Airbyte vs Apache Airflow vs Skyvia

Airbyte and Apache Airflow both offer a data integration solution. Compare the features and benefits, data sources and destinations, and see which meets your needs. Look at the side-by-side comparison chart of the two data integration solutions.

Look at the side-by-side comparison chart

Airbyte

vs

Apache Airflow

vs

Skyvia

About the Services

Airbyte

Airbyte is an open-source data platform. It makes it easy to replicate data from various sources into your destination system. It launched in 2020 and has many satisfied customers.

Airbyte helps you move data from one place to another. Whether you need to sync, migrate, or extract data, Airbyte has you covered. The user interface is intuitive and straightforward. It makes it easy for even non-technical users to set up integrations and track their data flows. Though Airbyte has a lot of connectors, it focuses on Extract, Load, Transform (ELT) only. You need to look for other tools for Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) or reverse ETL.

Airbyte is serious about security and privacy. It keeps your data safe by encrypting data when it’s moving and when it’s resting. It also does audits and vulnerability assessments. Airbyte is also certified by industry-standard certifications like SOC 2 Type 2.

Apache Airflow

Apache Airflow is a free, open-source platform for developing batch-oriented workflows. It launched in 2014 and has big-name companies like Airbnb, Lyft, and Etsy in its portfolio. It has a growing community of over 2,000 contributors and many users worldwide.

Apache Airflow uses a workflow management system. This system handles automating and monitoring data integration processes. It can handle simple data transfers and complex machine-learning workflows. The user interface is easy to use, so you can focus on your work instead of minding a confusing interface.

But having that simple interface has a caveat. Open-source platforms need technical expertise, and Airflow is no different. You can start with several options to install. If you don’t want to hire experts to do this for you, you need to know about Python and some required libraries and even about Docker Containers for a seamless cloud deployment.

Apache Airflow also doesn’t have a record of privacy and security certifications, but it has security features like role-based access control and encryption. So, your data is safe from prying eyes. It also provides logging and auditing capabilities. So, this will help identify and investigate any security or privacy incidents. Companies with stringent security and privacy requirements trust Apache Airflow. But again, either you need some more technical expertise, or pay for someone who knows how to secure Airflow in your environment.

Skyvia

Skyvia is a no-code cloud data integration platform for many data integration scenarios. It’s an all-rounder tool for ETL, ELT, Reverse ETL, data migration, one-way and bi-directional data sync, workflow automation, and more. Devart launched this fantastic product in 2014 for cloud data integration and backup.

Skyvia offers more than 180 ready-made data connectors. These are available for thousands of free users, including 2000+ paid customers. Big names like Hyundai and General Electric trust Skyvia to process their data. Its easy-to-use, drag-and-drop interface suits both IT professionals and business users. And don’t take our word for it. Listen to G2 reviewers about how easy it is to start and work with it. Data integration experts who used other tools can adapt with little to no help from support.

Skyvia has flexible pricing plans perfect for small startups and large enterprises. So, it makes it applicable to businesses of all sizes. Also, Skyvia’s freemium model allows users to start using it now and then decide if they need to upgrade later.

The safety of your data is also our prime concern. So, we hosted it in Microsoft Azure cloud, providing the best data security and privacy. It complies with a wide set of security standards, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, and many others.

AirbyteApache AirflowSkyvia
FocusELTETL, ELT, and reverse ETLData ingestion, ELT, ETL, reverse ETL, data sync, workflow automation.
Skill levelLow-code solutions.
Coding in various languages for complex scenarios (Java, Python, TypeScript).
Python coding skills.No-code wizard. Top-rated as one of the easiest ETL tools by G2.
Sources300+80+180+
Destinations30+Supported data sources.Supported data sources, including databases, data warehouses, cloud apps and flat files.
Database replicationFull or incremental load.Full or incremental load.Full table and incremental via change data capture.
Ability for customers to add new data sourcesProvides SDK for creating custom connectors.Yes, by coding.Ye s, by request or using REST API connector.
G2 customer satisfaction4.1 out of 5
7 reviews
4.3 out of 5
71 reviews
4.8 out of 5
217 Reviews
Peer Insights satisfaction5
1 Ratings
-4.8
103 Ratings
Developer toolsWeb and CLI.
API Access for Cloud-hosted.
Python packages/CLI.
Web UI.
REST connector for data sources that have REST API.
Advanced ETL capabilitiesSeamless integration with dbt, Airflow, and more.
Custom Connector SDK.
Integration with other integration tools like Kafka, dbt, Airbyte, and more.Visual ETL data pipeline designer with data orchestration capabilities.
Compliance and security certificationsSOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, CCPANo official list of certifications.HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS.
ISO 27001 and SOC 2 (by Azure).
Purchase processTalk to Sales or go the open-source route.Download and install. Self-service or sales.
Vendor lock-inPay-as-you-go or consumption basis for cloud-hosted.
No SLA and contracts for open-source.
NoneMonthly or annual contracts.
PricingFree and open-source.
Third-party companies offering more features and support.
Cloud-hosted with volume-based pricing.
Self-managed with a customized package.
With a free tier and 14-day trial.
Volume-based and feature-based pricing. Freemium model allows to start with a free plan.

Connectors

Airbyte

Airbyte has over 300 built-in connectors. This makes it one of the most comprehensive data integration tools available. These connectors cover a wide range of data sources. This includes databases, cloud platforms, SaaS applications, and more. Some of the most popular connectors include Salesforce, HubSpot, and Google Analytics.

Airbyte also offers a custom connector SDK and development service. So, no worries if your data source is missing from the list of pre-built connectors. With these options, you can build your own connector or have one built for you.

