To help drive business growth and make informed decisions, organizations often turn to data software systems to turn their datasets into actionable insights. However, with many data solution tools available in the enterprise software market, organizations can find it challenging to choose the best option to manage and transform their data into valuable insights. We will look at the solutions provided by Stitch and Fivetran ETL data software products to help you make a well-informed decision about the best options for your organizational data needs.
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What is Stitch?
Stitch is an ETL and data warehouse tool that can move and manage data from multiple sources. The product enables users to surface insights by controlling the data pipeline and loading user data into platforms for analysis.
What is Fivetran?
Fivetran is a cloud-native ETL data solution that maintains reliable data pipelines for its users. The system centralizes on-premises and cloud databases for advanced analytic capabilities.
Head-to-head comparison: Stitch vs. Fivetran
Data source extraction
The Stitch ETL tool enables users to access data from any data source. With Rest API, Stitch’s software can extract and process arbitrary data and send it into your data warehouse. It accepts JSON or Transit and returns JSON for all methods, using standard HTTP verbs and standard HTTP response codes for returning statuses. The system even upserts users’ data to avoid accidentally creating duplicates.
Stitch can run integrations within the infrastructure using the Singer open source standard framework to manage users’ data pipelines. Users can also build their own Singer integrations for data extraction. Stitch has an extensive and ever-growing network of implementation partners, and their community integrations include Autopilot, Braintree, Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Freshdesk. The software exclusively uses HTTPS for web-based data sources.
Fivetran is a cloud-native solution that centralizes users’ data through its fully-managed connectors. The software has over 150 connectors for data replication from its growing array of data sources. The platform keeps up with API changes and transforms and normalizes schemas from denormalized APIs for immediate data use. Additionally, the system can quickly access fresh data from new sources with its agile analytics.
Fivetran automatically applies data updates for columns, tables and rows. Examples of connectors for data destinations include Snowflake, Databricks, Amazon S3, Amazon Redshift, Azure and Google Cloud. Its integration options for data sources include Zoho CRM, Typeform, Oracle Peoplesoft, Oracle CX Sales, Instagram ads and Amazon Ads. Granular logs of each data sync are sent to users’ logging systems, and the tool incrementally updates all data sources rather than reloading data from APIs and databases.
Data pipeline orchestration and data transformation
Stitch has several data pipeline orchestration features to provide users visibility and control over their data flow. Users can schedule their data replication and granular extraction start times while using the detailed Extraction Logs and Loading Reports to monitor the process. They can track the recency and frequency of new records with Stitch’s smart cache that refreshes to add custom columns to data.
The API key management feature enables users to configure their Stitch accounts programmatically. Configurable post-load webhooks can be used to programmatically notify users when new data is available. Stitch notifications can also be integrated with external monitoring services.
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Fivetran’s software can be used to build automated data pipelines with standardized schemas and handle all pipeline maintenance and setup for the user. Being a cloud-native solution, users won’t need to route their data through on-premises systems to send it to a data warehouse. Their transformation features provide users with control and visibility of their data pipelines and include integrated scheduling, data lineage graphs, notifications and data movement tracking.
Fivetran’s low-code solution enables users to turn raw single or multi-source data into analytics-ready data sets, allowing them to gain insights in less time and model data immediately once it is loaded to the destination. Fivetran supports SQL-based transformations and UI scheduling for greater user accessibility and offers pre-built data models that allow users to address ad hoc questions and create reports quickly.
Automation and compliance features
The Stitch system can automatically detect, report and resolve errors that occur within the data pipeline. When an automatic resolution isn’t possible, it notifies users that their input is necessary. Their system also uses automation for security and compliance, with regular automated vulnerability scans and monitoring of the application, system and data access logs for anomalies as well as classification and encryption of user data and credentials. Users can manage their data within the centralized data infrastructure for data governance and compliance.
Auditing is simplified, as the system provides direct access to logs from data source integrations and notifies them of error information. Security is maintained as their application uses HSTS encrypted communication. Connection to data sources and destinations is secured with options like SSL/TLS, SSH tunneling and IP whitelisting. The system’s servers are hosted in Amazon Web Services, which provides assurances for their computing environments. Stitch operates within an Amazon Virtual Private Cloud with subnets segregated by security level and firewalls.
Fivetran iterates, battle-tests, monitors and maintains its data pipelines to ensure their health and proper functionality. The system automatically adjusts schema migrations to handle any source changes so that they won’t cause issues for the user. The Fivetran UI provides users with real-time feedback on the data sync process, informing them about updates and delays.
For troubleshooting, users can manage their connector and transformation alerts. The software’s enterprise security features include SOC 2 and GDPR compliance, data encryption in motion and at rest, data purging after every sync, continuous system testing, connector battle-testing and built-in infrastructure management.
Selecting the best data solution for your needs
For users who wish to replicate their data into multiple warehouses, Fivetran has this capability and may be a better option; however, Stitch may provide better integration options for your organization through its use of the Singer open-source framework. By considering the features and characteristics of your ideal data solution, you can compare products and identify the best ETL tool for you.