On the surface, Talend seems like the ultimate data integration platform. It's open-source, maintains multi-cloud integration, supports data governance frameworks like GDPR and CCPA, and handles both ETL and ELT, providing you with more flexibility for data management. Dig a little deeper, though, and you'll notice this platform has an outdated user interface and limited capabilities, and you'll probably need to upgrade to its enterprise version to execute data integration. Consider additional charges like contracting fees for pipeline creation and on-premises set-up costs, and you'll soon discover that this free platform isn't really "free." Nor is it simple. You'll need coding skills to build the data pipelines you require for analytics. Or, at the very least, lots and lots of patience.
If you're looking for a Talend alternative, the seven platforms below could provide you with more value and help you move data from one source to another without breaking a sweat.
#1. Xplenty
Xplenty is the all-in-one ETL/ELT solution that moves data from sources such as apps, SaaS, databases, data stores, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems to a data warehouse or datalake for big data analytics. You can transform data before or after it enters your final destination, and you won't need any code to do it. The platform is incredibly easy to use with its point-and-click drag-and-drop user interface.
Xplenty has over 200 out-of-the-box connectors, including a native Salesforce-to-Salesforce connector that moves data to Salesforce and then back again, something you won't find on most data integration platforms. Other perks include 24/7 support for all users, unlimited data limits and users, a Rest API connector, and flat-rate pricing. For the CTOs out there, Xplenty focuses on security and boasts about its security features like Field Level Encryption, while also adhering to compliance laws like GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA.
#2. Fivetran
Like Xplenty, Fivetran provides an alternative to Talend. However, it integrates data via just one method. While Talend and Xplenty handle both ETL and ELT jobs, Fivetran only supports ELT, transforming data into the correct format after loading it to your warehouse. While ELT proves a quicker process than ETL, it typically requires additional coding skills that your team might lack. While there are over 100 out-of-the-box connectors here to make that process easier, you still need SQL skills to build more complicated data pipelines. Another thing to note: You can only move data to a warehouse and not a lake.
Then there's Fivetran's consumption-based pricing model, which charges you for the amount of data you use. (Xplenty, with its flat-rate pricing, could work out cheaper.) Unfortunately, there's no way to compare Fivetran with Talend on cost because the latter doesn't publish its prices online.
#3. Hevo Data
Hevo Data is a cloud-based ETL solution. That means you don't have to invest in any expensive on-premises hardware for pipeline building. Although its analytics leave a lot to desire and you'll need a business intelligence tool for deeper data insights, Hevo Data has features you won't find on Talend, including two-factor authentication.
Prices start from $499 per month for unlimited users and 25 million events, making Hevo one of the cheaper platforms on this list. However, as previously mentioned, it's tricky to compare the tool with Talend, which doesn't publish its prices online.
#4. Stitch
Stitch solely handles ELT, so you can't transform data into a usable format for analytics until after you load that data into your final destination. Like Fivetran, there's a consumption-based pricing structure where you pay for the amount of data used. This method could work out more expensive than Xplenty's flat-rate model, especially if you require lots of data transformations. The good thing about Stitch, though, is you can try its free tier before upgrading to the premium version.
With over 100 connectors, CCPA/GDPR compliance, and SLA support, Stitch is a popular platform with a higher average user score than Talend on G2.com. (4.7/5 vs. 4/5.)
#5. Informatica Power Center
Informatica Power Center offers far more scope than Talend. This enterprise-grade data integration platform handles advanced data transformation, business collaboration, and data validation tasks from one central hub, making it one of the most powerful pieces of software in the ETL/ELT space.
With so many capabilities, though, you could end up paying for features you don't need. Throw in auxiliary costs like training staff to use the complicated platform (or hiring new team members), and Power Center could prove an expensive Talend alternative. Using something like Xplenty is far more economical as you pay a flat-rate fee every month to execute ETL/ELT.
#6. Alteryx
Alteryx is an ETL solution that pulls data from several sources, transforms it, and loads it to a data warehouse or lake. Unfortunately, there are few data connectors, and you'll need a significant amount of coding knowledge to execute ETL properly. That said, you can cleanse data for analysis pretty easily and build interactive dashboards for business intelligence insights.
Despite these benefits, Alteryx is a complicated platform to set up. The tool isn't cloud-native, and you'll have to invest in a hosting solution to run the platform on a local server. While Talend is easier to use initially, you'll still need code. Something like Xplenty is far easier to integrate into your tech stack because you can log in and start creating pipelines almost instantly.
Then there are cost considerations. Unlike Talend, Alteryx charges every user a fee, with basic plans starting at around $5,000 a year.
#7. Alooma
Alooma is a powerful data pipeline tool that provides valuable business intelligence insights for growth. However, Google acquired the company in 2019, so you can now only move data from sources to Google BigQuery. (You can't choose an alternative data destination.)
There are other limitations. Unlike a no-code platform such as Xplenty, Alooma requires Python knowledge to build pipelines and move data flows from one location to another. If your team doesn't have these coding skills, they'll struggle to use this tool.
Why Xplenty is the Best Talend Alternative
Talend requires a specific coding skillset for pipeline-building that most teams lack. Plus, the open-source version might be free, but it comes with limited capabilities and an outdated user interface, making alternatives a far more attractive option for many CTOs, data analysts, and software developers.
Xplenty builds complex pipelines with little to no code, letting you move data from disparate sources, transform that data into a usable format, and move it all to a final destination for unparalleled business intelligence. Other features like the Salesforce-to-Salesforce connector, 24/7 support for all users, unlimited data and users, and flat-rate pricing structure proves Xplenty is the No.1 Talend alternative.
Are you looking for a Talend alternative? Contact Xplenty for a free 7-day trial seven-day demo or pilot now.