ connectors, auto-schema
Automated schema drift & reliability
Open-source flexibility, data quality tools
Native cloud warehouse optimization
Low-code iPaaS, hybrid cloud support
Ease of usegreen-tick
green-tick
green-tick
green-tick
green-tick
Connectors
150+
700+
1,000+
150+
200+
Real-time syncgreen-tick
green-tick
green-tick
red-cross
green-tick
Free plangreen-tick
green-tick
green-tick
red-cross
red-cross
Free trialgreen-tick
green-tick
green-tick
green-tick
green-tick
Starting price
$239/month
$499.99/million
Custom pricing
Custom pricing
$99/month

1. Hevo Data

G2 rating: 4.4/5(276)

Hevo Data is a fully managed, no-code ELT platform that enables teams to move and transform data across multiple systems with minimal manual effort. For organizations comparing modern ETL tools, Hevo streamlines data integration by connecting to more than 150 sources and popular data warehouses within minutes, without heavy engineering work or ongoing upkeep. This lets data teams spend more time on insights and business outcomes instead of maintaining pipelines.

As an alternative to Keboola, Hevo is well-suited for teams that want enterprise-level data movement without added operational burden. Its user-friendly design supports quick onboarding and sustained usage, making it a strong option for expanding data teams managing higher workloads.

Key features of Hevo

  • Simple to use: Hevo offers a guided, no-code interface that lets teams build and manage pipelines without scripts or infrastructure tasks. The visual setup makes it easy to configure flows, monitor progress, and update pipelines as needs evolve.
  • Reliable: The platform uses a resilient architecture that keeps pipelines running even when data sources fail. Smart retries, auto-recovery, and built-in schema change management reduce disruptions and limit manual fixes.
  • Transparent: Hevo provides full visibility into pipeline health through live dashboards, detailed logs, and data lineage views. Validation at the batch level helps catch issues early and protects the accuracy of analytics.
  • Predictable pricing: Hevo follows an event-based pricing approach that offers clear cost tracking as data volumes increase. This avoids surprise charges and helps teams budget more confidently.
  • Scalable: The system automatically adjusts to higher data loads and throughput without downtime or performance tuning. Pipelines continue to run smoothly as complexity and usage grow.

Customer review

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What I like best about Hevo Data is its intuitive user interface, clear documentation, and responsive technical support. The platform is straightforward to navigate, even for users who are new to data migration tools. I found it easy to set up pipelines and manage data flows without needing extensive technical support. Additionally, Hevo provides well-organized documentation that clearly explains different migration approaches, which makes the entire process smooth and efficient.
Henry E.
Software Engineer

Pros

  • Faster setup compared to traditional ETL platforms
  • High reliability with little manual effort required
  • Strong monitoring and end-to-end data visibility
  • Pricing supports predictable growth

Cons

  • Expenses may increase significantly with large data volumes
  • Advanced features are available only in higher plans
  • Custom pipeline logic can take time to learn

Why choose Hevo over Keboola?

  • Quicker, no-code implementation with near real-time data delivery
  • Built-in monitoring, auto-healing pipelines, and automatic schema handling
  • Clear pricing with automatic scaling as data usage increases

Pricing

Hevo offers a transparent, tiered subscription model.

  • Free: Up to 1 million events per month with access for five users.
  • Starter: From $239 per month, supporting up to 50 million events with SSH and SSL security for up to 10 users.
  • Professional: From $679 per month for 20 million events, reverse SSH, and unlimited users.
  • Business Critical: Custom pricing for enterprises handling more than 100 million events.

New users can also start with a free trial before selecting a paid plan.

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Hevo’s UI is remarkable; any issue can be quickly identified and resolved. The latency at the table level is excellent, and reliability has been impeccable. We haven't faced a single issue since migrating, and the support team has been outstanding.
Hrishikesh Chappadi
Senior Engineering Manager, Beepkart

Read the full case study here.

Try Hevo free for 14 days – automate your data pipelines without code.

