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Selecting the right data integration platform determines how efficiently your organization can unify data, automate workflows, and drive actionable insights. While Fivetran focuses on ELT with extensive connectors and Polytomic specializes in Reverse ETL for operational syncing, Integrate.io's data pipeline platform delivers a unified solution combining ETL, ELT, CDC, and Reverse ETL under one fixed-fee model. Understanding these fundamental differences helps data teams choose the approach that matches their technical requirements, budget constraints, and growth objectives.

Key Takeaways

  • Integrate.io offers fixed-fee pricing at $1,999/month with unlimited data volumes, pipelines, and connectors, while Fivetran charges usage-based Monthly Active Rows (MAR) fees that can become costly and harder to predict as data volumes grow

  • Integrate.io combines ETL/ELT, CDC, and Reverse ETL in one platform. Fivetran is best known for ELT (and offers Reverse ETL via Census), while Polytomic is often used for operational syncing (ETL + Reverse ETL)

  • Fivetran’s March 2025 change moved plan tiering from the account level to the connection level (each connection is assigned a plan tier). Many reviews still cite pricing complexity and cost as common drawbacks

  • Integrate.io supports CDC/pipeline runs as frequently as every 60 seconds (where supported). Fivetran offers 15-minute syncs on Standard and can support 1-minute syncs on Enterprise+ (where supported), so “near real-time” varies by plan and connector

  • Integrate.io provides 24/7 support coverage across plans, while formal support SLAs and expanded guarantees are typically tied to higher tiers (e.g., Enterprise)

Understanding Data Integration Tools: An Overview

Modern data integration platforms serve as the backbone of analytics infrastructure, moving data between source systems and destinations while transforming it for business use. The market has evolved beyond simple ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) to include ELT (Extract, Load, Transform), CDC (Change Data Capture), and Reverse ETL for pushing warehouse data back to operational systems.

Core integration approaches include:

  • ETL: Transform data before loading into your warehouse—ideal for data cleansing and preparation

  • ELT: Load raw data first, transform within the warehouse—suited for cloud data warehouse architectures

  • CDC: Capture incremental changes in real-time for up-to-the-minute analytics

  • Reverse ETL: Sync warehouse insights back to CRM, marketing, and operational tools

The distinction matters because most platforms specialize in one or two approaches. Fivetran primarily handles ELT without pre-load transformations. Polytomic focuses on Reverse ETL. Integrate.io's platform combines ETL/ELT, CDC, and Reverse ETL in one place. Fivetran is primarily positioned around ELT and offers Reverse ETL through Census, while Polytomic is often used for operational data syncing (ETL + Reverse ETL).

Fivetran Pricing and Connectivity: What to Expect

Fivetran has built its reputation on automated ELT with an extensive connector library. However, its pricing model has become increasingly problematic for scaling organizations.

Fivetran's pricing structure:

  • Usage-based billing tied to Monthly Active Rows (MAR)

  • Per-connector pricing introduced March 2025, eliminating bulk discounts

  • Standard tier charges approximately $500 per million MAR

  • Enterprise tier runs $667 per million MAR

  • Free tier limited to 500,000 MAR and 5 users

Fivetran's pricing structure:

  • Usage-based billing tied to Monthly Active Rows (MAR)

  • Plan tiering applied at the connection level (March 2025 change)

  • Pricing varies by plan tier and connector type

  • User limits are not typically the constraint—Standard is marketed with unlimited users; Free is intended for small-scale usage

The connector catalog spans 500+ sources, making it the broadest in the market. This includes strong enterprise database support through their HVR acquisition for Oracle, SAP, and Workday.

Common Fivetran limitations:

  • No pre-load transformation—teams must rely on dbt or SQL after data lands

  • Limited customization and per-table scheduling

  • Support quality varies—best support reserved for enterprise plans

One reviewer noted: "The pricing model, specially the new 'MARs per connector' pricing model... We would use it for more sources, specially event sources, but it is impractical."

Polytomic's Reverse ETL and Operational Sync Capabilities

Polytomic has carved a niche as a Reverse ETL specialist, focusing on syncing warehouse data back to business applications. This operational analytics approach helps teams activate insights within their daily tools.

