Etlworks vs. Azure Data Factory

Modern Data Integration — Without Azure-Only Limits

Side-by-side comparison

Optimized for Azure, or Optimized for Everything?

Both Etlworks and Azure Data Factory offer strong capabilities for moving and transforming data. ADF is a great choice for organizations deeply embedded in the Azure ecosystem, offering seamless integrations with services like Azure Purview and Fabric. Etlworks, however, is a complete, cloud-agnostic integration platform — delivering broader functionality, hybrid deployments, and predictable pricing without cloud lock-in.

Feature Etlworks Azure Data Factory
Focus ETL, ELT, CDC, data sync, data prep, API integration and management, workflow automation, B2B/EDI integration Data sync, workflow automation
Price (Monthly) $300–$4500+ $500–$8000+
Pricing Model Fixed per tier Consumption-based
Cost Transparency High Moderate
Sources 260+ 100+
Destinations Data warehouses, databases, SaaS apps, big data and NoSQL platforms, file storage systems, APIs, message brokers, IoT brokers, email systems Data warehouses, databases, SaaS apps
ETL capabilities ETL, ELT, Reverse ETL, processing by wildcard ETL, ELT, Reverse ETL
Data Replication Log-based CDC, Full, Incremental Log-based CDC, Full, Incremental
Data Streaming (queues) Kafka, Events Hub, Kinesis, SQS, PubSub, ActiveMQ, RabbitMQ Kafka, EventHubs, ServiceBus
Data Streaming (IoT brokers) MQTT brokers X
Transformations Drag-and-drop transformations, cleaning, normalization, restructuring, SQL/JavaScript/Python/XLS/Shell scripting, metadata-driven interactive mapping, lookups, enrichment, soft deletes Cleansing, normalization, enrichment, code-free transformations, code-based transformations, interactive mapping
Advanced UI capabilities Grid-based pipeline designer, drag and drop mapping, Explorer for visualizing and querying data Canvas-based drag-and-drop pipeline designer, drag and drop mapping, drag and drop transformations, formula builder
API Management Check X
API Integration Check Check
EDI Processing Read and write X12, EDIFACT, HL7, FHIR, NCPD and VDA messages X
Nested Document Processing Read, write, normalize and flatten: JSON, XML, Avro, Parquet Read, write and flatten: JSON, XML, Avro, Parquet
SaaS/PaaS Check Check
On-premise Deployment Check X
On-premise Data Access Check Check
Scalability and Performance Horizontal scaling and vertical scaling, Supports High Availability (HA), Handles Large Datasets Automatic scaling with cloud infrastructure, Supports High Availability (HA), Handles Large Datasets
Embeddable Check X
Data Governance Automated schema management, access control and encryption, metadata management and data lineage not supported Metadata management and data lineage through integration with Azure Purview
Data Quality Management Data validation, data cleansing, filtering, deduplication, normalization, and enrichment, automatic schema evolution Supports data quality through integration with Azure Purview for profiling, validation, and cleansing
Compliance HIPAA, GDPR, DPA, SOC 2 Type II GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2 compliant; leverages Azure compliance framework
Collaboration and Dev tools RBAC, Multi-Tenancy, Version Control, Export and Import, Artifact Patching, Open API, AI Assistant RBAC via Azure IAM, Multi-Tenancy, Integration with Azure DevOps, Open API, Export and Import, AI Assistant
Skill level Low to Intermediate Low to Intermediate
Purchase Process Self-Service (free trial converts to paid self-service), Conversations with Sales is optional Self-Service (with free trial via $200 credit for 30 days, converts to paid self-service)
Vendor lock-in Monthly and Annual billing, no formal contract required Monthly billing, no formal contract required
Difference

Why Etlworks Stands Out

True Platform Independence

Azure Data Factory is tightly coupled with Azure services, making it a natural fit for organizations fully invested in the Azure ecosystem. Etlworks works across clouds, on-premises, and hybrid environments — giving you the freedom to integrate and orchestrate data wherever it lives, without vendor lock-in.

Broader Integration Capabilities

While ADF focuses primarily on data movement and orchestration, Etlworks offers a complete integration platform — including ETL, ELT, reverse ETL, CDC, real-time streaming, API management, B2B/EDI processing, and complex multi-source transformations.

Predictable Pricing and Lower Barrier to Entry

Azure Data Factory’s consumption-based pricing can vary widely depending on usage patterns, leading to unpredictable costs over time. Etlworks offers fixed, transparent pricing starting at $300 per month — making it easier to budget and scale without surprise charges.

Deployment Flexibility and Broader Connector Support

Etlworks supports over 260 connectors — including databases, SaaS apps, message brokers, and IoT platforms — and can operate across cloud and on-premise environments. ADF primarily supports Azure-connected systems and cloud deployments, limiting flexibility for hybrid or multi-cloud strategies.

Full-Scale Data Integration, Without Cloud Lock-In

Azure Data Factory excels for Azure-native projects, but Etlworks provides the flexibility, breadth, and cost transparency needed for today’s hybrid, multi-cloud, and on-premise environments. If you’re looking for more than just data movement — and want true integration, flexibility, and control — Etlworks is the smart choice.

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