Panoply is known for making analytics easy. With its bundled warehouse, prebuilt connectors, and SQL workbench, it gives analysts and business users a fast way to centralize data without heavy engineering resources. Reviewers on G2 praise its ease of use, automation capabilities, and customer support.
But as data requirements grow, many teams start to feel the limits. Panoply’s connector coverage is narrower than competitors, BigQuery and Google Sheets workflows can be clunky, and everything runs on batch jobs. Costs also rise quickly when data volumes increase since storage and compute are tied together.
If you’ve hit those roadblocks, you’re not alone. In 2025, more companies are evaluating Panoply alternatives that provide broader integrations, real-time pipelines, and predictable pricing.
In this guide, we’ll break down the 5 best Panoply alternatives worth considering this year.
What is Panoply?
Panoply is a cloud-based platform that combines ELT capabilities with a managed data warehouse. It is designed to simplify analytics by letting teams collect, store, and query data without managing infrastructure. Users can connect SaaS apps, databases, and files, then run queries directly in Panoply’s BigQuery-powered environment or export results to BI tools.
The platform is often praised for its ease of use, quick setup, and strong customer support. Business analysts and small teams can get dashboards running without relying heavily on engineering. Panoply also automates data ingestion and offers a SQL workbench for transformations.
However, many reviewers highlight its limitations at scale. Connector coverage is smaller than other leading integration tools, and pipelines operate on scheduled batches rather than real time. Integrations with Google Sheets and BigQuery are reported as clunky, and creating more advanced transformations requires SQL expertise. Because Panoply bundles storage and compute with its ELT service, costs can rise sharply as data volumes grow.
Top Reasons Users Are Switching from Panoply
While Panoply works well as an all-in-one entry point for analytics, many growing teams find themselves looking for alternatives as their data needs mature. Based on G2 reviews, user feedback, and hands-on evaluations, here are the key reasons why users are switching in 2025:
1. Limited Connector Coverage
Panoply supports popular SaaS apps and databases but falls short compared to platforms like Estuary or Fivetran. Users frequently cite frustration with limited connectors when they need to integrate niche or less common tools.
2. BigQuery and Google Sheets Friction
Multiple reviewers report issues when moving data between Panoply’s BigQuery backend and Google Sheets. What should be a simple workflow often turns into a manual or error-prone process, which can be a blocker for teams that rely on Sheets for reporting.
3. Batch-Only Pipelines
All pipelines in Panoply run on scheduled intervals. For teams that need real-time dashboards, operational reporting, or low-latency analytics, this model quickly becomes restrictive.
4. Basic Transformation Capabilities
Panoply offers a SQL workbench, but advanced joins, nested logic, and custom dashboards require significant SQL expertise. Non-technical users often struggle to push beyond basic transformations, especially compared to modern tools that integrate tightly with dbt or support streaming transformations.
5. Rising Costs with Scale
Because Panoply bundles ELT with its managed BigQuery warehouse, costs scale alongside data volume, storage, and query demand. Teams often discover that what started as an affordable solution becomes expensive as they add more sources or grow their datasets.
Top 5 Panoply Alternatives in 2025
If Panoply is no longer meeting your needs, whether due to connector gaps, batch only pipelines, or rising costs, here are 5 of the best ELT and ETL tools to consider:
This guide reviews five modern and scalable alternatives to Panoply:
- Estuary
- Fivetran
- Airbyte
- Stitch Data
- Matillion
1. Estuary
Estuary Flow is a real time data movement platform designed for modern teams that need continuous sync from databases and SaaS apps into warehouses, lakes, and streaming systems. Unlike Panoply’s batch ELT model, Estuary uses change data capture (CDC) to deliver data in seconds with exactly once guarantees.
Key Features
- Real time CDC pipelines with sub-5 second latency in production
- 200+ production-grade connectors for databases, SaaS apps, files, and streams
- Multi-destination fan out (for example, sync to BigQuery, S3, and Elasticsearch at the same time)
- Built-in transformations with SQL or TypeScript plus dbt Cloud integration
- Schema versioning, validation, and safe evolution
- Flexible deployments: fully managed SaaS, private cloud, or bring your own cloud
- Transparent usage-based pricing without MAR. You only pay for data moved and connector usage
Why Choose Estuary Over Panoply?
