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Automation Integration · head to head

Fivetran vs Informatica

Fivetran logo

Fivetran

Automation Integration

The most trusted data movement platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Informatica logo

Informatica

Automation Integration

The enterprise data management leader

From
$3000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Fivetran has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fivetran billed on monthly active rows, so the bill tracks how much source data changes rather than how much is stored or queried; Informatica no dollar figure is published for any service, and every route ends at a quote request
  • They diverge on capability: Fivetran covers Automated data pipeline, Informatica covers Data integration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fivetran and Informatica actually diverge.

Attributes where Fivetran and Informatica differ
AttributeFivetranInformatica
Starting priceFree$3000/month
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, CloudWeb, On-premise
Founded20121993

Identical on both: 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 Fivetran

  • Automated data pipeline
  • Change Data Capture
  • Data transformation
  • Scheduling
  • Notifications
  • 500+ connectors
  • Cloud data warehouses
  • SaaS applications

Only in Informatica

  • Data integration
  • Master data management
  • Data governance
  • Analytics
  • 1000+ connectors
  • Cloud platforms
  • On-premise deployment
  • On-premise support

Both cover

  • Real-time sync
  • Monitoring
  • Data quality
  • Databases
  • SOC2
  • GDPR
  • HIPAA
  • Encryption
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Multiple language support

What people use each for

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

Fivetran

  • Managed data pipelines from SaaS sources into a warehousenot Informatica
  • Keeping a warehouse in sync with production databases without writing connectorsnot Informatica

Informatica

  • Enterprise data integration and ETL across cloud and on premise systemsnot Fivetran
  • Master data management and data quality at organisation scalenot Fivetran

Where each one falls short

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

Fivetran

  • Billed on monthly active rows, so the bill tracks how much source data changes rather than how much is stored or queried
  • Each connection follows its own cost curve, so total spend is hard to predict before running a pipeline
  • The free plan allows 500,000 monthly active rows, 3,500 activation rows and 5,000 model runs
  • Transformations are metered separately, from $0.01 per model run above 5,000 down to $0.002 above 100,000
  • A schema change upstream that touches many rows raises the bill without any change on the customer's side

Informatica

  • No dollar figure is published for any service, and every route ends at a quote request
  • Consumption is measured in Informatica Processing Units, calculated per scaler across agent usage, ingestion volume and other inputs, so the unit itself is composite and hard to forecast
  • Master data management is billed separately on a per domain records basis
  • The pricing page presents ROI statistics rather than rates

Pricing, plan by plan

Fivetran

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited connectors
    • Basic support
  • Standard$300/month
    • 500+ connectors
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$1000/month
    • Custom connectors
    • Dedicated support

Informatica

$3000/month
  • Starter$3000/month
    • Basic data integration
  • Professional$8000/month
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$20000/month
    • Custom solutions
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Fivetran if

  • You need automated data pipeline.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want change data capture.
Fivetran review

Choose Informatica if

  • You need data integration.
  • You work on Web, On-premise.
  • You also want master data management.
Informatica review

Questions people ask

Is Fivetran or Informatica better?
Neither clearly leads. Fivetran starts at Free and Informatica at $3000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fivetran or Informatica?
Fivetran has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fivetran and $3000/month for Informatica.
Does Fivetran or Informatica run on more platforms?
Fivetran runs on Web, Cloud. Informatica runs on Web, On-premise.
Can I use Fivetran for free?
Yes. Fivetran has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Informatica starts at $3000/month.
What is Fivetran best used for?
Fivetran is most often used for managed data pipelines from saas sources into a warehouse, keeping a warehouse in sync with production databases without writing connectors. Of those, managed data pipelines from saas sources into a warehouse and keeping a warehouse in sync with production databases without writing connectors are not what Informatica is typically brought in for.
What can Fivetran do that Informatica cannot?
Fivetran covers Automated data pipeline, Change Data Capture, Data transformation, Scheduling. Informatica covers Data integration, Master data management, Data governance, Analytics. Both handle Real-time sync, Monitoring, Data quality, Databases.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fivetran: What does Fivetran's free plan include?

The free plan includes 500,000 monthly active rows for connections, 3,500 monthly active rows for activations, and 5,000 monthly model runs for transformations.

Source
Informatica: How much does Informatica cost?

Informatica uses consumption-based, volume-based pricing through Informatica Processing Units (IPUs). Customers pay for what they use with automatic scaling capability. Specific pricing is not published; customers must request a personalized demo or contact sales for quotes.

Source
Fivetran: What is the trial period for Fivetran?

Fivetran offers a 14-day risk-free trial for new accounts. Each new connection also includes 14 days of free use, with trial extensions available by contacting support.

Source
Informatica: How is Informatica pricing calculated?

IPU consumption is calculated per scaler based on usage including Secure Agent, CDI-e, and Data Mass Ingestion volume. The platform includes a built-in dashboard that automatically tracks usage and provides real-time visibility with consumption threshold alerts.

Source
Fivetran: How much do I save by paying annually instead of monthly?

Annual contracts save up to 22.6% compared to monthly pricing, with tiered discounts starting at 5% and increasing based on annual list price.

Source
Informatica: Can I scale Informatica services without long-term commitment?

Yes, Informatica allows customers to swap services as needed and access new eligible services automatically upon release, paying only for required services at any given time. Specific pricing for different configurations requires contacting sales.

Source
Fivetran: Can I cancel or modify my Fivetran subscription anytime?

Plans can be upgraded at any time. Connections can be added or removed at any time, and you can block tables or schemas to reduce usage. Downgrade or cancellation policies are not specified on the pricing page.

Source
Fivetran: What is the pricing for Fivetran transformations?

Transformations cost $0.01 per run for 5,001 to 30,000 monthly runs, with per-run costs declining as volume increases.

Source
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