🚀 New: Free Fivetran migration!

Learn more
Weld logo

Comparing Etlworks Integrator with FME and Weld

Carolina Russ
Carolina Russ6 min read
weld logo
VS
fme logo
VS
etlworks logo

What is Etlworks Integrator

Etlworks Integrator is a cloud-based ETL platform that provides over 300 connectors (databases, SaaS, files, big data) and a visual interface to build complex data flows. It can run both batch and streaming pipelines, support transformations via SQL or JavaScript, and integrate with Kafka, Snowflake, Redshift, Google BigQuery, and more. It also offers features for data replication, CDC, and workflow orchestration.

Pros

  • 300+ connectors for databases, cloud storage, SaaS apps, and streaming platforms.
  • Supports both batch and streaming (CDC) with configurable schedules and triggers.
  • Transformations via SQL, JavaScript, or built-in functions; data validation and error-handling features.
  • Cloud-based with on-prem runtime options for connecting to internal resources securely.

Cons

  • UI complexity: designing flows with many steps can be difficult to navigate.
  • Subscription is credit-based (e.g., $0.10/credit), making cost estimation tricky for variable workloads.
  • Less brand recognition and community support compared to leading ETL tools.

Etlworks Integrator Features:

What I like about Etlworks Integrator

Etlworks Integrator’s breadth of connectors and flexible transformation engine (SQL/JavaScript) let us integrate data from dozens of sources quickly.

What I dislike about Etlworks Integrator

The UI can be overwhelming for beginners, and pricing (credit-based) can be hard to predict for varying workloads.
Read full review

What is FME

FME (by Safe Software) is a data integration and transformation platform primarily focused on spatial and GIS data, but it also supports a wide range of non-spatial ETL. It provides a graphical workspace where users can build data pipelines, handling over 450 formats and applications, with strong data quality and validation capabilities.

Pros

  • Supports 450+ data formats, making it ideal for GIS and non-GIS integration.
  • Graphical Workspaces with extensive transformer library for spatial (coordinate reprojection, topology) and non-spatial transformations (joins, data cleansing).
  • FME Server enables automated scheduling, breakout clustered processing, and REST API for triggering workflows.
  • Strong data validation and quality features—users can apply conditional checks and notifications when data doesn’t meet criteria.

Cons

  • High licensing costs for desktop (FME Desktop) and server components; often priced per core for server deployments.
  • Primarily geared toward GIS/spatial use cases; non-spatial ETL use is possible but the interface and transformers are optimized for spatial workflows.
  • Large learning curve for complex workspaces—dragging many transformers can become unwieldy visually.

FME Product Overview:

What I like about FME

FME’s ability to handle complex spatial transformations and 450+ formats is unmatched. The drag-and-drop workspace builder drastically speeds up geospatial ETL.

What I dislike about FME

Licensing can be expensive for smaller organizations. Focus on spatial means some general ETL features are less polished than GIS-specific functions.
Read full review

What is Weld

Weld is a powerful ETL platform that seamlessly integrates ELT, data transformations, reverse ETL, and AI-assisted features into one user-friendly solution. With its intuitive interface, Weld makes it easy for anyone, regardless of technical expertise, to build and manage data workflows. Known for its premium quality connectors, all built in-house, Weld ensures the highest quality and reliability for its users. It is designed to handle large datasets with near real-time data synchronization, making it ideal for modern data teams that require robust and efficient data integration solutions. Weld also leverages AI to automate repetitive tasks, optimize workflows, and enhance data transformation capabilities, ensuring maximum efficiency and productivity. Users can combine data from a wide variety of sources, including marketing platforms, CRMs, e-commerce platforms like Shopify, APIs, databases, Excel, Google Sheets, and more, providing a single source of truth for all their data.

Pros

  • Premium quality connectors and reliability
  • User-friendly and easy to set up
  • AI assistant
  • Very competitive and easy-to-understand pricing model
  • Reverse ETL option
  • Lineage, orchestration, and workflow features
  • Advanced transformation and SQL modeling capabilities
  • Ability to handle large datasets and near real-time data sync
  • Combines data from a wide range of sources for a single source of truth

Cons

  • Requires some technical knowledge around data warehousing and SQL
  • Limited features for advanced data teams

A reviewer on G2 said:

What I like about Weld

First and foremost, Weld is incredibly user-friendly. The graphical interface is intuitive, which makes it easy to build data workflows quickly and efficiently. Even with little experience in SQL and pipeline management, we found that Weld was straightforward and easy to use. What really impressed me, however, was Weld's flexibility. It was able to handle data from a wide variety of sources, including SQL databases, Google Sheets, and even APIs. The solution also allowed us to customize my data transformations in a way that best suited my needs. Whether I needed to clean data, join tables, or aggregate data, Weld had the necessary tools to accomplish the task. Weld's performance was also exceptional. I was able to run large-scale ETL jobs quickly and efficiently, with minimal downtime via a Snowflake instance and visualization via own-hosted Metabase. The solution's scalability meant that I could process more data without any issues. Another standout feature of Weld was its support. I never felt lost or unsure about how to use a particular feature, as the support team was always quick to respond to any questions or concerns that I had. Overall, I highly recommend Weld as an ETL solution. Its user-friendliness, flexibility, performance, and support make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to streamline their data integration processes. I will definitely be using Weld for all my ETL needs going forward.

