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Automation Integration · head to head

Fivetran vs Periscope Data

Fivetran logo

Fivetran

Automation Integration

The most trusted data movement platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Periscope Data logo

Periscope Data

Business Intelligence

SQL and Python analytics platform

From
$1000/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; Periscope Data the periscopedata.com domain now redirects to sisense.com, so Periscope Data is no longer sold as a standalone product
  • They diverge on capability: Fivetran covers Automated data pipeline, Periscope Data covers SQL Editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fivetran and Periscope Data actually diverge.

Attributes where Fivetran and Periscope Data differ
AttributeFivetranPeriscope Data
Starting priceFree$1000/month
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
Free tierYesNo
CategoryAutomation IntegrationBusiness Intelligence

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Cloud), user rating (Not yet rated), founded (2012).

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
  • Real-time sync
  • Monitoring
  • Data quality
  • Scheduling
  • Notifications

Only in Periscope Data

  • SQL Editor
  • Python/R Integration
  • Version Control
  • Caching
  • Dashboards
  • Redshift
  • BigQuery
  • Snowflake

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Cloud 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 Periscope Data
  • Keeping a warehouse in sync with production databases without writing connectorsnot Periscope Data

Periscope Data

  • SQL-based analytics and dashboards over a data warehousenot Fivetran
  • Python and R analysis alongside SQL in one workflownot Fivetran
  • Shared dashboards for data teamsnot 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

Periscope Data

  • The periscopedata.com domain now redirects to sisense.com, so Periscope Data is no longer sold as a standalone product
  • No Periscope Data pricing, plan or seat rate remains published at the original domain
  • Buyers must now purchase through Sisense, whose own pricing is not published as a rate card

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

Periscope Data

$1000/month
  • Team$1000/month
    • SQL Analytics
    • Python/R
    • Dashboards
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced Features
    • Custom Integrations
    • Premium 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 Periscope Data if

  • You need sql editor.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want python/r integration.
Periscope Data review

Questions people ask

Is Fivetran or Periscope Data better?
Neither clearly leads. Fivetran starts at Free and Periscope Data at $1000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fivetran or Periscope Data?
Fivetran has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fivetran and $1000/month for Periscope Data.
Does Fivetran or Periscope Data run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Cloud, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Fivetran for free?
Yes. Fivetran has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Periscope Data starts at $1000/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 Periscope Data is typically brought in for.
What can Fivetran do that Periscope Data cannot?
Fivetran covers Automated data pipeline, Change Data Capture, Data transformation, Real-time sync. Periscope Data covers SQL Editor, Python/R Integration, Version Control, Caching. Both handle Web support, Cloud support.

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
Periscope Data: Does Sisense offer a free trial?

Yes. Sisense offers a free trial of their Self-Serve plan. You can try features like data warehouse connectivity, built-in AI for natural-language queries, auto-narratives, and customer assistant features.

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
Periscope Data: What is the difference between Sisense Self-Serve and Enterprise plans?

The Self-Serve plan is for startups and teams and includes basic connectivity and AI features with iframe embedding. The Enterprise plan is for regulated industries and includes multi-tenant architecture, HIPAA readiness, column-level security, single sign-on, on-premise deployment options, 99.99% SLA, and 30-day backups.

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
Periscope Data: How do I access the Sisense Enterprise plan?

The Enterprise plan requires contacting Sisense for a demo and custom quote. There is no self-service signup for this tier.

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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