Apache Airflow

Apache Airflow provides 80+ built-in data connectors and provider packages. These connectors will work with various types of data sources. And this includes databases, cloud platforms, and messaging systems. It can also deal with popular APIs, data warehouses, and lakes. Some of the most popular connectors include MySQL and PostgreSQL.

But, if you need one that is not available, you can create your own using Airflow’s API. Additionally, the Airflow community never stops developing and sharing new connectors. So, if your data source is so unique and recent, look for a connector in the community first. But if nobody made one for it yet, prepare to roll up your sleeves and code.

Skyvia

Skyvia offers more than 180 connectors, and more to come very soon. It supports connectors for CRMs, accounting, email marketing, e-commerce, human resources, marketing automation, payment processing, product management, all major databases and DWH, flat files, and more. It’s also not a problem whether your data is on-premise or in the cloud.

You can access your on-premise data with peace of mind using the Skyvia Agent. It allows you to connect to databases like SQL Server, MySQL, and more using an encrypted connection. You need to download the Skyvia Agent and install it. Then, download a secured key file and place it in the same folder as the Agent. The Agent is like an unbreakable metal door, and you use the key file to open that door to your on-premise data. You can also set it up so that Skyvia can access only the resources you specify and nothing else.

Customers can also leave a request for a new data connector. And Skyvia will prioritize building it without additional payment.

Transformation

Airbyte

Airbyte’s ELT approach allows for flexible data transformations through dbt. Meaning you can do the transformations using SQL or Python. So, there’s no drag-and-drop moving forward. And dbt is another paid product if you have a team of data professionals. It’s free if you have one developer access to use.

Airbyte supports a wide range of transformations. Be it filtering, aggregation, joining, and more. Customers can also create custom transformations to fit their specific needs. This wide range is only possible because of coding in dbt.

Apache Airflow

Apache Airflow provides a flexible way to handle data transformations. Airflow supports a variety of data transformation tasks. This includes data cleansing, aggregation, filtering, and enrichment. You can perform transformations using code-based approaches. So, if you prefer to click than code to perform transformations, this is not for you.

Airflow has a web, graphical interface for data transformations, but coding is always required. So, it supports programming languages like Python and SQL.

Skyvia

Skyvia is a full-featured ETL service that allows powerful data transformations. It is a no-code solution allowing data splitting, conversion, lookups, and many more.

You can use the Skyvia Data Flow and Control Flow for advanced data pipelines. Transformations for these advanced pipelines are flexible. It supports extending your data with new columns, conditional flows, and summarized values. And all these you can do with parameters, variables, and more for flexibility without code.

Moreover, Skyvia has an Expression Builder to build formulas with many functions. With this, you can convert or extract parts of the data or form new values to suit your needs. And if you love coding in SQL, Skyvia can further extend your transformation needs. It supports multiple joins, groupings, CASE expressions, and more in SELECT queries. And you can also use DML commands like INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE.

Support

Airbyte

Airbyte offers three levels of support: community, professional, and enterprise. Community support is free. And with it, you can access online resources, including documentation and community forums.

The professional and enterprise levels provide faster response times. It also has phone support and access to a dedicated account manager. Airbyte also offers an SLA for these support levels so you can receive timely support.

For customers who need more help, Airbyte offers premium support. This includes access to a dedicated support team and priority response times. Premium support is available for an extra fee.

Apache Airflow

Airflow has an active and helpful community, and users can access various support channels depending on their needs. Their website provides documentation and guides for all levels of users. They also have a mailing list where users can ask for help and get support from the community.

For those who need more help, premium support is available through third-party vendors. These vendors provide support levels, including response time guarantees and service-level agreements (SLAs). They also offer training and consulting services.

Users can reach out to these vendors through their websites or by contacting them directly to benefit from their premium support services. With these options, users can choose the level of support that fits their needs and budget.

Skyvia

Skyvia offers free email, chat (on the website or in-app), and forum support for all customers. It also provides extensive documentation with lots of tutorials and user guides.

For paid customers, there's also a phone support option and additional support options for Enterprise customers.

Pricing

Airbyte

Airbyte offers a flexible pricing model that includes both cloud-based and self-managed options. They also provide an open-source version.

Their cloud-based pricing plan is pay-as-you-go. You can buy credits that you can consume based on your usage. There’s a custom pricing for larger organizations with higher data volume needs.

For open-source deployments, Airbyte is free with unlimited connectors. But you only get community support. And security features are up to you who manages your own deployment. Advanced monitoring and logging are also not available.

Additionally, Airbyte offers a 14-day free trial period for all paid plans. So, users can test out the features before committing to a plan.

Apache Airflow

Apache Airflow is an open-source platform, which means it’s free to use. There are no hidden charges or fees to access and use Airflow’s core features.

Moreover, Apache Airflow doesn’t need any upfront payment, subscription, or contract. Users can download, install, and run the software. They can do that on their own hardware or cloud infrastructure. They have full control over their deployment, scaling, and maintenance. This makes it an attractive option for those who want to avoid vendor lock-in.

There are also no user, workflow, or data source limitations in using Airflow. You can experiment, innovate, and collaborate on your pipelines without worries.

But this flexibility needs a lot of skilled work hours. So, if you need a data integration tool that is ready to use from day 1, this may not be an attractive option.

Skyvia

Skyvia Data Integration is a freemium tool with an option to request a 14-day trial. So, price is not a barrier to entry.

And when you’re ready, paid plans start from $19 per month. Pricing tiers depend on a few factors. It includes the number of loaded records, scheduling frequency, and advanced ETL features. There are no sale commitments. And customers can upgrade or downgrade at any time. Check out a detailed comparison here.

If you doubt the price is worth it, check out review sites like G2. Aside from ease of use, reasonable pricing is one of the things Skyvia customers like. So, you can be sure the features you get are worth every penny.