7 Best AWS Glue Alternatives for 2025

AWS Glue seemed like the perfect answer. Serverless ETL, automatic scaling, tight AWS integration—what could go wrong?

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As it turns out, everything went wrong.

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You're here because those "pay only for what you use" DPU charges have become budget-busters. Because that promised simplicity dissolved into Spark complexity the moment you needed custom transformations. When your data sources resided elsewhere, "AWS-native" transitioned from a feature to a constraint.

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The awakening experience varies among users. For some users, the bill is 300% higher than they expected. For others, it's realising they can't process real-time data without architectural gymnastics. For many, it's the dawning realisation that AWS Glue isn't solving their data problems—it's creating new ones.

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The good news? Smarter teams have already found the exits.

Why teams don't like AWS Glue

1. Pricing that becomes unpredictable

AWS Glue's pricing, which is based on Data Processing Units (DPUs), can escalate rapidly. At a rate of $0.44 per DPU-hour, with a minimum requirement of 2 DPUs per job, costs can accumulate quickly, particularly for data-intensive operations. One user pointed out that "AWS Glue is more costly compared to other tools like Airflow," especially when managing large data volumes or executing frequent job runs.

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The pay-per-use model sounds attractive until you realize how quickly those seconds add up. Teams report unexpected bills that can be 200-300% higher than anticipated, particularly when jobs run longer than expected or require more DPUs for performance.

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2. AWS ecosystem lock-in

As one user put it, "The crucial problem with AWS Glue is that it only works with AWS. It is not an agnostic tool like Pentaho." If your data sources live outside AWS or you're planning a multi-cloud strategy, AWS Glue becomes a barrier rather than a bridge.

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This limitation forces teams to either migrate everything to AWS or build complex workarounds, neither of which is ideal for modern data architectures.

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3. Steep learning curve and limited customization

AWS Glue requires expertise to customize services according to your requirements, "and it involves a huge amount of work as well," making it challenging for teams without profound Spark knowledge. The visual interface only goes so far before you need to dive into PySpark or Scala code.

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4. Real-time data processing limitations

AWS Glue "doesn't support incremental synchronization" from many data sources, making it difficult to see the real-time data for complex operations." This limitation can be a significant obstacle for businesses that require near real-time data processing.

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5. Limited connector ecosystem

While AWS Glue supports 80+ data sources, many are AWS-specific or require additional configuration. Teams using niche applications or specialized data sources often find themselves building custom connectors, adding complexity and maintenance overhead.

The real cost of staying put

Let's talk numbers. Teams report that AWS Glue can cost significantly more than alternatives when you factor in the learning curve, maintenance overhead, and unexpected billing spikes.

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A typical mid-sized company running daily ETL jobs might spend $2,000-5,000 monthly on AWS Glue, while equivalent functionality on modern alternatives costs $500-1,500. That's not just about the tool cost—it's about the hidden expenses of specialized training, longer development cycles, and vendor lock-in.

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Here are the AWS Glue alternatives that are worth your time.

7 Best AWS Glue Alternatives for 2025

1. 5X

5X is an all-in-one data automation platform that transforms how businesses approach data infrastructure. Unlike AWS Glue's Spark-centric approach, 5X provides a complete, AI-ready data platform designed for modern businesses that need speed without complexity. Founded by engineers who built data platforms at hypergrowth companies like WeWork and Uber, 5X delivers your first use case in 48 hours rather than months.

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Features:

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• 500+ pre-built connectors with custom connector development
• AI-ready data preparation and transformation capabilities
• End-to-end data platform including warehousing and BI integration
• Enterprise-grade security (SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA compliance)
• Real-time data processing with automated orchestration
• Built-in support for major cloud data warehouses (Snowflake, Redshift, BigQuery)
• Integrated BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, Looker, Sigma)
• Hands-on implementation and consulting services
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Pricing:

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• Free first use case: 48-hour implementation at no cost
• Business solutions: Custom pricing based on data volume and requirements
• Enterprise deployments: Tailored pricing for cloud deployment in your environment
• Consulting services: Implementation and ongoing support packages available
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Pros:

