About the Services
SSIS
SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is a data integration tool from Microsoft. You have SSIS when you buy Microsoft SQL Server. Launched in 2005, SSIS works with a variety of sources and delivers it to the desired destination. It’s a mature product that is flexible, scalable, and reliable. It is ideal for small-scale data migrations to large-scale enterprise data warehouses.
You can design SSIS packages using Visual Studio with drag-and-drop functionality and then perform a variety of data integration scenarios. And this includes ETL, ELT, reverse ETL, data ingestion, replication, and more. SSIS provides a range of data connectors for SQL Server, Oracle, Excel, and other data sources. It can also work with structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data. There are also third-party providers of free and commercial SSIS components. This adds more connectors and transformations to SSIS.
SSIS comes together with SQL Server installer. And it needs installation and configuration by a skilled IT professional. Data resides on customers’ on-premise or cloud servers. So, they are in control of its security. But you can also deploy it in the cloud. So, the security and privacy certifications of that cloud provider are in effect.
Alteryx Designer
Alteryx Designer claims to be an all-in-one tool. That is from data preparation to analytics. And G2 and Gartner report positive feedback from end users. Alteryx as a company started in 1997 and became one of the trusted data platforms by known brands. It has various products, including Alteryx Designer Desktop and Cloud.
Alteryx Designer allows you to blend, prep, and analyze your data. Coding is optional, and the tool offers drag-and-drop capabilities. It’s good to see reviews from other users for specifics because some say that it’s easy, but others say there’s a steep learning curve. And note that the Desktop Edition is for Windows only. So, Mac and Linux users are out of the picture.
If you need to switch between Desktop and Cloud and back, it is not possible for now. Because the 2 Editions are 2 separate tools. You can’t migrate your workflows from the Desktop to the Cloud and vice-versa. You need to create them from scratch. That’s why you need to choose between the two and stick with your choice.
Alteryx implemented many measures to ensure the safety of customer data. They have earned certifications like HIPAA, SOC 1 and 2, and GDPR compliance.
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, ELT, and Reverse ETL. | ETL, Data Prep | Data ingestion, ELT, ETL, reverse ETL, data sync, workflow automation. |
| Skill level | Low-code, no-code solution. Or, coding in .Net languages like C#. | Low-code, no-code solutions. Python skills for complex scenarios. | No-code wizard. Top-rated as one of the easiest ETL tools by G2. |
| Sources | ODBC, ADO, .Net, OLEDB compatible data sources. | 80+ | 180+ |
| Destinations | Supported data sources. | Supported data sources. | Supported data sources, including databases, data warehouses, cloud apps and flat files. |
| Database replication | Full and incremental load. | Full or incremental load. | Full table and incremental via change data capture. |
| Ability for customers to add new data sources | Yes, by coding custom data source components. | Through Alteryx Connector SDK. | Ye s, by request or using REST API connector. |
| G2 customer satisfaction | 4.6 out of 5 11 reviews | 4.5 out of 5 284 reviews | 4.8 out of 5 217 Reviews |
| Peer Insights satisfaction | 4.4 291 Ratings | 4.5 59 Ratings | 4.8 103 Ratings |
| Developer tools | Visual Studio, SQL Server Management Studio. | CLI. Alteryx API/SDK. | REST connector for data sources that have REST API. |
| Advanced ETL capabilities | Running external processes. Running within Azure Data Factory. | Predictive analytics and machine learning. | Visual ETL data pipeline designer with data orchestration capabilities. |
| Compliance and security certifications | In the cloud: ISO/IEC 27001:2013, SOC 1/2, HIPAA, GDPR. On premise: IT departments are in control of security. | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA Privacy Shield TrustArc Certified Privacy Seal Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Star Level 1/2 Available to Alteryx Designer Cloud | HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS. ISO 27001 and SOC 2 (by Azure). |
| Purchase process | Bundled when you buy Microsoft SQL Server. | Use the free trial and talk to sales. | Self-service or sales. |
| Vendor lock-in | Based on SQL Server subscription. | Renewable annual contracts. | Monthly or annual contracts. |
| Pricing | Pricing is based on SQL Server Edition licenses. Developer Edition is free. | Pricing is different depending on the Edition. Contact sales for more information. Unspecified period of free trial. | Volume-based and feature-based pricing. Freemium model allows to start with a free plan. |
Connectors
SSIS
SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) comes with various data connectors. These data sources are compatible with ADO, .Net, ODBC, and OLEDB providers. Some of the popular ones include connectors for SQL Server, Oracle, and Excel.
