Quick Overview
- 1#1: Collibra - Collibra is an enterprise data intelligence platform that enables data cataloging, governance, and stewardship across hybrid environments.
- 2#2: Alation - Alation Data Catalog empowers teams to discover, understand, and trust data through AI-driven search and collaboration features.
- 3#3: Informatica Enterprise Data Catalog - Informatica Enterprise Data Catalog automates metadata scanning and provides a unified inventory of enterprise data assets with lineage.
- 4#4: Microsoft Purview - Microsoft Purview unifies data cataloging, governance, and compliance across multi-cloud and on-premises data estates.
- 5#5: Atlan - Atlan is an active metadata platform that combines data cataloging with real-time collaboration and automation for modern data teams.
- 6#6: Google Cloud Data Catalog - Google Cloud Data Catalog offers a fully managed metadata service for discovering and enriching data across Google Cloud.
- 7#7: DataHub - DataHub is an open-source metadata platform for data discovery, lineage, and observability in large-scale environments.
- 8#8: Amundsen - Amundsen is an open-source data discovery and metadata engine designed for indexing and searching data assets.
- 9#9: Talend Data Catalog - Talend Data Catalog provides automated data discovery, semantic mapping, and quality assessment for enterprise data.
- 10#10: OvalEdge - OvalEdge is an AI-powered data catalog and governance tool for automating metadata management and data lineage.
We evaluated tools based on core capabilities (metadata management, lineage, discovery), user experience, scalability, and long-term value, prioritizing those that deliver robust performance across hybrid, multi-cloud, and on-premises environments.
Comparison Table
This comparison table features leading data cataloging tools such as Collibra, Alation, Informatica Enterprise Data Catalog, Microsoft Purview, Atlan, and more, designed to guide readers in assessing options. It explores key functionalities, integration strengths, and use cases, helping users identify the tool that best fits their organization's data management needs, from improving data discoverability to enhancing compliance.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collibra Collibra is an enterprise data intelligence platform that enables data cataloging, governance, and stewardship across hybrid environments. | enterprise | 9.4/10 | 9.7/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.6/10 |
| 2 | Alation Alation Data Catalog empowers teams to discover, understand, and trust data through AI-driven search and collaboration features. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 3 | Informatica Enterprise Data Catalog Informatica Enterprise Data Catalog automates metadata scanning and provides a unified inventory of enterprise data assets with lineage. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.3/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 4 | Microsoft Purview Microsoft Purview unifies data cataloging, governance, and compliance across multi-cloud and on-premises data estates. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.7/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 5 | Atlan Atlan is an active metadata platform that combines data cataloging with real-time collaboration and automation for modern data teams. | enterprise | 8.8/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 6 | Google Cloud Data Catalog Google Cloud Data Catalog offers a fully managed metadata service for discovering and enriching data across Google Cloud. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 7 | DataHub DataHub is an open-source metadata platform for data discovery, lineage, and observability in large-scale environments. | other | 8.7/10 | 9.3/10 | 7.4/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 8 | Amundsen Amundsen is an open-source data discovery and metadata engine designed for indexing and searching data assets. | other | 8.1/10 | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 9 | Talend Data Catalog Talend Data Catalog provides automated data discovery, semantic mapping, and quality assessment for enterprise data. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 10 | OvalEdge OvalEdge is an AI-powered data catalog and governance tool for automating metadata management and data lineage. | enterprise | 8.0/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 |
Collibra is an enterprise data intelligence platform that enables data cataloging, governance, and stewardship across hybrid environments.
Alation Data Catalog empowers teams to discover, understand, and trust data through AI-driven search and collaboration features.
Informatica Enterprise Data Catalog automates metadata scanning and provides a unified inventory of enterprise data assets with lineage.
Microsoft Purview unifies data cataloging, governance, and compliance across multi-cloud and on-premises data estates.
Atlan is an active metadata platform that combines data cataloging with real-time collaboration and automation for modern data teams.
Google Cloud Data Catalog offers a fully managed metadata service for discovering and enriching data across Google Cloud.
DataHub is an open-source metadata platform for data discovery, lineage, and observability in large-scale environments.
Amundsen is an open-source data discovery and metadata engine designed for indexing and searching data assets.
Talend Data Catalog provides automated data discovery, semantic mapping, and quality assessment for enterprise data.
OvalEdge is an AI-powered data catalog and governance tool for automating metadata management and data lineage.
