Fivetran
What it is: Automated data pipeline platform. Pre-built connectors for 400+ data sources. Zero-maintenance ELT to your warehouse.
What It Does Best
Zero-config connectors. Connect Salesforce, Google Analytics, databases in minutes. Automatic schema changes, no code required.
Reliability. Automatic retries, monitoring, alerts. They handle API changes, you focus on data.
Normalization. Raw data arrives structured and ready to query. Consistent schema across all sources.
Key Features
400+ connectors: SaaS apps, databases, files, event streams
Automated schema migration: Adapts to source schema changes automatically
Incremental syncs: Only load changed data for efficiency
Column hashing: Automatic PII detection and hashing
Transformations: Basic dbt-powered transformations included
Pricing
Free tier: 500,000 monthly active rows (MAR)
Starter: $120/month for 100,000 MAR
Standard: $180/month for 500,000 MAR
Enterprise: Custom pricing (volume discounts, priority support)
When to Use It
✅ Need reliable data pipelines without engineering effort
✅ Multiple SaaS tools to consolidate
✅ Small data team, limited pipeline engineering resources
✅ Want to avoid maintaining custom connectors
✅ Value reliability over cost optimization
When NOT to Use It
❌ Budget-constrained (can get very expensive at scale)
❌ Need custom transformations (use Airbyte + dbt)
❌ Have unique data sources (limited custom connector support)
❌ Real-time streaming required (batch ELT only)
❌ Want full control over pipeline logic
Common Use Cases
Marketing analytics: Consolidate Google Ads, Facebook, Salesforce, HubSpot
Product analytics: Combine Segment, Mixpanel, app databases
Financial reporting: Aggregate Stripe, QuickBooks, accounting systems
Customer 360: Unify CRM, support, product usage data
Data warehouse loading: Reliable ETL to Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift
Fivetran vs Alternatives
vs Airbyte: Fivetran more reliable and polished, Airbyte open source and cheaper
vs Stitch: Fivetran has more connectors and features, Stitch simpler and cheaper
vs Custom scripts: Fivetran costs money but saves engineering time
Unique Strengths
Connector coverage: Most comprehensive connector library available
Reliability focus: Built for enterprise, handles edge cases
Automatic maintenance: They handle API changes and schema drift
Zero infrastructure: Fully managed, no servers to run
Bottom line: Premium ELT platform that just works. Expensive but reliable. Best choice if budget allows and engineering time is precious. Trade cost for reliability and speed. The "buy" in build-vs-buy for data pipelines.