Dataform vs Pentaho Data Integration

Dataform9.2Visit Pentaho Data Integration8.3Visit

Higher score Dataform #1 in Data Transformation Tools 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Dataform

vs

Pentaho Data Integration #10 in Data Transformation Tools 8.3/10 Pricing on request · 30-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Pentaho

• Dataform fits best

  SQL transformation in BigQuery

• Pentaho Data Integration fits best

  Organizations needing self-hosted graphical ETL

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Side by side

Feature	Dataform 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Pentaho Data Integration 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.3
Ranking	#1 in Data Transformation Tools	#10 in Data Transformation Tools
Best for	SQL transformation in BigQuery	Organizations needing self-hosted graphical ETL
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free	—
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web	Windows, Linux, macOS, Web
Support	Docs, Community	Docs · 24/7
Integrations	9 integrations	10 integrations
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Dataform 3/3 · Pentaho Data Integration 3/3
Version control	✓	✓
Workflow orchestration	✓	✓
Data quality checks	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment model	Cloud	Hybrid
Transformation interface	Sql	Visual
Supported data formats	SQLX, JavaScript, JSON	Flat files, relational databases, Hadoop, NoSQL, cloud storage, JSON, XML, Parquet
Our review
Pros	Free Dataform service access with SQLX and JavaScript workflows Dependency graphs, assertions, tests, logs, and monitoring Git connections plus scheduling through Google Cloud services	Design pipelines with drag-and-drop transformations and job execution. Schedule and monitor workflows; profile, cleanse, and validate data. Track revisions and reuse templates through repository collaboration controls.
Cons	Verified table and view outputs are centered on BigQuery Related Google Cloud services may incur separate charges Best suited to SQL-led workflows rather than broad format coverage	Pricing requires contacting sales, so costs are not readily comparable. There is no free plan; the 30-day evaluation is time-limited. Version control depends on enabling it in the repository configuration.
Our verdict	Dataform is a managed Google Cloud service for data analysts and data engineers who build, test, version-control, document, and schedule SQL workflows in BigQuery. Its SQLX interface supports tables, views, incremental tables, materialized… Read the review →	Pentaho Data Integration (PDI), from Hitachi Vantara, handles ETL and data orchestration for teams that ingest, cleanse, blend, and deliver data across environments. Its visual pipeline designer and execution engines suit organizations… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Dataform — where it wins

  • Free Dataform service access with SQLX and JavaScript workflows
  • Dependency graphs, assertions, tests, logs, and monitoring
  • Git connections plus scheduling through Google Cloud services

  Where it doesn't

  • Verified table and view outputs are centered on BigQuery
  • Related Google Cloud services may incur separate charges
  • Best suited to SQL-led workflows rather than broad format coverage

• Pentaho Data Integration — where it wins

  • Design pipelines with drag-and-drop transformations and job execution.
  • Schedule and monitor workflows; profile, cleanse, and validate data.
  • Track revisions and reuse templates through repository collaboration controls.

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales, so costs are not readily comparable.
  • There is no free plan; the 30-day evaluation is time-limited.
  • Version control depends on enabling it in the repository configuration.

• Dataform9.2/10 · Free plan

  A free, managed workflow service for SQL transformation and testing in BigQuery.

  Visit DataformFull verdict →
• Pentaho Data Integration8.3/10 · Pricing on request · 30-day trial

  Visual ETL and orchestration for teams that need cloud or self-hosted deployment.

  Visit PentahoFull verdict →