2. Fivetran

fivetran platform
      Image source

G2 rating: 4.2/5 (445)

Fivetran is an enterprise ELT platform with strong connector coverage and automatic schema updates. Many large companies choose it because it works as a plug-and-play solution. It also scales smoothly as data volumes increase. As a result, teams spend less time managing pipelines. This makes daily data operations more efficient.

It supports data-driven enterprises that need pipelines with almost no manual maintenance. The platform focuses on strong security, governance, and compliance for critical workloads. In addition, its automated design reduces operational effort. With over 700 connectors, it delivers consistent performance. Therefore, teams often value its reliability more than its cost.

Key features

  • Fully automated 700+ connectors: It connects to more than 700 data sources with minimal setup, which means reduced manual work and faster data integration.
  • Enterprise governance and role management: It controls user access with clear roles. This protects sensitive data while ensuring accountability.
  • High reliability during syncs: It keeps data syncs stable even under heavy loads. Therefore, teams experience fewer errors, and data stays accurate and consistent.
  • Strong documentation and support: It provides clear guides and helpful support. This simplifies setup and troubleshooting. As a result, teams resolve issues faster.

Customer review

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What do you like best about Fivetran? 1. Its ability to move data between different platform 2. It is easy to connect to different sources like API\'s,databases etc, 3. The data integration and movement is very easy. 4. It also acts as ETL tool.
Srini B
Data Analyst

Pros

  • Delivers excellent uptime for mission-critical data workloads.
  • Keeps pipelines stable and reliable at scale.
  • Supports strong security and compliance requirements.

Cons

  • Becomes expensive as data volumes increase.
  • Focuses mainly on ELT workflows.
  • Requires data modeling inside the warehouse.

Why choose Fivetran over Keboola?

  • Provides over 700 connectors, while Keboola offers fewer options.
  • Runs fully automated pipelines with zero manual maintenance.
  • Handles enterprise-scale workloads with consistent reliability.

Pricing

  • Free: Includes 500,000 MAR and 5,000 model runs per month.
  • Standard: Starts at $499.99 with more connectors and basic support.
  • Enterprise: Adds real-time syncs, advanced security, and priority support.
  • Business Critical: Includes extra compliance and governance features.

A 14-day free trial is available.

3. Talend Data Fabric

G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (12)

Talend Data Fabric is an end-to-end data integration and management platform. It combines data integration, quality, governance, and preparation in a single solution. Teams can move, clean, and transform data between cloud and on-premises systems without heavy coding. This makes complex data workflows easier to manage.

The platform works well for data engineers, analysts, and business teams who often need reliable pipelines and governed data for analytics. Talend supports this with a user-friendly interface and enterprise-grade capabilities. Scalable deployment options enable teams to manage small and large datasets efficiently.

Key features

  • Unified Studio & Studio Cloud: Users design, test, and deploy data pipelines in one interface. Visual tools simplify complex ETL processes.
  • Flexible connectivity: Connects to hundreds of sources, including SaaS apps, databases, and data warehouses. Supports both batch and real-time data.
  • Data quality & governance: The tool defines rules, monitors data quality, and enforces governance. Alerts help maintain trusted data for analytics.
  • Cloud & on-prem deployment: Offers hybrid deployment options, which make it suitable for both cloud-first and legacy environments.
  • Advanced transformations: Users can perform complex data transformations with minimal coding, using drag-and-drop and prebuilt components.

Customer review

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Talend Data Fabric stands out for its unified platform, open-source foundation, user-friendly interface, scalability, extensive connectivity, and features for data governance and quality. The platform caters to both technical and non-technical users, allowing for flexible and scalable data integration across diverse sources and destinations. It's pretty easy to integrate with various data sources.
Siddharth S.
Senior Data Engineer

Pros

  • Comprehensive platform for ETL, data quality, and governance.
  • Visual interface simplifies complex data tasks.
  • Scalable and flexible for large enterprise environments.

