Change data capture (CDC) lets you identify and capture changes to data in a source system in real time. Find out what the best change data capture tools are here.

Data comes from many sources — applications, data streams, emails, etc. However, your ability to draw insights from this data is hampered unless you have a system in place to capture this data and make it ready for analytics.

Using the right CDC tool can help.

In this article, we’ll look at what CDC is and the benefits that CDC tools offer. We’ll also provide a list of the best CDC tools to help you find the right one for your company.

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What is change data capture (CDC)?

Change data capture (CDC) is the process of identifying changes in a source database and replicating them to a target system like a data warehouse. It transfers data in increments as new database events occur instead of extracting or replicating entire datasets.

Why use CDC tools?

While you can hand-code CDC processes, it can be extremely challenging. Plus, you’ll have to manage the code yourself, which means higher maintenance costs.

Here’s why you should use CDC tools instead.

Accelerate reporting and analytics

CDC tools only move and replicate data changes. This enables faster data movement between databases, which improves your business intelligence capabilities.

Faster reporting helps companies make informed decisions more quickly. For example, manufacturers can instantly capture data changes from machines and determine which ones are slowing down production.

Eliminate data silos

Data silos create barriers to information sharing, which affect collaboration between departments and prevent business leaders from getting a holistic view of their operations.

CDC tools can help you eliminate data silos. One way they do this is by integrating data from different sources into a target database.

Sync your data to multiple systems

Ninety-five percent of businesses have seen impacts due to poor data quality. This can happen when teams work independently on the same datasets.

CDC allows you to sync data across multiple systems regardless of their location. This improves data availability and ensures that your team is working on the same data.

Reduce the burden on operational databases

Analytical queries require many computing resources. CDC tools enable companies to replicate data to an analytical database that analysts can query without overloading operational databases.

In short, CDC tools help you create a more modern data stack. But you need to choose one that can support your business requirements.

8 best CDC tools

With no shortage of CDC tools on the market, choosing the right one isn’t easy. So we put together a list of the best CDC tools to make things easier for you.

Let’s dive in.

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1. Fivetran

Fivetran is a fully managed data pipeline tool that offers a scalable change data capture replication solution. It lets you move and replicate large volumes of data with minimal latency.

With over 200 pre-built data connectors, you can centralize data from any source and bring it into a data warehouse of your choice. The connectors use log-based CDC technology, which supports high-volume data replication to on-premise and cloud-based platforms.

Fivetran also includes a data validation feature that ensures data across your systems is accurate. If there is an error, like a broken connector or an incomplete sync, you’ll receive an alert and instructions on how to fix it.

Fivetran isn’t just a CDC tool. It supports the entire Extract, Load, Transform (ETL) process, enabling you to build robust data pipelines that support real-time analytics.

Features:

• 200+ fully managed connectors
• Pre-built data models
• dbt Core integration
• Data access control
• Single sign-on (SSO)
• External data logging
• SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications
• 24/7 global technical support

Pricing:

Fivetran offers flexible pay-as-you-go pricing, meaning you’ll only pay for what you use. View our pricing page to estimate your costs — or better yet, start a 14-day free trial to get started with our CDC replication solution.

2. Qlik Replicate

Qlik Replicate is a data ingestion and replication tool that transfers data both on-premise and in the cloud. It captures changes in source systems as they occur and replicates them to target databases.

Qlik Replicate provides different options to process data changes. These include transactional, batch-optimized, data warehouse-optimized and message-oriented data streaming. Qlik Replicate also uses parallel threading, which makes it a capable business intelligence tool.

Features:

• Log-based change data capture
• Flexible deployment options
• Centralized monitoring and control
• Support for a range of sources and targets
• Secure data transfers with AES-256 encryption

Pricing:

Qlik doesn’t publish pricing information, so you’ll need to contact their sales team directly for a quote. However, they offer a free trial that lets you test a pre-configured environment in the cloud.

3. Hevo Data

Hevo Data is a no-code data pipeline platform. It enables you to replicate data from over 150 sources into popular data warehouses like Snowflake and Databricks.

Hevo detects schema changes in source databases and automatically replicates them to your destinations. With the intuitive dashboard, you can monitor your data pipeline’s health and address any issues before they affect the rest of your workflow.