Polytomic's core strengths:

  • Purpose-built for warehouse-to-SaaS syncing

  • Infrastructure-as-code support with native Terraform integration

  • Self-hosted deployment options for data sovereignty requirements

  • Developer-first design with strong API access

Polytomic's significant limitations:

  • Polytomic is often deployed for operational syncing and activation workflows; while it supports ETL + Reverse ETL, some teams may still prefer a dedicated ELT-focused tool for large-scale warehouse ingestion depending on sources, volumes, and governance needs

  • Connector library of 100+ integrations

  • Business hours support only—no 24/7 availability

  • Pricing requires custom quotes, with median contracts around $18,500/year

For organizations needing only Reverse ETL, Polytomic delivers. But most data teams require both forward and reverse data movement, making a unified platform like Integrate.io's Reverse ETL the more practical choice.

Integrate.io's Low-Code Data Pipelines and Comprehensive Offerings

Integrate.io stands apart by offering a complete data pipeline platform that addresses every data movement need without requiring multiple vendor relationships.

What Integrate.io delivers:

The low-code approach enables both technical and non-technical users to build pipelines without SQL expertise. This accessibility extends across a large catalog of pre-built connectors plus a universal REST API connector for custom integrations.

Unique Integrate.io capabilities:

  • Salesforce-to-Salesforce connector: Bi-directional sync between Salesforce orgs—unavailable on any competing platform

  • 220+ no-code transformations: Prepare data before warehouse loading without dbt dependencies

  • Automated API generation: Expose warehouse data as REST APIs in minutes through the DreamFactory integration

  • Warehouse monitoring: Built-in cost and performance tracking for your data infrastructure

Comparing Features: Connectors, Transformations, and Automation

Feature depth determines how well a platform handles real-world complexity. Here's how each platform performs across critical capabilities.

Connector ecosystems:

  • Fivetran offers 700+ connectors, including enterprise databases

  • Integrate.io offers 200+ connectors plus a universal REST API connector for any API

  • Polytomic provides 100+ connectors focused on business applications

Data transformation capabilities:

  • Integrate.io: 220+ no-code transformations available before data loading

  • Fivetran: No pre-load transformations—requires post-load dbt or SQL

  • Polytomic: Limited transformation options focused on mapping and filtering

Automation and scheduling:

  • Integrate.io: 60-second minimum pipeline frequency with cron expression support

  • Fivetran: Near real-time syncing (typically 5-15 minutes)

  • Polytomic: Variable frequency based on sync configuration

The transformation gap proves critical. With Fivetran, organizations must hire dbt engineers or train existing staff on SQL transformations. Integrate.io's low-code approach lets citizen integrators handle data preparation without specialized skills.

Pricing Models: Fixed Fee vs. Usage-Based Considerations

Pricing structures fundamentally impact total cost of ownership and budget predictability.

Integrate.io's transparent pricing:

  • $1,999/month for full platform access

  • Unlimited data volumes—no overage charges

  • Unlimited pipelines and connectors

  • 24/7 support included

  • 30-day guided onboarding with dedicated Solutions Engineer

Fivetran's variable costs:

Polytomic's custom quotes:

  • Connector-based pricing model

  • Median contract value: $18,500/year

  • Enterprise features require higher tiers

Companies switching to Integrate.io report saving 34-71% on average compared to previous providers. Fresno Pacific University reduced ETL costs by nearly 50% without compromising capabilities.

Security and Compliance: Protecting Your Data Pipelines

Data security requirements vary by industry, but compliance certifications signal platform maturity.

Integrate.io's security framework:

  • SOC 2 Type II certified

  • HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA compliant

  • End-to-end encryption (in transit and at rest)

  • Field Level Encryption through AWS KMS

  • CISSP-certified security team members

  • Passed Fortune 100 company security audits

Fivetran's security posture:

  • SOC 2 certified

  • HIPAA and GDPR compliant

  • Hybrid deployment options available

Polytomic's compliance:

  • SOC 2 Type II certified

  • Self-hosted deployment for sensitive environments

For healthcare, financial services, or any regulated industry requiring HIPAA compliance, Integrate.io's comprehensive compliance portfolio and data security solutions address the strictest enterprise requirements.

Support and Onboarding: Partnering for Data Success

Implementation success depends heavily on vendor support quality and accessibility.

Integrate.io's support model:

  • 24/7 availability on all plans—not just enterprise tiers

  • 24/7 support availability highlighted by Integrate.io (response times vary by plan and workload)

  • Resolution times vary by issue complexity; support SLAs are typically offered on higher tiers (e.g., Enterprise)

  • Dedicated Solutions Engineer throughout engagement

  • 30-day white-glove onboarding included

One G2 reviewer noted: "The Customer support has been amazing and very responsive. They are skilled with the tool and help answer most of our questions."