Cons

  • Learning curve for beginners, especially with advanced features.
  • Some advanced integrations require technical expertise.
  • Higher cost compared to simpler ETL tools.

Why choose Talend Data Fabric over Keboola?

  • Enterprise-grade features for both small and large teams.
  • Stronger focus on data governance and quality.
  • Handles complex, large-scale ETL and data workflows.

Pricing

  • Starter Plan: Basic data movement from SaaS applications and databases with pre-built connectors, managed cloud pipelines, and a data catalog​.
  • Standard Plan: Adds real-time CDC synchronization, database connectivity, and cloud/hybrid deployment.
  • Premium Plan: Includes automated ELT/ETL transformations, data warehouse/lakehouse automation, and column-level lineage.
  • Enterprise Plan: Full AI/GenAI capabilities, LLM integration, data marketplace, and advanced data quality profiling.

4. Matillion

G2 rating: 4.4 (81)

Matillion is a cloud-native data pipeline tool that helps you extract data from over 150 sources and load it into cloud data warehouses like Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, and BigQuery.

It describes itself as a ‘data productivity cloud’ that lets coders and non-coders build, manage, and orchestrate an entire data lifecycle. Unlike traditional ETL tools, Matillion is purpose-built for high-volume and complex transformations that run using the compute power of your warehouse.

Key features

  • Component-based orchestration: Combines prebuilt components that control data movement, logic, and dependencies across a pipeline to build complex workflows.
  • Native Git integration: Provides version control and collaboration by connecting projects directly to Git repositories for easy tracking, rollback, and team management.
  • AI-powered pipeline creation: Enables faster pipeline creation through Maia, an AI assistant that turns natural language prompts into optimized data workflows and transformation logic.
  • Flexible script support: Supports advanced customization through native Python and SQL scripting to extend or fine-tune transformations.
  • No-code connector wizard: Allows you to build custom connectors for REST APIs using a guided interface that quickly maps data endpoints and authentication details.

Customer review

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Matillion’s simple UI makes user comfortable to configure and easy to understand the flow. And it’s well maintained configuration section is a big plus for this platform. So even new users can easily understand this platform’s features and design. Additionally Matillion providing learning materials and courses for beginners to understand their tool and the topics in the course also few, because they teaching only necessary topics which can help beginners to work in their platform as a professional.
Syed A.
Associate Trainee (Data Engineering)

Pros

  • Offers detailed data lineage.
  • Supports Reverse ETL functionality.
  • Strong governance controls for audit and compliance.

Cons

  • Pricing is unclear and might escalate with scaled operations.
  • Complex workflows require technical assistance.
  • Might entail a learning curve for complex workflows.

Why choose Matillion over Keboola?

  • Designed for full ETL/ELT and complex transformations, not just data syncing.
  • Better performance for cloud-scale workloads.
  • Ideal for teams managing large, diverse datasets and requiring advanced orchestration.

Pricing

  • Developer: 1 developer user, unlimited projects, pre-built connectors, low-code canvas + SQL/Python, built-in Git, community support​
  • Teams: 5 developer users, audit log, standard support with SLA, 90-day log retention​
  • Scale: 5 developer users, custom SSO, hybrid deployment, data lineage, streaming CDC, 180-day log retention, optional Premium Support​

5. Boomi

G2 Rating: 4.3 (463)

Boomi is an enterprise integration platform as a service (iPaaS) designed to connect applications, data, APIs, and AI agents across cloud and on-premises environments. It uses a low-code approach to help teams build, deploy, and manage integrations without extensive technical expertise. 

