Fivetran vs. MuleSoft vs. Xplenty : An ETL Comparison

The key differences between Fivetran, MuleSoft, and Xplenty:

• Required skill level: Fivetran and MuleSoft users require, at the very least, basic coding skills. Xplenty, on the other hand, requires no code at all. 
• Support: Both Fivetran and Xplenty provide free support. Xplenty, however, is renowned for its support, with fast response times for all users.
• Price: Xplenty charges by the connector and not by data volume/lines of data. Fivetran, however, uses a consumption-based pricing structure, which could work out more expensive when scaling a business. MuleSoft doesn't publish its prices online. 
• Architecture: Xplenty and Mulesoft facilitate ETL; Fivetran switches the transformation and loading stages, relying on the ELT doctrine instead. 
• Reviews: Xplenty and MuleSoft have the highest user review scores on the website G2.com (4.4/5 and 4.5/5, respectively). Fivetran has the lowest user review score (4.2/5). 

Hiring a data scientist or engineer can cost up to $140,000 per year —something many businesses can't afford. Still, organizations need to pull data from different locations into a data lake or warehouse for business insights. An Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) platform makes this process easier, but few organizations have the technical or coding know-how to make it happen.  

The three tools on this list simplify data management and ETL. But which is best for you? We compare Fivetran, MuleSoft, and Xplenty in one review. 

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Fivetran vs. Mulesoft vs. Xplenty Features Table
• Data Sources and Integrations
• Support and Training
• Pricing
• Conclusion

Overview

Fivetran

Fivetran is a cloud-based platform that, according to its website, streams "data into your warehouse for advanced analytics." Here's how it works: Native connectors pull data from databases and apps into one centralized location, where analysts generate in-depth insights about their organization.

Important note: Though classified as an ETL tool, Fivetran relies on the ELT (Extract, Load, Transfer) doctrine, which switches the transformation and loading stages. It's not as confusing as it sounds, but it's an important distinction. 

For a more detailed Fivetran vs. Xplenty review, click here. 

MuleSoft

MuleSoft is a data integration platform with ETL functionality. (MuleSoft also performs iPaaS and, like Fivetran, ELT.) It moves data between various locations via its "Anypoint Exchange," which comes with pre-built connectors for these locations. Owned by Salesforce, MuleSoft supports multiple languages for custom integrations. 

For a more detailed MuleSoft vs. Xplenty review, click here.  

Xplenty

Xplenty is a cloud-native ETL/ELT platform with various customizations, features, and transformations for users of all skill sets. Xplenty requires no code, suiting businesses with little technical knowledge. (However, coders and engineers still use its advanced features for valuable data insights.) Xplenty offers enterprise-grade integrations and top-class ETL workflows, providing value and flexibility at a reasonable, fixed rate price. 

Fivetran vs. MuleSoft vs. Xplenty Features Table 

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Data Sources and Integrations

Fivetran

• Fivetran has connectors for various data sources.
• Popular integrations include Amazon S3, Lightspeed, Zendesk, and Amazon Kinesis Firehose. 

MuleSoft

• Users integrate apps, databases, and standard integration protocols via MuleSoft's AnyPoint Connectors. 
• Popular integrations include Salesforce, SAP, and Amazon.  

Xplenty

Xplenty has more than 100 out-of-the-box transformations:

• Database integrations include Amazon (Aurora, Redshift, etc.) Google (BigQuery, Google Cloud SQL for MySQL, Google Cloud Spanner, etc.) Microsoft Azure SQL Database, MongoDB, Snowflake, and more.
• BI tool integrations include Looker, Charito, QlikView, Periscope Data, and more.
• Cloud service integrations include Amazon Kinesis, Base CRM, ChartMogul, Close.io, Elasticsearch, Google Drive, Google My Business, HubSpot, Marketo, NetSuite, Salesforce, and many more.

Support and Training

Fivetran

• Documentation
• Events 
• Webinars
• Blog
• Resource center

MuleSoft

• Webinars
• Videos
• eBooks/whitepapers
• Analyst reports

Xplenty

• Resources for developers
• Guides and books
• Webinars
• Documentation 
• Free customer service support for all customers

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Pricing

Fivetran

Fivetran has a consumption-based pricing structure. Essentially, Fivetran charges users for the number of data rows they consume. 

• There are three pricing tiers: Starter, Standard, and Enterprise. 
• Fivetran provides free support to users on all pricing tiers. However, users on the Enterprise plan receive the fastest response times.

MuleSoft

As MuleSoft doesn't post its prices online, it's hard to make comparisons with Fivetran and Xplenty. (Potential customers can contact the company for a quote.) 

Xplenty

Xplenty has a flat-rate pricing structure based on the number of connectors. 

• Xplenty doesn't charge users based on data volume or lines of data. 
• The price stays the same month after month. 
• Support is free for all users regardless of the size of the company or the number of connectors. 

Conclusion

The ETL tools on this list make it easier for businesses to move data from various locations to a centralized destination. However, these platforms have pricing, skill, and scalability differences. Xplenty offers free support and fast response times for all users, with a pricing structure that doesn't penalize scaling businesses. Users also benefit from ETL in a no-code environment, making Xplenty a viable option for businesses without a data engineering team.

Are you looking for a no-code ETL powerhouse? Xplenty is a cloud-based solution packed with data management features. To experience the platform for yourself, schedule an intro call with our support team for a risk-free demo and pilot.