Fivetran vs. Matillion: Choosing the best ETL tool

Extract, transform, and load (ETL) tools are an essential part of data processing, so choosing the right platform isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. Fivetran and Matillion both offer top-tier data integration services, but each has its own processing strategy, strengths, and drawbacks. 

In this guide, we compare Fivetran versus Matillion, outlining each platform’s core features and highlighting the key differences between them.

What is Fivetran?

Fivetran is a fully managed data movement platform built to automate even the most challenging aspects of data integration. Its zero-maintenance extract, load, and transform (ELT) pipelines move data from source systems to cloud data warehouses automatically, requiring minimal human intervention. By handling everything from data integration to schema changes, Fivetran significantly reduces manual work for data engineers.

With hundreds of pre-built connectors, you can select the SaaS apps, databases, or event sources you want to integrate and connect them to your system rapidly. Fivetran automatically manages common maintenance tasks that normally burden engineers, including incremental changes, API versioning, schema evolution, and failure-proofing — all with no need for coding.

By loading raw data into data warehouses and then applying transformation logic, Fivetran’s streamlined, high-performance system powers analytics while also adhering to governance requirements.

What is Matillion?

Matillion is a data integration and transformation platform that offers both ELT and ETL cloud-native infrastructure. With both no-code and code-based transformations, it accommodates a range of user skill levels, allowing teams to design their cloud data infrastructure however they’d like. The tool’s AI bot, Maia, allows you to simply type the architecture you’re looking for in plain language prompts and watch as it’s generated for you. 

The drag-and-drop code interface is also useful for quick and simple data pipeline integrations. Select new data sources, construct a pipeline, clean and transform your data, and then upload everything into your cloud warehouse of choice. 

Fivetran vs. Matillion: 6 key differences

While Fivetran and Matillion both help businesses extract information, they don’t use the same approach. Here are the main differences between the two tools.

Data connectors and integrations

Fivetran

Fivetran comes with over 700 pre-built no-code connectors, allowing you to enrich your data-driven efforts using an enormous number of sources. After integration, Fivetran takes full ownership of maintenance and data standardization, providing a fully automated solution for every connected data source. When a native connector is not available for a source, advanced users may use the Connector SDK to rapidly build a bespoke connector that runs on the same Fivetran infrastructure.

Matillion

Matillion offers around 150 connectors for businesses, covering the most common data sources you’re likely to use. The platform provides a custom connector framework, allowing you to design REST API integrations visually. For more complicated data integrations, you’ll need to create your own using the JavaScript-based Connector Development Kit (CDK).

Transformation capabilities

Fivetran

Keeping transformations as lightweight as possible, Fivetran offers several accessible methods for turning your data into analysis-ready insight. This includes using the Fivetran-hosted dbt Core for SQL transformations. Since Fivetran uses an ELT model, you can always edit and refine your transformations before running them again on your warehouse’s raw data.

Matillion

Matillion lets you drag-and-drop transformation logic onto your data pipelines, making transformation accessible even to those without a technical background. The process works in both SQL and Python, helping analysts and engineers get more from raw data. This approach is especially useful for more complex, multi-step transformations and for companies that prefer ETL over ELT.

Deployment

Fivetran

Fivetran offers a range of different deployment options, designed to help you discover the most effective architecture for your business. You can choose from SaaS, hybrid, or self-hosted deployment options. 

SaaS deployment means managing data processing from within Fivetran’s cloud system, minimizing your internal investment and need for management. The hybrid approach lets you process data locally while Fivetran orchestrates and configures the technical data movements. Finally, self-hosting is perfect for businesses that need complete control over their data integration and orchestration. 

Matillion

Rather than running in its own cloud, Matillion operates from inside your environment. This means you’ll have to manage components like performance and resource allocation. As a more hands-on tool, Matillion also requires you to update your pipelines manually when sources change or schemas drift. 

Ease of use

Fivetran

Designed to make data integration as simple as possible, Fivetran provides a fully managed solution that minimizes the need for maintenance and attention. The platform allows you to configure new data sources in minutes and integrate new connections without writing any code. After a connector goes live, Fivetran manages every aspect of maintenance, allowing your team to focus on more important tasks.

Matillion

While it offers fantastic depth when dealing with complex data pipelines, Matillion also comes with a steep learning curve. You’ll need to work out how connectors interact with your system and which upstream changes require downstream updates. This can really benefit hands-on organizations that need full control for niche use cases, but for most teams, the extra time spent building, testing, rebuilding, and maintaining pipelines can become tiresome.

Pricing 

Fivetran

Fivetran offers a free pricing tier, with 500,000 monthly active rows (MAR) for connections and 5,000 monthly model runs (MMR) for transformations. This is ideal for businesses looking to try out new data integration strategies.

If you’re looking to scale, Fivetran’s pricing plans range from Standard to Business Critical, each with different monthly cost ranges that build on usage per connection. Significant discounts are also available for companies that sign up for an annual contract. 

Matillion

Matillion’s pricing uses an adjustable consumption-based model based on the number of task hours and total data processed, so you only pay for what you use. The platform also offers “credits,” which you can purchase and spend whenever you use a Matillion resource. If you run out of credits, you’ll have to contact support to buy more before you can use Matillion’s data integration tools again.

Support

Fivetran

Fivetran’s extensive documentation will bring you up to speed on any topic under the data integration umbrella. If you can’t find a solution within existing documentation, simply open a ticket or reach out to Fivetran support directly to get express help from a trained representative

Matillion

Matillion’s knowledge base covers how to use all the platform’s features. If you have a problem you can’t resolve yourself, create a support case ticket and wait for the team to get back to you. 

Matillion vs. Fivetran at a glance

Why Fivetran is the best ETL tool for your data stack

If you’re looking to improve your data infrastructure while reducing manual effort, Fivetran is the ideal solution. With fully managed ELT pipelines and 700+ out-of-the-box connectors, you can get started with a comprehensive data ecosystem from day one. Optimize your resource management, keep data quality and governance across your pipelines high, and get end-to-end pipeline management without lifting a finger.

See how Fivetran can help your data team shift its focus from endless maintenance to high-value analytics and transformations by booking a demo today.

FAQs

How does Matillion handle complex data transformations?

Matillion comes with a visual, low-code system that lets you drag and drop transformation logic into your data pipelines. It offers components for both SQL-based and Python-based transformations. 

How does Fivetran deal with changes in source schemas?

Fivetran manages data schema changes automatically, eliminating the issue. Instead of having to monitor and replicate any source schema changes in your cloud data warehouse, Fivetran makes the changes autonomously. If you add a new row to a source, Fivetran’s data replication tools replicate it in your data warehouse. It’s a simplified approach that saves time and keeps your data integration running smoothly. 

Who competes with Fivetran: ETL alternatives 

Several ETL companies compete with Fivetran. As well as Matillion, alternatives include Openflow, Stitch, Airbyte, Informatica, Qlik, and Segment. However, Fivetran’s fully managed connectors and zero-maintenance pipelines set the platform apart.

[CTA_MODULE]