The platform supports diverse integration patterns, including real-time APIs, batch processing, and asynchronous workflows, making it suitable for organizations managing complex hybrid IT landscapes. Teams can centralize integration management through a unified interface that simplifies connection orchestration and governance.​

Key features

  • Pre-built connector library: Provides hundreds of ready-to-use connectors for popular enterprise applications like Salesforce, SAP, NetSuite, and AWS, reducing development time for common integrations.​
  • Drag-and-drop interface: Enables business users and developers to design integrations visually with minimal coding, accelerating deployment cycles.​
  • Hybrid and multi-cloud support: Connects cloud-based and on-premises systems seamlessly, supporting deployment flexibility across AWS, Azure, and other major cloud providers.​
  • API management capabilities: Offers full lifecycle API management, including design, security, governance, and monitoring through a unified gateway and developer portal.​
  • Real-time data synchronization: Ensures timely data flow across systems with event-driven architecture and streaming support for time-sensitive business processes.​

Customer review

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Boomi has allowed me to bring value to my company by automating Ecommerce, DTC, B2B processes and data flow at TKG. Integration & Automation platform has been crucial to have data flow to the right places at the right time, with listeners providing near realtime service for our web orders coming from Salesforce. It works seamlessly with SSMS as well and we are exploring Master Data Hub to replace or SSIM packages and stored procedures. Before ammunition I worked with it extensively for complex educational data as well.
Sung K.
Enterprise

Pros

  • Highly stable platform with reliable uptime for production workloads​
  • Easy to learn and manage for both technical and non-technical users​
  • Multiple deployment options, including cloud, hybrid, and on-premises​

Cons

  • Server restarts can occasionally cause transaction loss, requiring manual reconciliation​
  • Pricing can become complex with high-volume workloads and multiple modules​
  • Advanced configurations may require significant expertise to implement properly​

Why choose Boomi over Meltano?

  • Enterprise-grade connectors: Hundreds of pre-built integrations for Salesforce, SAP, NetSuite, and complex B2B/EDI workflows.​
  • All-in-one platform: Combines integration, API management, and data synchronization in one tool.​
  • Low-code approach: Visual interface for building integrations across cloud and on-premises systems.​

Pricing

  • Pay-as-you-go option: $99/month base fee plus usage-based charges, billed monthly with no contract or upfront investment.​
  • Professional tier: Advanced integrations with broader environment support, process orchestration, multiple deployment environments, and Premier Support availability.​
  • Professional Plus tier: Includes all Professional features plus built-in API enablement for integrations and additional connections.​
  • Enterprise tier: Adds advanced user management with custom roles, clustered runtime for high availability, parallel processing, larger data loads, and more enterprise connections.​
  • Enterprise Plus tier: Includes all Enterprise capabilities plus message queuing for advanced integration architectures and additional connections.​

6. Databricks

G2 Rating: 4.6 (656)

Databricks is an end-to-end data and AI platform designed to process and analyze massive datasets across major cloud providers. It is built on Apache Spark and follows a Lakehouse approach, bringing together the reliability of data warehouses with the open storage model of data lakes. 

This setup supports both structured and unstructured data, which makes it suitable for advanced analytics and generative AI workloads. Teams can also work together more efficiently using shared notebooks and collaborative workspaces.

Key features

  • Lakehouse framework: Uses Delta Lake to merge warehouse-style performance with lake-based storage, while maintaining transactional reliability and scalable data management.
  • Integrated data pipelines: Provides native tools like Delta Live Tables to design and run ETL processes directly within the platform.
  • Complete ML and AI lifecycle support: Enables model development, training, deployment, and monitoring in one environment, including support for generative AI use cases.
  • Streaming and batch processing: Supports continuous data ingestion alongside traditional batch jobs, helping teams access insights with minimal delay.

Customer review

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Databricks data intelligence is a platform that helps in accommodating all of our business and official data and share it with different team departments so that they can analyse it and create a detailed analytics of past performances and also make required changes on it for future growth.
Kriti K
CFO

Pros

  • Strong collaboration features for data teams
  • Works across multiple cloud platforms
  • Centralized and consistent security controls

Cons

  • Initial configuration can be demanding and time-intensive
  • Usage-based pricing can rise quickly with scale
  • Notebook-driven production workflows may lead to maintainability issues if not well governed

Why choose Databricks over Meltano?

