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Comparing Google Cloud Dataflow with Matillion and Weld

You’re comparing Google Cloud Dataflow vs Matillion vs Weld. Explore how they differ on connectors, pricing, and features. Ed Logo

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Weld vs Google Cloud Dataflow vs Matillion

WeldGoogle Cloud DataflowMatillion
Connectors200+30+110+
Price$99 / 5M Active RowsPer vCPU-second ($0.0106/vCPU-minute) + RAM and storage; streaming pipelines incur additional costs$2.00 per credit
Free tier
LocationEUGCP Global (multi-region)UK
Extract data (ETL)
Sync to HubSpot, Salesforce, Klaviyo, Excel (reverse ETL)
Transformations
AI Assistant
On-Premise
Orchestration
Lineage
Version control
Load to/from ExcelVia CSV in Cloud Storage
Load to/from Google Sheets
Two-Way Sync
dbt Core Integration
dbt Cloud Integration
OpenAPI / Developer API
G2 rating4.84.54.3

Overview

Google Cloud Dataflow in Short

Google Cloud Dataflow is a fully managed stream and batch processing service based on Apache Beam. It enables users to write ETL pipelines in Java or Python, which Dataflow executes on Google’s serverless infrastructure with autoscaling. It integrates natively with Pub/Sub, BigQuery, Cloud Storage, and other GCP services for end-to-end data processing.

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Pros

  • Unified batch + streaming model via Apache Beam SDK (Java/Python).

  • Serverless autoscaling with dynamic work rebalancing for cost and performance optimization.

  • First-class integration with GCP services: Pub/Sub, BigQuery I/O connectors, Cloud Storage, Spanner, etc.

  • Built-in exactly-once processing semantics and windowing capabilities for streaming ETL.

Cons

  • Steep learning curve if unfamiliar with Apache Beam’s abstractions (PCollections, DoFns, pipelines).

  • Monitoring and debugging streaming pipelines can be complex—metrics and logs often require cross-referencing.

  • Cost can rise quickly for large-scale streaming (billed per vCPU-second and memory). Efficient pipeline tuning is critical.

Reviews & Quotes

G2 Reviews:

What I like about Google Cloud Dataflow

Google cloud dataflow is automatically optimize and manages resources for you this platform supports multiple programming languages including Python, java and SQL and makes it easy for developers to focus on writing codes

What I dislike about Google Cloud Dataflow

It is costly as compared to other solutions

Overview

Matillion in Short

Matillion is a cloud-native data integration platform that enables enterprises to build and manage ETL/ELT pipelines using a low-code, visual interface. Designed for cloud data warehouses like Snowflake, Redshift, and BigQuery, it allows users to extract, transform, and load data from various sources efficiently. With strong scheduling, orchestration, and monitoring features, Matillion is well-suited for handling complex workflows and large-scale data transformation needs.

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Pros

  • Large number of connectors

  • Robust feature set

  • Lots of advanced features for larger enterprises and data teams

  • Has both ELT and ETL capabilities

  • On premise options

Cons

  • Expensive for small businesses

  • Steep learning curve for non-technical users

  • Requires a large upfront investment and implementation

Reviews & Quotes

A reviewer on G2 said::

What I like about Matillion

Built-in connectors to heaps of systems; ability to create custom connectors; active community and quick responses to forum questions

What I dislike about Matillion

Some components are a bit clunky; cloud version is not mature and lacks some features from the server-based version

Overview

Weld in Short

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.

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Pros

  • Lineage, orchestration, and workflow features

  • Ability to handle large datasets and near real-time data sync

  • ETL + reverse ETL in one

  • User-friendly and easy to set up

  • Flat monthly pricing model

  • 200+ connectors (Shopify, HubSpot, etc.)

  • AI assistant

Cons

  • Requires some technical knowledge around data warehousing and SQL

  • Limited features for advanced data teams

  • Focused on cloud data warehouses

Reviews & Quotes

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.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature
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Google Cloud Dataflow

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Matillion

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Weld

Ease of Use & Interface

Side-by-side

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Google Cloud Dataflow

Dataflow pipelines are defined programmatically in Java or Python (Apache Beam). There is no drag-and-drop UI; developers use the Cloud Console or CLI to monitor, but pipeline creation and debugging happen in code and SDKs.

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Matillion

Matillion has a steep learning curve, especially for non-technical users, due to its robust feature set and advanced capabilities designed for larger enterprises.

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Weld

Weld is highly praised for its user-friendly interface and intuitive design, which allows even users with minimal SQL experience to manage data workflows efficiently. This makes it an excellent choice for smaller data teams or businesses without extensive technical resources.

Pricing & Affordability

Side-by-side

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Google Cloud Dataflow

Charges for each pipeline based on vCPU-second, memory, and persistent disk usage. Streaming jobs are billed continuously. Without careful optimization (autoscaling, batching), costs can escalate. However, for high-throughput workloads, serverless autoscaling can be cost-effective versus self-managed clusters.

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Matillion

Matillion's pricing can be expensive, particularly for small businesses, as it is based on credits and requires a significant upfront investment.

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Weld

Weld offers a straightforward and competitive pricing model, starting at $79 for 5 million active rows, making it more affordable and predictable, especially for small to medium-sized enterprises.

Feature Set

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Google Cloud Dataflow

Features include: Batch & streaming unified model, windowing & triggers, exactly-once semantics, dynamic work rebalancing, and data-driven autoscaling. Supports FlexRS (spot pricing for batch) and integration with Dataflow SQL for SQL-based pipelines.

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Matillion

Matillion offers a robust set of features with support for both ETL and ELT, along with numerous connectors and on-premise options, making it ideal for large enterprises with complex data needs.

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Weld

Weld 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.

Flexibility & Customization

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Google Cloud Dataflow

Users write custom transforms (ParDo, Map, GroupBy), can integrate UDFs, and use side inputs. Complex workloads requiring custom logic (stateful processing, custom connectors) are fully supported via Beam SDK. Cloud features like VPC, IAM, and KMS integrate security.

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Matillion

Matillion provides extensive customization and flexibility options, particularly for large enterprises, but may be overkill for smaller teams or simpler use cases.

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Weld

Weld offers advanced SQL modeling and transformations directly within its platform with the help of AI, providing users with unparalleled control and flexibility over their data. Leveraging its powerful AI capabilities, Weld automates repetitive tasks and optimizes data workflows, allowing teams to focus on getting value and insights. Additionally, Weld's custom connector framework enables users to build connectors to any API, making it easy to integrate new data sources and tailor data pipelines to meet specific business needs. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for teams looking to customize their data integration processes extensively and maximize the utility of their data without needing external tools.

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