- Real time pipelines instead of scheduled batch jobs
- Broader connector library with enterprise-grade coverage
- Flexible deployments for compliance-heavy teams
- Stronger governance with schema enforcement and versioning
- Predictable pricing tied to actual usage, not bundled warehouse costs
Estuary is built for real time, developer-friendly pipelines. If you are facing connector gaps, batch latency, or rising costs with Panoply, Estuary is the best next step.
2. Fivetran
Fivetran is one of the most widely adopted ELT platforms, trusted by enterprise data teams for its stability and large connector library. It focuses on moving data from SaaS apps, databases, and files into warehouses like Snowflake, BigQuery, and Redshift with minimal setup.
Key Features
- 600+ prebuilt connectors for databases, SaaS tools, and BI platforms
- Automated schema drift handling
- Native dbt integration for downstream transformations
- Enterprise certifications including SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR
- Role based access controls for governance
Fivetran is a strong option for teams that need maximum connector breadth and compliance. However, organizations looking for streaming speed, lower costs at scale, or deployment flexibility often consider Estuary as a modern alternative.
3. Airbyte
Airbyte is an open source data integration platform that gives engineering teams full control over how pipelines are built and deployed. It has grown quickly thanks to its flexibility, large community, and support for both self hosted and managed cloud options.
Key Features
- 500+ connectors including community developed integrations
- Connector Development Kit (CDK) to build or extend new connectors
- Supports both ELT and custom transformation logic with dbt
- REST API, CLI, and Terraform support for automation
- Options for self hosting, managed cloud, or hybrid deployment
Airbyte is best for teams that want open source flexibility and are comfortable managing pipelines with engineering resources. For organizations that need real time CDC, production grade reliability, and lower overhead, Estuary is often the stronger fit.
4. Stitch Data
Stitch Data, a Qlik product, is a lightweight ELT platform designed for quick setup and simple replication into warehouses like Snowflake, BigQuery, and Redshift. It appeals to small teams that want a managed solution without heavy engineering work.
Key Features
- 130+ prebuilt connectors for common SaaS apps and databases
- Incremental replication support for databases and APIs
- Straightforward interface for non technical users
- dbt integration for downstream ELT transformations
- Transparent usage based pricing with volume tiers
Stitch is a practical option for teams with basic reporting pipelines. But for organizations needing advanced transformations, real time pipelines, or enterprise scale governance, Estuary offers more power and flexibility.
5. Matillion
Matillion is a cloud native ELT platform built for teams working inside data warehouses like Snowflake, BigQuery, and Redshift. It provides a visual interface for designing pipelines while also supporting SQL and Python for custom transformations.
Key Features
- Visual drag and drop pipeline designer
- Deep native integrations with major cloud warehouses
- Supports Python and SQL for flexible transformations
- Built in versioning, scheduling, and orchestration
- Git and dbt compatibility for collaboration
Matillion is a good fit for analytics heavy organizations that want to design complex ELT workflows directly in their warehouse. For teams prioritizing low latency streaming, schema enforcement, and flexible deployments, Estuary is often the better choice.
Conclusion
Panoply makes it easy to get started with data integration and analytics, but its batch pipelines, connector gaps, and bundled warehouse costs often push growing teams to explore alternatives.
If connector breadth and enterprise stability are most important, Fivetran is a proven choice.
For engineering teams that want open source flexibility, Airbyte offers community backed extensibility.
Smaller teams needing a simple managed ELT tool may prefer Stitch.
Analytics heavy organizations that want to design complex workflows directly in the warehouse often turn to Matillion.
And for teams that need real time pipelines, schema enforcement, and flexible deployments, Estuary brings it all together. With sub second CDC, 200+ enterprise grade connectors, and predictable usage based pricing, Estuary is built to handle modern workloads without the batch delays and scaling costs that limit Panoply.
Ultimately, the best tool is the one that grows with your data needs, not just the one that works today. If you are running into Panoply’s limits, exploring a modern streaming platform like Estuary could be the right next move for your team.