Databricks fits teams looking for more than just data integration. It suits organizations that need analytics, real-time processing, machine learning, and AI capabilities in a single, scalable system. 

By bringing data, tools, and users into one shared environment, it reduces dependency on separate platforms and speeds up collaboration.

Pricing

  • Pay-as-you-go model: No upfront cost. You pay only for what you use, billed per second based on Databricks Units (DBUs).
  • DBU rates vary by workload: Pricing starts at $0.07/DBU for AI, $0.15/DBU for Data Engineering, $0.22/DBU for Data Warehousing, and $0.40/DBU for Interactive and Operational Database workloads.
  • Committed Use Contracts offer discounts: You can get lower rates by committing to a certain usage level, with flexibility to use credits across multiple clouds.
  • Additional platform costs may apply: Charges can also include managed services, data transfer, storage, and add-ons, depending on usage and setup.

7. Integrate.io 

G2 rating: 4.3 (208)

Integrate.io is a true low-code data integration platform designed for business users and data teams. It provides a visual step-by-step setup that simplifies data movement. Teams can transfer data between databases, cloud apps, BI tools, and warehouses without heavy technical knowledge. This enables non-technical users to handle data pipelines independently, making routine data integration faster and easier.

The platform is ideal for analysts, marketers, and operations teams who require reliable and timely data flows. Its business-focused design ensures smooth connections between multiple data sources and dashboards. Small and medium teams can scale their data operations without depending on dedicated engineers.

Key features

  • Visual Flow Builder: Users can create data pipelines visually using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Components are organized clearly by type, and setup is straightforward and accessible to non-technical users.
  • Flexible Scheduling: Supports batch and real-time data syncs with custom schedules that provide better control over workflow timing.
  • Direct SaaS to BI Connections: Transfers data directly from applications to dashboards, and eliminates unnecessary tools and manual effort.
  • Data Transformation and Cleansing: Offers in-platform transformations and data validation to maintain quality and consistency.

Customer review

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Doing a simple data transfer is exactly that - extremely simple. With only a ten minute overview, we had our first transfer up and working in under two hours. We can create a new one now in minutes. But there is power there when we need it--for transformations, for controlling and monitoring the jobs, for taking a different path due to success, error, or any other scenario we can test for. It's the best of both worlds.
Arlene S.
Salesforce Technical Architect

Pros

  • Business-friendly interface with minimal learning curve.
  • Simple setup and fast deployment.
  • Flexible pricing suitable for growing teams.

Cons

  • Limited advanced transformation options.
  • Some connectors could use more configuration flexibility.
  • Best suited for standard ETL/ELT workflows, not complex pipelines.

Why choose Integrate.io over Keboola?

  • Easier UI for non-technical users.
  • Supports flexible scheduling and multiple sync frequencies.
  • Designed for BI automation workflows and operational efficiency.

Pricing

  • Integrate.io Core: It offers fixed-fee pricing starting at $1,999/month with unlimited data volumes, pipelines, and connectors. 
  • Custom pricing: Available for organizations that require enterprise-level advanced security, identity management, HIPAA compliance, and custom governance​.

8. Airbyte

G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (75)

Airbyte is another open-source data integration platform built to give teams full control over ETL and ELT processes. It allows users to move data between databases, data warehouses, and SaaS applications easily. Its modular and connector-based system makes it highly flexible. Designed for both technical and semi-technical users, it enables teams to manage complex data pipelines without excessive coding overhead.

Airbyte works well for data engineers, analytics teams, and technical operations teams who require scalable, reliable, and automated data syncing. Its open-source nature allows companies to build custom connectors and keep costs lower while maintaining flexibility.