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• Complete end-to-end data platform eliminating vendor sprawl
• AI-ready architecture designed for modern use cases
• The hands-on implementation team acts as your data department.
• Fast time-to-value with 48-hour proof-of-concept delivery
• Enterprise-grade security and compliance built in
• Weekly feature releases and continuous platform improvements
• Flexible deployment options (your cloud environment)
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Cons:

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• Custom pricing may be expensive for smaller businesses.
• • The platform is relatively new, having been founded in 2021.
• Requires commitment to their full-stack approach vs. point solutions
• It may be overkill for simple ETL-only requirements
• Limited public pricing information requires sales engagement.
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Best for: Growing businesses with lean or no data teams, ready to build AI-powered applications on top of a unified data infrastructure.

2. Hevo Data

Hevo Data is a no-code data pipeline platform that eliminates the complexity of AWS Glue's Spark configurations. Designed for teams tired of wrestling with DPU calculations and technical complexities, Hevo offers transparent pricing and real-time data synchronization. The platform enables users to "set up pipelines without writing a single line of code" and get "analytics-ready data at your fingertips."
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Features:

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• 150+ pre-built connectors with automatic schema management
• No-code drag-and-drop interface with Python scripting support
• Real-time data pipelines with incremental data replication
• Advanced transformations with dbt integration
• SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance
• Automated error handling and data quality monitoring
• Built-in data transformation capabilities
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Pricing:

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• Free: Up to 1M events/month, limited connectors, up to 5 users
• Starter: Starting at $239/month for 5M events, all connectors, up to 10 users
• Professional: Starting at $679/month for 20M events, unlimited users
• Business Critical: Custom pricing for 100 M+ events
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Pros:

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• User-friendly drag-and-drop interface requiring no technical expertise
• Transparent and affordable pricing with no hidden fees
• 24/7 dedicated support with 6-hour SLA (12-hour for starter)
• Extensive documentation and a quick setup process
• Free historical load for new connectors
• Real-time data synchronization capabilities
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Cons:

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• No on-premise hosting options available
• Fewer connectors compared to AWS Glue, though custom connectors can be requested
• Limited advanced governance features
• Pricing based on events can become expensive for high-volume scenarios
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Best for: Teams that want powerful ETL without complexity, businesses seeking predictable costs, and organizations requiring real-time data processing without technical overhead.

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3. Airbyte: The open-source powerhouse

Airbyte didn't just enter the data integration space; it disrupted it.
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Starting as an open-source project in 2020, Airbyte has grown into a rapidly growing project with "15,000+ community members, 11,000+ GitHub stars, and 3,500+ daily active companies." Their recent Series B funding of $150 million has pushed their valuation above $1 billion.
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What makes Airbyte different from AWS Glue is its commitment to transparency and flexibility. Every connector, every feature, every line of code is open for inspection. No black boxes. No vendor lock-in. If you don't like how something works, you can change it.
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Key features:

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• 600+ connectors (open source) / 550+ connectors (cloud)
• Open-source with custom connector development through CDK
• Multiple deployment options (self-hosted, cloud, hybrid)
• Real-time streaming capabilities with sub-5-minute frequency
• AI-powered connector builders and transformation tools
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Pricing:

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• Open Source: Free forever (self-hosted)
• Cloud: Volume-based pricing starting at $2.50/credit (1M rows = 6 credits)
• Teams: Capacity-based pricing (new model, contact for pricing)
• Enterprise: Capacity-based pricing with custom features
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Pros:

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• Completely open-source with no vendor lock-in
• Largest connector library with active community contributions
• Highly customizable with full code access
• Cost-effective for small-scale implementations
• Strong developer community support
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Cons:

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• Steep learning curve requiring technical expertise
• Maintenance overhead in the self-hosted model
• Credit-based pricing can be unpredictable for the cloud version
• Limited enterprise-grade support in the free tier
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Best for: Technical teams comfortable with infrastructure management and custom development.

