Best ETL Tools in 2026
Get data where it needs to be without building pipelines from scratch
By Toolradar Editorial Team · Updated
Fivetran is the most reliable for business-critical data pipelines. Airbyte is excellent open-source alternative with growing connector library. Stitch (now part of Talend) is solid for simpler needs. For custom sources, you'll still need some engineering.
ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tools move data between systems. They replace the custom scripts and cron jobs that data engineers used to maintain—and that inevitably broke at 3am.
Modern ETL tools focus on connectors (pre-built integrations) and reliability (handling failures gracefully). The best ones make data integration feel like plumbing: it just works.
What It Is
ETL tools extract data from source systems (databases, SaaS apps, files), optionally transform it (clean, join, aggregate), and load it into destinations (data warehouses, lakes, other systems).
Modern "ELT" tools often skip transformation, loading raw data into warehouses where transformation happens with SQL. Both approaches have merits.
Why It Matters
Data scattered across systems is unusable for analysis. Manual exports and custom scripts don't scale and break regularly.
ETL tools consolidate data reliably, enabling analytics, machine learning, and operational automation that depends on having all data in one place.
Key Features to Look For
Pre-built integrations with common data sources.
Only transfer changed data, not everything every time.
Handle failures gracefully with automatic retries.
Alerts when syncs fail or data doesn't look right.
Clean and transform data during or after loading.
What to Consider
Evaluation Checklist
Pricing Overview
Airbyte self-hosted or Fivetran Free (500K MAR)
Stitch or Airbyte Cloud for moderate data volumes
Fivetran Standard/Enterprise for high-volume, mission-critical pipelines
Top Picks
Based on features, user feedback, and value for money.
Teams who need rock-solid reliability and breadth of 300+ pre-built connectors
Teams who want open-source flexibility, cost control, or need to build custom connectors
Teams with straightforward ETL needs who want predictable pricing
Mistakes to Avoid
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Underestimating data volume growth — a Fivetran bill that's $500/month today can be $3,000/month in a year as your tables grow; model 2-3x growth in your cost projection
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Not planning for schema changes — source APIs change fields, add columns, and deprecate endpoints; tools that break on schema changes (or you built custom) create recurring maintenance work
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Assuming all connectors work equally — test your specific connectors before committing; a Salesforce connector may be flawless while a niche CRM connector fails regularly
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No sync failure monitoring — silent sync failures mean stale data in your warehouse; set up PagerDuty/Slack alerts for any sync that fails or takes >2x normal duration
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Building custom pipelines when connectors exist — a custom Python script syncing Stripe data will always be less reliable than Fivetran's battle-tested connector; use existing connectors first
Expert Tips
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Start with ELT, not ETL — load raw data into your warehouse (BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift), then transform with dbt; this separates data movement from business logic and makes both easier to maintain
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Use incremental syncs everywhere possible — full table syncs of a 10M row table cost 10-50x more than incremental syncs that only transfer changed rows; configure cursor-based incremental syncs from day one
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Monitor data freshness, not just sync success — a sync can succeed but deliver stale data (API pagination issues, rate limits); set up dbt tests or warehouse checks to verify data recency
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Budget for 2-3x data volume growth — row counts grow faster than you expect; negotiate committed-use discounts with Fivetran or self-host Airbyte to control costs
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Use dbt for transformations downstream — don't transform data during extraction; the dbt + ELT pattern is now industry standard for good reason: testable, version-controlled, and warehouse-native
Red Flags to Watch For
- !Your critical connector is listed as 'beta' or 'community-maintained' — these break more often and get fixed slower than GA connectors
- !No incremental sync support for your largest tables — full syncs at scale cost 10-50x more in compute and warehouse costs
- !Per-row pricing with no volume cap or committed-use discounts — data volume grows 2-3x/year for most companies, making costs unpredictable
- !No schema change handling — source schemas change constantly; tools that break on schema changes create ongoing maintenance burden
The Bottom Line
Fivetran (free tier, then credit-based) is the most reliable choice for business-critical data pipelines with the widest connector coverage. Airbyte (free self-hosted or cloud) is excellent for cost-conscious teams or those needing custom connectors. Stitch (from $100/month) is simpler but less feature-rich. Always test your specific connectors before committing — connector quality matters more than platform features.
Frequently Asked Questions
ETL vs ELT—which should I use?
ELT (load raw data, transform in warehouse) is increasingly popular due to cheap warehouse compute. ETL (transform before loading) is better when you need to reduce data volume or clean before loading. Most modern tools support both patterns.
How do I handle sources without connectors?
Options: build custom connectors (most tools support this), use general connectors (API, database, file), or maintain separate pipelines. No tool covers 100% of sources.
How do I estimate costs?
Calculate your data volume (rows per month) and number of sources. Get quotes from vendors—pricing is often negotiable, especially annually. Watch for hidden costs like row-based pricing on high-volume tables.
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