Key features

  • Extensive connector library: Offers hundreds of pre-built connectors for SaaS apps, databases, and warehouses, with the ability to create custom connectors easily.
  • Modular and flexible architecture: Users can run Airbyte on the cloud or on-premises to tailor deployments to their infrastructure needs.
  • Incremental and full-refresh syncs: Supports efficient data updates with incremental syncs to reduce load on source systems.
  • Data transformation support: Integrates with transformation tools and supports dbt for transformation workflows.
  • Monitoring and alerting: Tracks data sync status with logs and notifications to ensure pipelines run smoothly.

Customer review

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What do you like best about Airbyte? Open-Source & Flexibility: Airbyte OSS stands out for its open-source approach. It's both free and self-hostable, providing full control over data and infrastructure while eliminatiing vendor lock-in. Ease of Use: For standard data pipeline (such as PostgreSQL to snowflake), the UI is very intuitive. We can deploy new pipelines in minutes, with no coding required.
Hardik S.
Marketing Expert

 Pros

  • Open-source with large community support.
  • Supports both cloud and on-premise deployments.
  • Scalable pipelines with incremental syncs.

Cons

  • Initial setup may require technical knowledge.
  • Some connectors are still in beta or require custom configuration.
  • Limited out-of-the-box transformations compared to fully managed platforms.

Why choose Airbyte over Dataddo?

  • Fully open-source with the ability to build custom connectors.
  • Highly scalable for large volumes of data.
  • Greater flexibility in deployment and transformation options.

Pricing

  • Open Source Edition: No-cost self-hosted deployment that supports unlimited connectors and data throughput.
  • Standard Volume-Based Model: Charges are determined by processed data volume such as rows, GBs, or event counts—making it suitable for individual users or small teams.
  • Plus Tier: Billed annually and includes dedicated Standard Data Workers along with faster support response times, offering predictable costs without the need to manage infrastructure.
  • Pro Tier: Provides higher-speed synchronization, priority support, and advanced capabilities like role-based access control and encryption, customized for production environments that require assured performance.

9. Apache Airflow

G2 Rating: 4.4 (120)

Apache Airflow is an open-source workflow orchestration platform designed to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor complex data pipelines. It uses Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) written in Python to define task dependencies and execution order, making it suitable for managing ETL workflows, machine learning pipelines, and automated processes. 

The platform provides a visual web interface that displays workflow status, task logs, and execution history in real-time. Teams can extend Airflow’s functionality through hundreds of pre-built operators and custom plugins to connect with cloud providers, databases, and third-party services.​

Key features

  • Python-based DAG authoring: Enables workflow definition using standard Python code, allowing dynamic pipeline generation with loops, conditions, and date-time formatting without XML or configuration files.​
  • Visual web UI with Grid view: Provides a centralized dashboard to monitor pipeline execution, troubleshoot failures, access task logs, and track ongoing workflows in seconds.​
  • Extensible operator library: Offers plug-and-play operators for Google Cloud Platform, AWS, Azure, and other services, plus the ability to create custom operators for specific use cases.​
  • Task dependency management: Supports complex inter-task dependencies and ensures downstream tasks execute only after upstream tasks complete successfully.​
  • Flexible scheduling: Includes a powerful scheduler for time-based and event-driven workflow triggering with detailed calendar rules and file monitoring capabilities.​
  • Distributed execution: Supports multiple executor types, including Local, Celery, Kubernetes, and Dask for scalable parallel task processing across clusters.​

Customer review

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For me, the standout feature is definitely the Web UI. As a data engineer, I often find myself troubleshooting, and the Grid view in Airflow makes it remarkably simple to identify exactly where a pipeline has failed. I can quickly access the logs for any specific task and determine what went wrong within seconds. This level of transparency is something that traditional cron jobs or basic scripts simply don\'t offer. Having a central dashboard for all your workflows truly provides peace of mind.
Aindrila R
Assistant System Engineer, Computer Software

Pros

  • Free and open-source with no licensing costs​
  • Active community support and extensive documentation​
  • Full flexibility for building ML models, data transfers, and infrastructure management workflows​

Cons

  • Initial setup requires significant DevOps knowledge for infrastructure configuration, including web server, scheduler, and database components​
  • No traditional customer support; relies on community forums and documentation for troubleshooting​
  • Documentation can be overwhelming when addressing specific configuration issues​

Why choose Apache Airflow over Meltano?