Fivetran's support structure:

  • Support quality varies by pricing tier

  • In-app chat available

  • 24/7 support limited to enterprise plans

  • Response times depend on contract level

Polytomic's support:

  • Business hours support only

  • No 24/7 availability

  • Standard SaaS documentation and community resources

Real-time Capabilities: ELT, CDC, and API Management

Real-time data access has become essential for operational analytics and time-sensitive decision making.

Integrate.io's real-time features:

  • Runs CDC/pipelines as frequently as every 60 seconds (where supported)

  • Production-ready infrastructure designed for low-latency replication (actual latency depends on connector/source limits and destination performance)

  • Auto-schema mapping for seamless updates

  • No row limits on data volumes

API generation sets Integrate.io apart:

The API Management platform creates secure REST APIs from any data source in minutes. This capability—unavailable in Fivetran or Polytomic—lets organizations:

  • Expose warehouse data to applications without custom development

  • Generate full Swagger OpenAPI documentation automatically

  • Deploy across Linux, Windows, or Mac environments

  • Implement role-based access control on API endpoints

Fivetran and Polytomic lack native API generation, requiring organizations to build custom middleware or purchase additional tools.

Data Observability and Quality Assurance

Data reliability requires continuous monitoring beyond basic pipeline status checks.

Integrate.io's Data Observability Platform:

  • Free tier with 3 data alerts—forever

  • No requirement to use other Integrate.io products

  • Read-only data access for security

  • Alert types: null values, row count anomalies, freshness, cardinality, variance, and more

  • Real-time or scheduled monitoring intervals

  • Notifications to email, Slack, or PagerDuty

Integrate.io includes a built-in data observability module. With Fivetran or Polytomic, many teams use a mix of native alerts plus third-party observability depending on how deep they need freshness/volume/anomaly monitoring to go.

Why Integrate.io Delivers Superior Value

For data teams evaluating integration platforms, Integrate.io's combination of comprehensive capabilities, predictable pricing, and exceptional support creates compelling advantages:

  • Unified platform eliminates tool sprawl—one vendor for ETL, ELT, CDC, and Reverse ETL

  • Fixed pricing enables accurate budgeting without surprise overages

  • Fastest CDC delivers true real-time data at 60-second intervals

  • Low-code access empowers non-technical users while supporting advanced customization

  • Industry-leading support with 24/7 availability

Request a demo to see how Integrate.io can consolidate your data stack while reducing costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Integrate.io different from Fivetran and Polytomic?

Integrate.io is the only platform combining ETL, ELT, Reverse ETL, and CDC in a single unified solution. Fivetran focuses on ELT without pre-load transformations or Reverse ETL. Polytomic handles Reverse ETL capabilities. This means Fivetran and Polytomic users typically need multiple tools, while Integrate.io covers the entire data pipeline lifecycle under one fixed monthly fee.

How does Integrate.io's pricing compare for high-volume data needs?

Integrate.io charges $1,999/month regardless of data volume, pipelines, or connectors used. Fivetran's MAR-based pricing scales with row counts and can reach $30,000-$60,000+ annually for enterprise usage. Organizations with high-volume event data find Fivetran particularly expensive. Integrate.io customers report 34-71% average savings compared to previous providers.

Which platform offers better real-time data replication?

Integrate.io guarantees 60-second CDC replication, the fastest in the industry. Fivetran advertises "near real-time" which typically means 5-15 minutes. Polytomic's sync frequency varies by configuration. For operational use cases requiring up-to-the-minute data, Integrate.io's guaranteed latency provides a significant advantage.

Can non-technical team members use these platforms?

Integrate.io was built for low-code accessibility with 220+ drag-and-drop transformations requiring no SQL knowledge. Fivetran's ELT approach requires dbt or SQL expertise for all transformations after data loading. Polytomic offers a no-code interface but only for Reverse ETL use cases. Citizen integrators find Integrate.io's approach most accessible for building complete data pipelines.

What compliance certifications does each platform hold?

Integrate.io maintains SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA compliance with CISSP-certified security team members. Fivetran holds SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR certifications. Polytomic offers SOC 2 Type II certification. For healthcare and financial services organizations, Integrate.io's comprehensive compliance portfolio addresses the strictest enterprise requirements.

How does customer support compare across platforms?

Integrate.io provides 24/7 dedicated support on all plans with a 24/7 support availability highlighted by Integrate.io (response times vary by plan and workload). Fivetran reserves 24/7 support for enterprise tiers, with support quality varying by contract level. Polytomic offers business hours support only. For organizations requiring reliable around-the-clock assistance, Integrate.io's support model stands alone.