Softwr

Automation & Integration · head to head

Airbyte vs Pipedream

Airbyte logo

Airbyte

Automation & Integration

The open-source ELT platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pipedream logo

Pipedream

Automation & Integration

Build reliable workflows in minutes, not months

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Airbyte the self-managed open source Core edition has no SSO or RBAC, no multiple workspaces, no row filtering or encryption, and no monitoring integrations; Pipedream the Internet Archive's capture of Pipedream's pricing page on 26 December 2023 listed Free at $0/month (750 credits/mo, 3 active workflows, 3 connected accounts), Basic at $19/month billed annually (2,000 credits, 20 workflows), Advanced at $49/month billed annually (5,000 credits, unlimited workflows), and Business at $99/month billed annually (dedicated VPC, SSO); Enterprise is by contact only.
  • They diverge on capability: Airbyte covers Data replication, Pipedream covers Workflow builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airbyte and Pipedream actually diverge.

Attributes where Airbyte and Pipedream differ
AttributeAirbytePipedream
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedWeb, Api
Founded20202018

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Automation & Integration).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Airbyte

  • Data replication
  • Schema detection
  • ELT pipelines
  • Real-time sync
  • Monitoring
  • Custom connectors
  • 300+ connectors
  • Databases

Only in Pipedream

  • Workflow builder
  • Node.js scripting
  • Webhooks
  • Schedulers
  • Error handling
  • Analytics
  • Git integration
  • 500+ apps

Both cover

  • Data transformation
  • End-to-end encryption
  • GDPR
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Airbyte

  • Replicating data from SaaS applications into a warehousenot Pipedream
  • Self-hosting an open source ELT pipelinenot Pipedream
  • Managed data replication without running infrastructurenot Pipedream
  • Building connectors for sources without an off-the-shelf integrationnot Pipedream

Pipedream

  • Workflow Automationnot Airbyte
  • Data Integrationnot Airbyte
  • Process Automationnot Airbyte
  • App Integrationnot Airbyte
  • API Connectivitynot Airbyte

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Airbyte

  • The self-managed open source Core edition has no SSO or RBAC, no multiple workspaces, no row filtering or encryption, and no monitoring integrations
  • Sync frequency on Core is limited compared with the managed tiers, which offer 15 minute syncs
  • Support on the free tier is community and AI only; premium support requires Pro or Enterprise
  • The free Agents plan stops at 1,000 agent operations a month and pauses capacity until the next month once hit
  • Agent overages are billed per operation at $0.004 to $0.005 once past the plan allowance

Pipedream

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Pipedream's pricing page on 26 December 2023 listed Free at $0/month (750 credits/mo, 3 active workflows, 3 connected accounts), Basic at $19/month billed annually (2,000 credits, 20 workflows), Advanced at $49/month billed annually (5,000 credits, unlimited workflows), and Business at $99/month billed annually (dedicated VPC, SSO); Enterprise is by contact only.

Pricing, plan by plan

Airbyte

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Self-hosted
    • Community support
    • Full features
  • Cloud$50/month
    • Cloud hosted
    • Email support
  • Enterprise$500/month
    • Dedicated support
    • Advanced features

Pipedream

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100000 executions/month
    • 1000 sources
    • Community support
  • Pro$50/month
    • 500000 executions/month
    • Unlimited sources
    • Email support
  • Business$250/month
    • Unlimited executions
    • Priority support
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose Airbyte if

  • You need data replication.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want schema detection.
Airbyte review

Choose Pipedream if

  • You need workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want node.js scripting.
Pipedream review

Questions people ask

Is Airbyte or Pipedream better?
Neither clearly leads. Airbyte starts at Free and Pipedream at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airbyte or Pipedream?
Airbyte starts at Free and Pipedream at Free.
Does Airbyte or Pipedream run on more platforms?
Airbyte runs on Web, Self-hosted. Pipedream runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Airbyte for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Airbyte best used for?
Airbyte is most often used for replicating data from saas applications into a warehouse, self-hosting an open source elt pipeline, managed data replication without running infrastructure, building connectors for sources without an off-the-shelf integration. Of those, replicating data from saas applications into a warehouse and self-hosting an open source elt pipeline are not what Pipedream is typically brought in for.
What can Airbyte do that Pipedream cannot?
Airbyte covers Data replication, Schema detection, ELT pipelines, Real-time sync. Pipedream covers Workflow builder, Node.js scripting, Webhooks, Schedulers. Both handle Data transformation, End-to-end encryption, GDPR, Cloud deployment.
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