  • Python-based DAG development provides unlimited flexibility for complex workflow logic beyond declarative configurations.​
  • Centralized web UI eliminates manual log searches and enables rapid failure diagnosis across all workflows.​
  • Connects data processing, cloud resource management, and enterprise applications through an extensive operator ecosystem.​

Pricing

  • Self-managed infrastructure costs: Organizations pay only for the underlying infrastructure, including compute, storage, and database resources needed to run Airflow components.​
  • Managed service pricing (AWS MWAA): Pay-as-you-go model with hourly billing at one-second resolution and one-minute minimum charge.​
  • Auto-scaling worker costs: Additional worker instances are charged hourly based on task load when auto-scaling is enabled.​
  • Additional scheduler pricing: Extra scheduler instances beyond base allocation are billed hourly for enhanced availability.​
  • Web server instance fees: Additional web server instances are charged at hourly rates based on environment size.​
  • Database storage costs: Meta database storage billed per GB-month with no advance provisioning required, paying only for actual consumption.

10. Workato

G2 Rating: 4.7 (730)

Workato is an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) that combines AI agents and search with data from across applications, systems, and teams, all without requiring code. It offers more than 1,200 ready-to-use connectors for SaaS tools, databases, and cloud services, making it easy to build data flows between CRMs, ERPs, and other platforms. 

This makes it useful for IT, HR, finance, marketing, and sales teams that rely on multiple data sources. Workato is well-suited for organizations that need secure API access and automation while maintaining strong control over data processes.

Key features

  • Workflow automation: Allows users to build multi-step workflows, known as recipes, that link different apps to streamline complex business operations.
  • Real-time event processing: Supports event-based triggers, so actions run immediately when defined conditions occur in connected systems.
  • API management: Turns integrations into reusable APIs, enabling scalable automation with controlled access across teams.
  • Custom connector SDK: Provides tools to create connectors for specialized or in-house applications.
  • Version control and rollback: Helps teams track changes, manage deployments, and restore previous versions if issues occur.

Customer review

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Workato makes it easy to connect our core systems without heavy custom development. The pre-built connectors, especially for Salesforce, other SaaS apps, and the on-prem connector save us huge amounts of time. I also appreciate the intuitive recipe-building interface, which lets both technical and business users design automations. The platform scales well—from simple notifications to complex, multi-step integrations with error handling and approvals.
Verified User
Legal Services

Pros

  • AI-driven automation features
  • Supports hybrid and on-prem connectivity
  • Collaboration tools for cross-functional teams
  • Detailed audit and activity logs

Cons

  • Limited pricing transparency
  • Not designed for heavy historical ETL workloads
  • Some niche integrations may still require coding
  • SDK can be complex for new developers

Why choose Workato over Keboola?

  • Better for real-time business process automation across SaaS and enterprise apps.
  • Offers stronger API management and governance for secure, scalable integrations.
  • Supports more cross-functional workflows, beyond analytics-focused data pipelines.

Pricing

Workato uses a platform plus usage-based pricing model. Costs are custom quoted, but typically include a single workspace, a selected platform edition, and variable charges based on task volume. Optional add-ons are available for advanced needs.

What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing a Keboola Alternative?

You should review the following when evaluating the best Keboola alternatives.

1. Scalability

Scalability should be one of the primary elements you evaluate when moving away from Keboola. As your business grows, data volumes tend to increase with more customers, applications, events, and analytics use cases. A scalable platform should handle higher throughput without slowing down pipelines or requiring constant tuning.

Look for tools that automatically scale with data volume, parallelize workloads, and handle spikes without manual intervention. Real scalability also means predictable performance as you add new sources or destinations. If a tool struggles once pipelines cross a certain threshold, it will eventually become a bottleneck rather than an enabler.