Features:

• 100+ ready-to-use integrations
• User-friendly interface
• Automated schema management
• Continuous or scheduled syncing
• Hassle-free data flows

Pricing:

Hevo offers three different plans. The free plan includes 50 connectors and a million database events. The Starter plan starts at $239 a month and includes 150 connectors and free setup assistance. The Business plan has custom pricing and includes a dedicated account manager.

4. Talend

Talent offers a data replication solution with enterprise-grade capabilities. It works across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

Talend supports unidirectional, bi-directional and broadcast data models. It works with major databases like Oracle, SQL Server and MySQL. With Talend Open Studio, even non-technical users can build basic data pipelines using the solution’s drag-and-drop interface.

Features:

• Real-time data profiling
• Self-service capabilities
• Data transformation recipes
• Flexible deployment options
• Specialized data connectors

Pricing:

Talend offers four pricing plans: Stitch, Data Management Platform, Big Data Platform and Data Fabric. Pricing information isn’t available, but Talend offers a free trial.

5. Oracle GoldenGate

Oracle GoldenGate provides log-based CDC and data delivery between multiple heterogeneous systems in real time.

Oracle GoldenGate is primarily designed to replicate Oracle databases, but you can also use it to replicate data from sources like MySQL, MongoDB and PostgreSQL. It supports real-time data movement and only moves committed transactions.

Key features:

• Real-time streaming analytics
• Zero-downtime data migration
• Support for non-Oracle databases
• Extensive operational APIs
• Active-active database synchronization

Pricing:

Pricing for Oracle GoldenGate is based on usage. There’s also a $350 per-user license fee and an additional $77 for software updates and support.

6. Striim

Striim is a data integration and streaming platform. It uses log-based CDC when ingesting data to minimize overhead on source systems.

Striim features built-in data validation for database sources and targets, which keeps data consistent across all systems. The platform also uses SQL-based queries to turn change data into a consumable format while also maintaining the transactional context.

Key features:

• Pre-packaged applications for initial loads
• In-flight data transformations
• Built-in checkpoints for reliability
• Schema change replication
• Cloud and on-premise change delivery

Pricing:

Striim offers three plans: Striim Platform, Striim Cloud and Striim for BigQuery. The pricing for each depends on your usage. You can also reach out to the Striim team to request a custom pricing plan.

7. StreamSets

StreamSets is a DataOps platform and ETL tool that companies use to build smarter data pipelines. It offers flexible deployment options that let you move data between on-premise and cloud environments.

StreamSets Control Hub gives you end-to-end visibility of your data pipelines. It also detects and handles data drift, which enables you to maintain a more accurate data pipeline.

Features:

• 100+ data connectors
• Pre-built integrations
• Flexible deployment options
• Built-in version control
• Reusable pipeline assets

Pricing:

StreamSets offers two plans: Professional and Enterprise. The Professional plan costs $1,000 per month and lets you run five active jobs on 50 published pipelines. The Enterprise plan has no limitations on the number of jobs you can run or the number of pipelines you can publish. Pricing for the Enterprise plan isn’t available.

8. IBM Infosphere

IBM Infosphere is a CDC solution that captures and delivers database events as they occur to target sources. It can also replicate changes to message queues or an ETL solution.

IBM Infosphere allows you to replicate Database 2 (Db2) data to or from an IBM z/OS operating system. You can schedule replications at a specific time and stop when the updates are complete or set them up to run continuously. Management Console offers front-end functionality, allowing you to work with tables and databases in source and target environments.

Key features:

• IBM integration
• Command line interface
• Source database logs
• Source and target transformation engines

Pricing:

IBM InfoSphere is available for on-premise deployments with custom pricing. There are also three plans for cloud deployments: Small, Medium and Large. Pricing starts at $19,000 per month.

Choosing the best CDC tool

The right CDC tool will ultimately depend on your business requirements and your specific use case. You can ask the following questions to help you find the right one:

• Does it meet your business use cases?
• Does it have the data connectors you need?
• Does it encrypt your data at rest and in transit?
• Does it provide real-time delivery?
• Does it fit within your budget?

Get started with Fivetran

CDC captures changes to source systems and replicates them to target databases. It speeds up analytics, keeps your systems in sync and reduces the load on operational systems.

If you’re looking for a tool that lets you replicate large volumes of data in real time with minimal latency, then Fivetran is the perfect choice. Our platform provides over 200 pre-built data connectors that are optimized with CDC technology.

Sign up today to start your 14-day free trial.

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