4. Matillion: The cloud transformation specialist

Matillion bet everything on the cloud when everyone else was still talking about on-premises solutions. That early vision paid off.
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Founded in 2011, Matillion built its platform specifically for cloud data warehouses like Snowflake, BigQuery, and Redshift. Unlike AWS Glue's Spark-based approach, they focus on doing cloud transformation exceptionally well through pushdown optimisation.
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Their secret weapon is leveraging your data warehouse's processing power. Instead of processing data on separate servers like AWS Glue does with DPUs, Matillion pushes transformations directly to your data warehouse, delivering faster performance and lower costs.
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Key features:

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• 110+ pre-built connectors with visual ETL/ELT builder
• Pushdown optimization leveraging cloud data warehouse processing power
• Native AI integrations with built-in copilot
• Advanced transformation capabilities with Python and SQL support
• Multi-cloud support (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
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Pricing:

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• Developer: Free tier with limited features
• Basic: $2.00/credit (500 monthly credits included)
• Advanced: $2.50/credit (750 monthly credits included)
• Enterprise: $2.70/credit (1000 monthly credits included)
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Note: Each credit provides 15 minutes of pipeline execution, meaning 1 task hour = 4 credits.
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Pros:

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• Intuitive visual designer for low-code pipelines
• Optimized for fast data loading and complex workflows
• Deep integration with major cloud data warehouses
• Built-in AI copilot for transformation assistance
• Strong performance with pushdown optimization
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Cons:

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• Credit-based pricing can become expensive at scale
• Advanced features require knowledge of SQL and Python
• Limited customization compared to open-source alternatives
• The annual price increases every November 1st
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Best for: Cloud-focused enterprises needing advanced transformation capabilities without AWS Glue's complexity.

5. Stitch: The budget-Friendly choice

Stitch knows exactly what it is: the affordable alternative for teams with straightforward needs.
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Originally built by Talend (now owned by Qlik), Stitch focuses on doing the basics well. No fancy Spark configurations. No complex DPU calculations. Just reliable data replication from point A to point B at a price that won't shock your CFO.
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Starting at $100/month, "Stitch is comparatively cheaper than AWS Glue, especially for smaller organizations." Their philosophy is simple: if you need advanced features, there are other tools for that. If you need reliable, affordable ETL for common data sources, Stitch has you covered.
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Key features:

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• 130+ data source connectors with Singer protocol integration
• Simple setup process with transparent pricing
• Automated data replication with incremental updates
• Integration with the Talend suite of tools
• Support for nested JSON transformations
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Pricing:

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• Standard: $100/month (5-30M monthly rows, 1 destination, 10 sources)
• Advanced: $1,250/month (100M rows, 3 destinations)
• Premium: $2,500/month (1B rows, 5 destinations)
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Pros:

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• Most affordable entry point among major competitors
• Simple interface with quick onboarding
• Reliable data syncs with minimal downtime
• Good for common data sources with straightforward needs
• 14-day free trial available
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Cons:

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• Poor customer support (email only for the standard plan)
• Limited connector library compared to competitors
• Singer connectors can break without warning
• Not optimized for high data volumes
• Limited advanced transformation capabilities
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Best for: Small to medium teams using mainstream data sources with basic ETL needs.

6. Portable: The long-tail specialist

Portable exists because AWS Glue doesn't. While major ETL platforms focus on Fortune 500 data sources, thousands of businesses rely on niche applications that the big players ignore.
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Portable has built their entire business model around "500+ long-tail connectors that other ETL solutions don't support" with "custom connector creation and support at no additional cost."
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This isn't marketing fluff. When a customer requests a new connector, Portable's team typically delivers it within days or even hours. Compare that to AWS Glue, where building custom connectors requires deep Spark knowledge and ongoing maintenance.
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Key features:

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• 250+ connectors focusing on long-tail applications
• Custom connector development and maintenance at no extra cost
• No-code/low-code interface for non-technical users
• Unlimited data sources, destinations, and volumes
• Hands-on customer support
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Pricing:

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• Manual: Free for unlimited data with manual sync
• Scheduled: $200/data flow with unlimited sources and volumes
• Custom: Tailored pricing for specific needs
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Pros:

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• Support for 250+ long-tail connectors that other companies don't provide
• Custom connectors built and maintained for free
• Transparent, simple pricing with unlimited data
• Quick connector development (days or hours)
• Excellent hands-on customer support
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Cons:

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• Largest enterprise sources are not supported (Salesforce, QuickBooks)
• Limited focus on databases as sources
• Not available internationally
• Smaller user community
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Best for: Companies needing niche data connectors that AWS Glue and major competitors don't support.