2. Ease of use

Ease of use directly impacts how dependent you are on engineering resources. Platforms with complex configurations or heavy scripting requirements often slow down teams. This becomes painful, especially when analysts or business users need quick access to reliable data.

The best Keboola alternatives offer intuitive interfaces, no-code or low-code workflows, and clear documentation. When setup, monitoring, and troubleshooting are simple, teams can move faster without relying on data engineers for every change. This improves productivity and reduces long-term operational costs.

3. Real-time requirements

Not all data use cases need real-time syncing, but many modern analytics and operational workflows do. Dashboards for sales, marketing, customer behavior, or fraud detection often require data freshness measured in minutes, not hours. Before choosing a tool, decide whether batch processing is sufficient or a near real-time ingestion is critical.

Some platforms are optimized only for scheduled batch jobs, while others support continuous syncing using change data capture. Choosing a tool that supports both gives you flexibility as your real-time needs evolve.

4. Pricing transparency

Pricing models can vary widely across ETL and data integration tools, and unclear pricing is a common pain point for growing teams. Usage-based pricing may seem affordable at first, but it can lead to unexpected costs as data volumes increase.

Look for platforms that clearly explain how you are billed, whether by events, rows, connectors, or compute usage. Transparent pricing helps teams forecast costs accurately and avoid surprises. Flat-rate or tiered pricing models are often easier to manage as pipelines scale.

5. Support and reliability

Even the most stable data pipelines will occasionally fail, and when they do, prompt support becomes critical. Poor support or limited observability can turn small issues into hours of downtime.

Superior alternatives to Keboola provide proactive monitoring, detailed logs, and instant alerts for failures. Responsive customer support helps diagnose and resolve issues quickly. Reliable platforms reduce firefighting and allow teams to focus on analytics rather than pipeline maintenance.

Why Is Hevo a Strong Keboola Alternative?

While Keboola is a powerful platform for orchestration and governed workflows, Hevo is purpose-built for the modern data stack and real-time analytics needs. Hevo is engineered for automation, reliability, and scale, and this makes it a far stronger fit for teams that outgrow complex, batch-heavy data workflows.

Hevo’s clean interface, predictable pricing, and advanced observability give it a clear advantage for teams that want fast setup, dependable pipelines, and zero maintenance overhead. You can create pipelines in minutes, monitor them in real-time, and scale confidently as your connectors, events, and data volumes grow.

Ready to upgrade your data workflows? Book a free demo today!

FAQs

Q1. What are the top Keboola alternatives?

Hevo, Fivetran, Talend, and Matillion are some of the most popular Keboola alternatives on the market. Each tool caters to different needs, such as real-time data syncing, ease of use, and budget-friendly setups. The best choice depends on your data volume, team size, and technical expertise.

Q2. Is Keboola suitable for large-scale data integration?

Keboola can handle large-scale data integration, especially for teams with strong engineering resources. However, scaling often requires more configuration, monitoring, and ongoing management. Fully managed platforms may be easier to operate as data complexity grows.

Q3. How does Hevo compare to Keboola?

Hevo focuses on fast setup, real-time data sync, and automated pipeline management. It reduces the need for manual configuration and maintenance. Compared to Keboola, Hevo offers lower operational overhead and quicker time to value.

Q4. What is the best free alternative to Keboola?

Hevo’s free tier is a good starting point for teams testing real-time data pipelines. Open-source tools like Airbyte also offer flexibility and zero licensing costs. The right option depends on whether you prefer ease of use or full control over infrastructure.

Skand Agrawal
Customer Experience Engineer, Hevo Data

Skand is a dedicated Customer Experience Engineer at Hevo Data, specializing in MySQL, Postgres, and REST APIs. With three years of experience, he efficiently troubleshoots customer issues, contributes to the knowledge base and SOPs, and assists customers in achieving their use cases through Hevo's platform.