You’re comparing Weld vs Hightouch vs StreamSets Data Collector. Explore how they differ on connectors, pricing, and features. 
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| Feature | Weld | Hightouch | StreamSets Data Collector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Platform | |||
| Price | $79 / 5M Active Rows | Free tier; Growth plans start around $800+/month | Free OSS Data Collector; enterprise DataOps Platform is custom-priced |
| Free tier | No | Yes | Yes |
| Location | DK, (EU) | US | San Francisco, CA, USA |
| Connectors & Sync | |||
| Connectors | 200+ | 70+ | 200+ |
| Extract data (ETL) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Sync to HubSpot, Salesforce, Klaviyo, Excel (reverse ETL) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Two-Way Sync | Yes | No | No |
| Transformations & AI | |||
| Transformations | Yes | No | Yes |
| AI Assistant | Yes | No | No |
| dbt Core Integration | Yes | Yes | No |
| dbt Cloud Integration | Yes | No | No |
| Governance & DevOps | |||
| Orchestration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lineage | Yes | No | Yes |
| Version control | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-Premise | No | No | Yes |
| OpenAPI / Developer API | Yes | Yes | No |
| Integrations | |||
| Load to/from Excel | Yes | No | Yes (via file connectors) |
| Load to/from Google Sheets | Yes | No | No |
| Ratings | |||
| G2 rating | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.5 |
Overview
Weld is a unified ELT and data activation platform that combines ingestion, modeling, transformations, orchestration, lineage, and reverse ETL in a single SaaS interface. With premium in-house–built connectors, an intuitive UI, and near real-time syncs, Weld enables both technical and non-technical users to create and manage data workflows efficiently. Weld also includes an AI assistant to support SQL modeling, generate transformations, and streamline repetitive tasks. Teams can ingest data from a wide range of sources—including marketing platforms, CRMs, databases, Google Sheets, Excel, and APIs—into their cloud data warehouse and activate it back into business tools.
Lineage, orchestration, and workflow features included by default
Handles large datasets and near real-time data sync
ELT and reverse ETL in one platform
User-friendly interface with minimal setup required
Flat, predictable monthly pricing model
200+ in-house–built, high-quality connectors
AI assistant for modeling and transformations
Some SQL knowledge is useful for advanced modeling
Optimized for cloud-warehouse workflows (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, etc.)
Feature set is streamlined for modern ELT/activation use cases
A reviewer on G2 said:
Overview
Hightouch is a reverse ETL platform and composable CDP designed to sync data from cloud data warehouses into operational tools such as CRMs, ad platforms, and email providers. It supports SQL-based and no-code audience creation, enabling teams to operationalize warehouse data for sales, marketing, and customer success use cases.
Audience builder allows non-technical users to create and segment audiences visually
Supports 70+ operational destinations across CRM, ads, email, and support
Does not store data; reads directly from the warehouse for security
Supports near real-time and frequent syncs depending on destination capabilities
SQL queries and expressions allow granular control for technical users
Strong product documentation, community content, and support resources
Reverse ETL only—requires separate tooling for ingestion or warehouse modeling
Usage-based pricing (rows/fields) can increase for high-volume workloads
Destination API limits can affect sync frequency and throughput
Custom connectors depend on vendor prioritization
Complex audience or identity resolution still requires upstream modeling
Hightouch Product Description:
“Hightouch is the easiest way to sync customer data into tools like CRMs, email platforms, and ad networks, using either SQL or a point-and-click UI without requiring engineering involvement.”
Overview
StreamSets Data Collector is an open-source data integration engine designed for continuous ingestion, transformation, and delivery. It supports both streaming systems such as Kafka and Kinesis, and batch sources including JDBC and file systems. Pipelines are built using a drag-and-drop canvas, and a key differentiator is Schema Drift Detection, which helps pipelines adapt automatically as input schemas evolve. Commercial editions extend the platform with enterprise monitoring, governance, metadata, and lineage features.
Schema Drift Detection adjusts dynamically to changes in incoming data schemas.
Supports streaming and batch ingestion within the same pipeline.
Visual pipeline builder with 200+ processors and connectors.
Open-source core available; enterprise offering adds monitoring, lineage, and governance.
Open-source version lacks enterprise monitoring, lineage, and governance.
UI performance can degrade with very large or complex pipelines.
Advanced pipeline logic often requires Groovy or Java scripting.
StreamSets Data Operations Platform:
“StreamSets’ ability to automatically detect and adapt to schema changes (drift) in streaming sources greatly reduces pipeline failures.”
“The open-source feature set is limited—monitoring, lineage, and enterprise support require the paid DataOps Platform. Debugging complex pipelines can be tricky if not familiar with the UI.”
Side-by-side
Weld’s interface is built for clarity and speed, enabling users with varying levels of technical experience to manage data pipelines and models efficiently. Its built-in lineage and orchestration tools provide transparency across workflows.
Hightouch provides a modern interface with visual audience building for non-technical teams and SQL-based configuration for advanced users. Mapping and validation workflows are straightforward and approachable.