7. Integrate.io: The enterprise orchestrator

Integrate.io doesn't just move data; it orchestrates entire data ecosystems.
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Built for enterprises with complex data workflows, Integrate.io goes beyond simple ETL with "a powerful and flexible ETL platform that's cloud-native, user-friendly, and supports many data sources." Unlike AWS Glue's Spark-centric approach, they offer multiple processing engines optimized for different use cases.
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What impresses users most is Integrate.io's approach to customer success. They maintain high ratings for support, which is almost unheard of in enterprise software. Their team doesn't just answer questions; they become strategic partners in your data transformation journey.
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Key features:

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• 200+ built-in connectors with custom API capabilities
• Multiple processing engines (not just Spark)
• Advanced scheduling and conditional logic
• Reverse ETL and bidirectional sync capabilities
• Built-in data governance and lineage tracking
• 24/7 global support
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Pricing:

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• Starter: Contact for pricing
• Professional: Contact for pricing
• Enterprise: Custom pricing
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Pros:

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• Highly customized for complex data orchestration
• Excellent customer support with fast response times
• Advanced transformation and scheduling capabilities
• Strong data governance features
• Flexible deployment options
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Cons:

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• Pricing is not publicly available
• Requires initial setup time for complex workflows
• It may be overkill for simple ETL needs
• Higher learning curve than simpler alternatives
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Best for: Large organizations needing sophisticated data orchestration with enterprise-grade reliability.

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Making the switch: what to consider first

1. Your technical reality

Are you a team of data engineers who dream in Python and Spark? You might find Airbyte or open-source solutions appealing.
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Are you a business analyst who becomes agitated at the sight of DPU configurations? Hevo Data or Stitch will treat you better.
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2. Your budget

Budget-conscious startups should look at Hevo Data's free tier or Stitch first.
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Enterprise teams with complex needs might find Matillion or Integrate.io worth the investment.
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Most providers offer annual contract discounts of 10–20%, so factor that into your calculations.
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3. Your data sources

Please verify connector availability first. There's no point in switching to a platform that can't connect to your critical systems.
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For mainstream sources (Salesforce, Google Analytics, PostgreSQL), most alternatives work fine.
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For niche applications, Portable or Airbyte's custom development might be your only options.
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4. Your infrastructure preferences

Cloud-native teams will love Matillion's approach to integrating data warehouses.
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Multi-cloud organizations should avoid AWS Glue's ecosystem lock-in in favor of platform-agnostic solutions.
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On-premises requirements might push you toward open-source options like Airbyte.
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5. Your real-time needs

If you need real-time data processing, AWS Glue's limitations become apparent quickly. Look for alternatives with native streaming capabilities. a platform for its time. But its DPU-based pricing, AWS ecosystem lock-in, and Spark complexity have pushed many teams over the edge.
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Build your data infrastructure, not just ETL

AWS Glue built an impressive platform for its time. But its DPU-based pricing, AWS ecosystem lock-in, and Spark complexity have pushed many teams over the edge.
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The good news? Better alternatives exist for almost every use case.
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While the alternatives above solve specific integration challenges, many teams are moving beyond point solutions to full-stack data platforms like 5X.
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Rather than managing multiple vendors for ingestion, transformation, orchestration, and visualization, 5X provides an end-to-end solution that eliminates vendor sprawl and reduces total cost of ownership by up to 50%.
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Companies choose 5X because it delivers what AWS Glue promises—but without the pricing surprises or vendor lock-in. You get automated data ingestion from 500+ sources, built-in transformation capabilities, intelligent orchestration, and business intelligence—all in one platform.
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The key is matching the tool to your specific needs, not settling for what everyone else uses or what fits a single cloud provider's ecosystem.
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Your data pipeline should serve your business, not drain your budget or lock you into a single vendor. Choose accordingly.
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