What I dislike about Weld

Weld is still limited to a certain number of integrations - although the team is super interested to hear if you need custom integrations.
Read full review

Etlworks Integrator vs FME: Ease of Use and User Interface

Etlworks Integrator

Etlworks Integrator’s Flow Designer uses a canvas with source, transformation, and destination steps. While powerful and flexible, the interface has a steep learning curve; nested steps and branching can become difficult to visualize.

FME

FME’s Workbench is a desktop application where users connect Reader and Writer transformers to map and transform data. While powerful for spatial, the GUI can feel cluttered for workflows with hundreds of transformers.

Etlworks Integrator vs FME: Pricing Transparency and Affordability

Etlworks Integrator

Charges are based on credits consumed by data volume and transformations. Free trial provides limited credits. For predictable workloads, budget forecasting requires careful usage analysis.

FME

FME Desktop licenses start around $2,000/year. FME Server pricing is per-core (often $20k+/core for an annual license). Expensive for small teams, but justified where spatial data integration is critical.

Etlworks Integrator vs FME: Comprehensive Feature Set

Etlworks Integrator

Features include: 300+ connectors, CDC replication, batch/streaming pipelines, SQL/JavaScript transformations, error handling, scheduling, and secure on-prem gateways. Also supports webhooks and REST API triggers.

FME

Supports reading/writing 450+ formats (GIS, CAD, JSON, XML, databases), transformer library (spatial & non-spatial), workflow orchestration via FME Server, automation (event-based, scheduled), and REST API endpoints for triggering.

Etlworks Integrator vs FME: Flexibility and Customization

Etlworks Integrator

Supports embedding custom JavaScript or calling external services within pipelines. Can deploy integration nodes on-premise to access internal networks. Pipelines can be exported/imported for version control.

FME

Users can embed Python, R, or Shell scripts within transformers for custom logic. FME Server can be deployed in any environment (on-prem, AWS, Azure) and scaled horizontally. However, no built-in data catalog or lineage; separate tools needed.

Summary of Etlworks Integrator vs FME vs Weld

WeldEtlworks IntegratorFME
Connectors200++300+450+
Price€99 / Unlimited usageCredit-based (e.g., $0.10/credit; volume discounts available)Per-seat for FME Desktop ($2,000+/year) and per-core for FME Server (custom)
Free tierNoYesNo
LocationEUPittsburgh, PA, USASurrey, BC, Canada (Safe Software HQ)
Extract data (ETL)YesYesYes
Sync data to HubSpot, Salesforce, Klaviyo, Excel etc. (reverse ETL)YesNoNo
TransformationsYesYesYes
AI AssistantYesNoNo
On-PremiseNoYesYes
OrchestrationYesYesYes
LineageYesNoNo
Version controlYesNoNo
Load data to and from ExcelYesYesYes
Load data to and from Google SheetsYesYesNo
Two-Way SyncYesNoNo
dbt Core IntegrationYesNoNo
dbt Cloud IntegrationYesNoNo
OpenAPI / Developer APIYesYesYes
G2 Rating4.84.54.7

Conclusion

You’re comparing Etlworks Integrator, FME, Weld. Each of these tools has its own strengths:

  • Etlworks Integratorfeatures include: 300+ connectors, cdc replication, batch/streaming pipelines, sql/javascript transformations, error handling, scheduling, and secure on-prem gateways. also supports webhooks and rest api triggers. charges are based on credits consumed by data volume and transformations. free trial provides limited credits. for predictable workloads, budget forecasting requires careful usage analysis. .
  • FMEsupports reading/writing 450+ formats (gis, cad, json, xml, databases), transformer library (spatial & non-spatial), workflow orchestration via fme server, automation (event-based, scheduled), and rest api endpoints for triggering. fme desktop licenses start around $2,000/year. fme server pricing is per-core (often $20k+/core for an annual license). expensive for small teams, but justified where spatial data integration is critical. .
  • Weldweld integrates elt, data transformations, and reverse etl all within one platform. it also provides advanced features such as data lineage, orchestration, workflow management, and an ai assistant, which helps in automating repetitive tasks and optimizing workflows.weld offers a straightforward and competitive pricing model, starting at €99 for 2 million active rows, making it more affordable and predictable, especially for small to medium-sized enterprises..
Review the detailed sections above—connectors, pricing, feature set, and integrations—and choose the one that best matches your technical expertise, budget, and use cases.

Want to try a better alternative? Try Weld for free today.