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Databases · head to head

Fivetran HVR vs VerneMQ

Fivetran HVR logo

Fivetran HVR

Databases

Log-based change data capture for database replication and synchronization

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VerneMQ logo

VerneMQ

Databases

Erlang MQTT broker whose source is Apache 2.0 but whose official binaries need a paid subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only VerneMQ has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fivetran HVR pricing not published separately; part of Fivetran's usage model; VerneMQ the official binaries and Docker images are not Apache 2.0 but sit under a EULA requiring a yearly commercial subscription, a distinction easy to miss and awkward to discover during a licence audit.
  • They diverge on capability: Fivetran HVR covers Log-based change capture, VerneMQ covers Erlang/OTP clustering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fivetran HVR and VerneMQ actually diverge.

Attributes where Fivetran HVR and VerneMQ differ
AttributeFivetran HVRVerneMQ
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelUsage-based, integrated with Fivetran billingquote
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsData Warehouse, Data Lake, Operational DatabasesLinux, Docker, macOS, Kubernetes
Founded2012Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Databases).

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 Fivetran HVR

  • Log-based change capture
  • Real-time replication
  • Schema evolution handling
  • Multi-table consistency
  • Zero-impact monitoring
  • Fivetran integration

Only in VerneMQ

  • Erlang/OTP clustering
  • MQTT 5.0 support
  • Plugin system
  • Backpressure handling
  • Bridge support
  • Metrics export
  • MQTT over WebSockets
  • Pluggable auth backends

What people use each for

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

Fivetran HVR

  • Real-time database replication to data warehousesnot VerneMQ
  • Maintaining operational copies for analyticsnot VerneMQ
  • Disaster recovery and business continuitynot VerneMQ
  • Feeding AI systems with fresh governed datanot VerneMQ

VerneMQ

  • An industrial operator that wants an MQTT broker with predictable memory behaviour and no data integration features it will not usenot Fivetran HVR
  • A team building from source to stay strictly under Apache 2.0 terms with no vendor licence entanglementnot Fivetran HVR
  • A deployment needing custom authentication logic implemented as a plugin in Lua or over a webhooknot Fivetran HVR
  • An organisation that wants a broker maintained by a small European company rather than by a vendor that keeps changing licencesnot Fivetran HVR

Where each one falls short

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

Fivetran HVR

  • Pricing not published separately; part of Fivetran's usage model
  • Requires Fivetran relationship for implementation
  • Limited standalone documentation and community resources
  • May be overkill for simple batch replication needs
  • Competitive offerings provide more transparent per-connector pricing

VerneMQ

  • The official binaries and Docker images are not Apache 2.0 but sit under a EULA requiring a yearly commercial subscription, a distinction easy to miss and awkward to discover during a licence audit.
  • Octavo Labs is a very small company, so support depth, response times and the bus factor on the codebase are materially thinner than at HiveMQ or EMQ.
  • There is no data integration or rule engine layer, so routing messages into a database means writing and operating your own consumer service.
  • Operating an Erlang cluster requires runtime knowledge that most teams do not have and will use for nothing else in their stack.
  • There is no vendor-managed cloud offering, so every deployment is self-operated with the infrastructure and on-call cost that implies.

Pricing, plan by plan

Fivetran HVR

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Fivetran HVR review.

VerneMQ

Free
  • Source buildFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed source from GitHub
    • Full clustering and plugin capability
    • You compile and package it yourself
  • Binary packages and Docker images$undefined/year
    • Covered by the VerneMQ EULA, not Apache 2.0
    • Yearly usage subscription expected for commercial use
    • Official builds and Docker images
  • Commercial support$undefined/year
    • Evaluation, customisation and operations assistance
    • Custom development
    • Long-term maintenance agreements

Which should you pick?

Choose Fivetran HVR if

  • You need log-based change capture.
  • You work on Data Warehouse, Data Lake, Operational Databases.
  • You also want real-time replication.
Fivetran HVR review

Choose VerneMQ if

  • You need erlang/otp clustering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, macOS, Kubernetes.
  • You also want mqtt 5.0 support.
VerneMQ review

Questions people ask

Is Fivetran HVR or VerneMQ better?
Neither clearly leads. Fivetran HVR starts at On request and VerneMQ at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fivetran HVR or VerneMQ?
VerneMQ has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Fivetran HVR and Free for VerneMQ.
Does Fivetran HVR or VerneMQ run on more platforms?
Fivetran HVR runs on Data Warehouse, Data Lake, Operational Databases. VerneMQ runs on Linux, Docker, macOS, Kubernetes.
Can I use VerneMQ for free?
Yes. VerneMQ has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fivetran HVR starts at On request.
What is Fivetran HVR best used for?
Fivetran HVR is most often used for real-time database replication to data warehouses, maintaining operational copies for analytics, disaster recovery and business continuity, feeding ai systems with fresh governed data. Of those, real-time database replication to data warehouses and maintaining operational copies for analytics are not what VerneMQ is typically brought in for.
What can Fivetran HVR do that VerneMQ cannot?
Fivetran HVR covers Log-based change capture, Real-time replication, Schema evolution handling, Multi-table consistency. VerneMQ covers Erlang/OTP clustering, MQTT 5.0 support, Plugin system, Backpressure handling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fivetran HVR: What databases does Fivetran HVR support?

HVR supports major databases including Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and others that emit transaction logs.

Source
VerneMQ: Is VerneMQ free?

The source is Apache 2.0 and free. The official binary packages and Docker images are covered by a separate EULA that expects a yearly fee for commercial use.

Fivetran HVR: Is HVR part of standard Fivetran pricing?

Yes, HVR is integrated into Fivetran's usage-based pricing model with standard per-row-synced and transformation costs.

Source
VerneMQ: Is the project still maintained?

Yes. Octavo Labs AG in Zurich continues to publish 2.x releases, most recently in 2026.

VerneMQ: Does it have a managed cloud?

No. Every deployment is self-hosted, with commercial support available from Octavo Labs.

VerneMQ: How does it compare to EMQX?

Narrower in features and without a rule engine, but with a simpler licence story for source builds after EMQX moved to BSL.

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