You can also create your own custom connectors to connect to unknown data sources. You can do this by creating a custom data source component. This allows customers to extend its functionality. And connect to any data source they need.
Alteryx Designer
Alteryx Designer supports over 80 data connectors. It includes data on cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. And popular databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL.
You can use the Alteryx Connector SDK to create a custom connector. This allows customers to connect to any data source. This means you need a knack for Python programming to create custom connectors.
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
SSIS
SSIS can handle data transformations in ETL, ELT, and reverse ETL scenarios. You can do transformation tasks like data cleansing, conversion, merging, and more. There are 30+ built-in transformations available in SSIS. And if you need something outside of that, code using C# or VB.Net to make your custom transformation.
Additionally, AI in Visual Studio can help you code faster. This is possible by using extensions like GitHub Copilot.
Alteryx Designer
With Alteryx Designer, you can perform a wide range of transformations. Be it filtering, sorting, aggregating, pivoting, and more. The software also supports data profiling and cleansing.
You can perform data transformations in Alteryx Designer using a drag-and-drop interface. Some of the transformations are the Formula, Multi-Field Formula, and Cross Tab. It makes it easy to transform data without coding. But for complex scenarios, you can code using Python or SQL, or do machine learning.
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
SSIS
SSIS customers can receive support from Microsoft through a variety of channels. This includes online documentation, community forums, and direct support from Microsoft.
Different levels include free online resources, paid support plans, and premium support plans.
Customers can access support through the Microsoft Support Center. From here they can create a support ticket or chat with a support representative.
Microsoft also offers a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for its premium support plans. It guarantees a response time and resolution time for support requests. To use this option, contact a Microsoft sales representative or visit the Microsoft Support website.
Alteryx Designer
There are 2 editions for Alteryx Designer: Designer Desktop and Designer Cloud. And each has an online documentation. There is also a community to help newbies and experts alike to address issues in the 2 products.
Alteryx Designer also offers technical support through email and phone. There are also different levels of support depending on your subscription plan. Premium support is available for customers who need immediate help. And extra support beyond the offerings in their subscription plan. It also provides an SLA. It outlines the response times and issue resolution for different levels of support. Check out the Alteryx Support Guidelines page for more details.
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
SSIS
SSIS is part of the SQL Server suite of products. And the pricing model is per-core. You can choose to buy a SQL Server license with SSIS included, or they can buy an SSIS license separately. Prices vary depending on the SQL Server edition and the number of cores required.
Microsoft also offers cloud-based options for SSIS through its Azure services. Customers can choose to run SSIS packages on virtual machines. Or use Azure Data Factory, a cloud-based ETL service that includes SSIS functionality. Azure Data Factory pricing model is another thing to consider. But you will only pay based on usage.
Developers can use SSIS for free if they have a SQL Server Developer Edition. This version includes all features of SQL Server Enterprise. But the license is for development and testing only.
Alteryx Designer
There are 2 editions for Alteryx Designer: Designer Desktop and Designer Cloud.
You need to contact sales for the updated pricing. If you are a new customer for Alteryx Designer Cloud, you need to pay a separate platform fee. And also buy for 3 users, at least. Some reviewers in G2 feels it’s too pricey.
There’s a free trial for each edition. But there’s no mention of how long the trial will be.
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.