StreamSets Data Collector provides a drag-and-drop canvas for assembling origin, processor, and destination stages. Schema drift is surfaced automatically. Simple pipelines are approachable, while advanced transformations may require scripting knowledge.
Side-by-side
Weld’s interface is built for clarity and speed, enabling users with varying levels of technical experience to manage data pipelines and models efficiently. Its built-in lineage and orchestration tools provide transparency across workflows.
Hightouch provides a modern interface with visual audience building for non-technical teams and SQL-based configuration for advanced users. Mapping and validation workflows are straightforward and approachable.
StreamSets Data Collector provides a drag-and-drop canvas for assembling origin, processor, and destination stages. Schema drift is surfaced automatically. Simple pipelines are approachable, while advanced transformations may require scripting knowledge.
Side-by-side
Weld offers a simple and predictable pricing model starting at $79 for 5 million active rows. This flat, usage-transparent structure makes budgeting straightforward for small and medium-sized teams.
Hightouch offers a free tier for small workloads. Paid plans scale based on usage, which can be cost-effective for targeted operational syncs but may increase for high-volume enterprise use cases.
The open-source Data Collector is free. Enterprise capabilities such as monitoring dashboards, lineage, and governance require licensing the DataOps Platform. Pricing varies based on deployments and enterprise features.
Side-by-side
Weld offers a simple and predictable pricing model starting at $79 for 5 million active rows. This flat, usage-transparent structure makes budgeting straightforward for small and medium-sized teams.
Hightouch offers a free tier for small workloads. Paid plans scale based on usage, which can be cost-effective for targeted operational syncs but may increase for high-volume enterprise use cases.
The open-source Data Collector is free. Enterprise capabilities such as monitoring dashboards, lineage, and governance require licensing the DataOps Platform. Pricing varies based on deployments and enterprise features.
Side-by-side
Weld provides ELT ingestion, SQL-based transformations, reverse ETL activation, data lineage, orchestration, and workflow management in a single platform. Its AI assistant accelerates modeling and transformation tasks.
Hightouch includes reverse ETL features such as SQL-based syncs, audience building, incremental updates, scheduling, monitoring, alerting, and support for real-time triggers depending on destination APIs. It integrates with dbt and offers API/CLI tools for GitOps workflows.
Key features include schema drift detection, streaming and batch support, transformation processors, JDBC/Kafka/S3/HDFS connectors, enterprise monitoring and lineage (in paid edition), and containerized deployment.
Side-by-side
Weld provides ELT ingestion, SQL-based transformations, reverse ETL activation, data lineage, orchestration, and workflow management in a single platform. Its AI assistant accelerates modeling and transformation tasks.
Hightouch includes reverse ETL features such as SQL-based syncs, audience building, incremental updates, scheduling, monitoring, alerting, and support for real-time triggers depending on destination APIs. It integrates with dbt and offers API/CLI tools for GitOps workflows.
Key features include schema drift detection, streaming and batch support, transformation processors, JDBC/Kafka/S3/HDFS connectors, enterprise monitoring and lineage (in paid edition), and containerized deployment.
Side-by-side
Users can model data using SQL enhanced by Weld’s AI assistant, automate workflows, and build custom connectors to any API. This provides strong flexibility for teams that want to tailor integrations and transformations within one platform.
Users can define sync logic via SQL, configure mapping rules, and trigger syncs via API. Hightouch supports webhook destinations and generic connectors, offering additional flexibility while relying on the warehouse for complex transformations.
Custom processors can be written in Java or Groovy, and pipelines can be parameterized. StreamSets integrates with external orchestrators such as Airflow and monitoring tools like Prometheus or Grafana.
Side-by-side
Users can model data using SQL enhanced by Weld’s AI assistant, automate workflows, and build custom connectors to any API. This provides strong flexibility for teams that want to tailor integrations and transformations within one platform.
Users can define sync logic via SQL, configure mapping rules, and trigger syncs via API. Hightouch supports webhook destinations and generic connectors, offering additional flexibility while relying on the warehouse for complex transformations.
Custom processors can be written in Java or Groovy, and pipelines can be parameterized. StreamSets integrates with external orchestrators such as Airflow and monitoring tools like Prometheus or Grafana.
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CUSTOMER STORIES
“One of the biggest impacts has been unlocking new ways to buy media. Before, we didn’t have the data to back up strategic decisions – now we do.”
“Before Weld, we had to rely on custom Python scripts and manual processes that were time-consuming and error-prone.”
“We’re still a team of three, but we’re often doing far more than the equivalent of three full-time employees. That’s down to how we're able to leverage systems, data, and processes.”
“We’ve always been a KPI-driven company. But we wanted to scale that mindset across every team member, every team, every decision.”
“Before Weld, our data infrastructure was limited and we relied heavily on Excel files and custom Python scripts.”
“Weld has saved us a ton of time, from not having data ready to having a fully functional data warehouse and connectors.”
“By integrating Weld, Amazon S3, and Databricks, Soundboks built a modern data pipeline that automates data ingestion, improves reporting, and provides up-to-date visibility into sales performance”
“We didn’t have a good data setup, so we lacked the business insights we needed. Weld has allowed us to set up a structured data infrastructure and access insights quickly.”
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