About the Services
AWS Data Pipeline
AWS Data Pipeline is a cloud-based data integration service from Amazon. It works well with cloud and on-premise data sources. Amazon launched it in 2012. And since then, it helped thousands of customers move and process data.
But unlike AWS Glue, Data Pipeline is not serverless. It requires an Amazon EC2 instance to perform processing.
AWS Data Pipeline has a web interface to define your data processing workflows. And it requires no coding knowledge. In one place, you can schedule, automate, and track your data workflows. It’s more of a fill-in-the-blanks rather than drag-and-drop.
AWS Data Pipeline is like any other AWS service when it comes to security and privacy. It’s HIPAA eligible and has various certifications, including SOC 1 and PCI DSS. Rest assured that your data is in safe hands.
Apache Nifi
Apache Nifi is an open-source, easy-to-use system to process and distribute data. Brand new UI version 1 was released in 2016. More than 2400 companies are using Apache Nifi, according to Enlyft.
Apache Nifi works on-premise or with any cloud provider. You can download, install, and configure Apache Nifi on Linux, Mac, and Windows machines. Keep in mind that Nifi may require technical skills. You can’t install it and build ETL pipelines in minutes. But once you complete your configuration, you can prepare data pipelines in a browser.
There are no limits on the number of data sources and destinations in a pipeline. You are only limited by the processing capacity of your machine.
Data security and privacy are your responsibility. But if you deploy the system in AWS or Azure, you can leverage their security and privacy certifications.
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.
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | ETL | ETL, ELT | Data ingestion, ELT, ETL, reverse ETL, data sync, workflow automation. |
| Skill level | Low code, no-code solutions. Coding in various languages. | No-code solution. | No-code wizard. Top-rated as one of the easiest ETL tools by G2. |
| Sources | JDBC-compatible connectors and Amazon ecosystem connectors. | Unspecified | 180+ |
| Destinations | Supported data sources. | Unspecified | Supported data sources, including databases, data warehouses, cloud apps and flat files. |
| Database replication | Full or incremental load. | Full and incremental load. | Full table and incremental via change data capture. |
| Ability for customers to add new data sources | Through AWS SDKs. | Contributing to community/coding. | Ye s, by request or using REST API connector. |
| G2 customer satisfaction | 4.1 out of 5 24 reviews | 4.2 out of 5 23 reviews | 4.8 out of 5 217 Reviews |
| Peer Insights satisfaction | 4.7 1 Ratings | None | 4.8 103 Ratings |
| Developer tools | AWS Data Pipeline CLI. AWS Management Console. | Web interface, REST API. CLI, integration to Kafka, and more. | REST connector for data sources that have REST API. |
| Advanced ETL capabilities | AWS SDKs. Query API. | REST API and open architecture. | Visual ETL data pipeline designer with data orchestration capabilities. |
| Compliance and security certifications | SOC 1/2/3, HIPAA, GDPR ISO 27001, 27017, and 27018 PCI DSS | No provided security and privacy certifications. | HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS. ISO 27001 and SOC 2 (by Azure). |
| Purchase process | Use the free trial and talk to sales. | Download, install, and configure. | Self-service or sales. |
| Vendor lock-in | Pay-as-you-go. No minimum contract term. | None | Monthly or annual contracts. |
| Pricing | Based on frequencies of preconditions and activities. With 12 months of free tier. | Free | Volume-based and feature-based pricing. Freemium model allows to start with a free plan. |
Connectors
AWS Data Pipeline
AWS Data Pipeline has data connectors for AWS RDS, JDBC data sources, and more. These let you connect to various data sources. Be it databases, cloud platforms, and storage systems. Some of the most popular ones include Amazon S3, Amazon RDS, and Amazon Redshift.
AWS Data Pipeline allows you to connect to other data sources using AWS SDKs. This allows you to connect to any data source with an API or a JDBC driver. With this, you can use Java, .NET, and others.
Apache Nifi
Apache Nifi can connect to various data sources, including SQL and NoSQL databases, flat files, and others. It has a number of components for data extraction and loading called processors which you can drag in the Nifi canvas and configure.
Every Nifi processor for data access is available to you. You can check the Apache Nifi documentation for more details.
You can contribute new data sources and destinations to the сommunity. So, you need to know Java and follow the rules of the community in contributing 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
AWS Data Pipeline
AWS Data Pipeline supports various types of transformations like filtering, aggregation, and normalization. You can use a simple drag-and-drop interface to perform transformations. Or write your transformations using a programming language like Python or Java. For even more complex transformations, you can also use Hive, Pig, and MapReduce.
Scheduling data transformation activities is easy with AWS Data Pipeline. And you can also check it in real-time using the AWS Management Console or through API calls. With AWS Data Pipeline, customers have complete control over their data transformation process.
Apache Nifi
Apache Nifi transformation capabilities include aggregating, splitting, data encryption, and decryption to hide sensitive information. You can also do XSLT transforms for XML data and JOLT transforms for JSON data. Besides that, you can also do regular expressions and even run SQL commands in relational databases.
All transformations in Apache Nifi are part of its Processors list. So, check specific transformation processors in the Apache Nifi documentation.
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
AWS Data Pipeline
AWS Data Pipeline provides various levels of customer support. You can access documentation available on the AWS website. You can also submit tickets through the AWS Support Center. Or engage with the AWS community for guidance and support.
There are 4 plans for premium support: Developer, Business, Enterprise, and Enterprise Plus. The plans differ in the level of support and the services included. It can be any or all of the following:
• 24/7 access to AWS support engineers,
• personalized support,
• and guidance for architecture and best practices.
AWS also provides a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for different response times.
Apache Nifi
Open-source projects like Apache Nifi have communities where you can ask for help. You can be a part of their mailing list or you can chat to them through Slack. There is no resolution time for your problems, neither is priority support.
However, there are how-to videos and documentation. And you can ask questions on developer-focused sites like StackOverflow.
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, Skyvia offers a prioritized support including additional support options for Enterprise customers.
Pricing
AWS Data Pipeline
AWS Data Pipeline offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model. The frequency of pipeline runs forms the basis of the model. Low-frequency runs are pipelines that run less than once a day. Rates are lower than high-frequency runs, which are pipelines that run once a day or more.
AWS Data Pipeline also offers a Free Trial. This includes 3 low-frequency preconditions and 5 low-frequency activities per month. This is free for 12 months. The Free Trial includes access to all AWS features. So, customers can test out the service and see if it meets their needs.
Apache Nifi
The tool is free to use, from downloading to configuring. However, keep in mind that you'll have to pay for the planned infrastructure later on. There is no difference whether you'll build your own data centers or use cloud services.
There are also companies offering consulting services and even freelancers who have successful implementations experience, but they also require payment.
So, if you need to get the fast result it will be better to use alternatives that provide quick solutions. Apache Nifi, however, can offer you a flexibility for complex scenarios.
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.