Collibra
enterpriseCollibra is an enterprise data intelligence platform that enables data cataloging, governance, and stewardship across hybrid environments.
AI-powered Data Intelligence Platform with unified catalog, lineage, and governance in a collaborative steward community
Collibra is a premier data intelligence platform specializing in data cataloging, governance, and stewardship, enabling organizations to discover, understand, trust, and govern their data assets at scale. It offers automated metadata management, data lineage, business glossaries, and policy enforcement to ensure compliance and data quality across hybrid environments. With AI-driven insights and collaborative workflows, Collibra empowers data teams to democratize data access while maintaining enterprise-grade controls.
Pros
- Comprehensive data lineage and impact analysis for full visibility
- Robust governance workflows and policy management
- Extensive integrations with BI, ETL, and cloud data platforms
Cons
- High cost with custom enterprise pricing
- Steep learning curve and complex initial setup
- Overkill for small teams or simple cataloging needs
Best For
Large enterprises requiring advanced data governance, compliance, and cataloging across complex, multi-cloud environments.
Pricing
Custom subscription pricing based on data volume and users; typically starts at $50,000+ annually for mid-sized deployments.
Alation
enterpriseAlation Data Catalog empowers teams to discover, understand, and trust data through AI-driven search and collaboration features.
AI-powered SQL Copilot that provides real-time query suggestions and explanations
Alation is an enterprise-grade data catalog platform designed to help organizations discover, understand, govern, and trust their data assets across diverse sources. It leverages AI and machine learning for semantic search, automated metadata curation, and data lineage visualization, enabling seamless collaboration among data teams. Key capabilities include SQL copilot for query assistance, trust flags for data quality assessment, and integration with BI tools like Tableau and Power BI.
Pros
- AI-driven semantic search and auto-tagging for rapid data discovery
- Robust data lineage and impact analysis for governance
- Strong collaboration tools including trust flags and community curation
Cons
- High cost suitable mainly for large enterprises
- Steep learning curve and complex initial setup
- Limited customization for smaller teams without professional services
Best For
Large enterprises with complex, multi-source data environments needing advanced governance and collaboration.
Pricing
Custom enterprise subscription starting at around $100,000 annually, based on users, data volume, and features.
Informatica Enterprise Data Catalog
enterpriseInformatica Enterprise Data Catalog automates metadata scanning and provides a unified inventory of enterprise data assets with lineage.
CLAIRE AI engine enabling cognitive search, auto-classification, and natural language queries across the data catalog
Informatica Enterprise Data Catalog (EDC) is an AI-powered metadata management platform that automatically discovers, catalogs, and enriches data assets across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. It leverages machine learning via the CLAIRE engine to scan diverse data sources, profile quality, classify sensitive data, and map technical and business lineage. EDC integrates deeply with Informatica's Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) suite for comprehensive data governance and impact analysis.
Pros
- AI-driven automation with CLAIRE for metadata extraction and tagging
- Extensive library of 200+ connectors for broad data source coverage
- Advanced lineage mapping and relationship inference at enterprise scale
Cons
- Complex deployment and configuration requiring specialized skills
- High licensing costs unsuitable for SMBs
- Steeper learning curve for non-Informatica ecosystem users
Best For
Large enterprises with hybrid/multi-cloud data estates seeking automated, scalable data cataloging and governance.
Pricing
Subscription-based enterprise pricing, typically $100K+ annually depending on data volume, users, and connectors; custom quotes required.
Microsoft Purview
enterpriseMicrosoft Purview unifies data cataloging, governance, and compliance across multi-cloud and on-premises data estates.
Unified Data Map providing a 360-degree view of data assets with automatic scanning and lineage across diverse sources
Microsoft Purview is a unified data governance solution that serves as a powerful data cataloging tool, automatically scanning, classifying, and mapping data assets across on-premises, multi-cloud, and SaaS environments. It offers a centralized data map, business glossary, and end-to-end lineage tracking to enable data discovery, understanding, and compliance. With built-in AI-driven classification and sensitivity labeling, it helps organizations govern their entire data estate efficiently.
Pros
- Broad support for 100+ data sources including hybrid and multi-cloud setups
- Advanced lineage visualization and automated data classification
- Seamless integration with Microsoft ecosystem (Azure, Power BI, Synapse)
Cons
- Steep learning curve for complex configurations and full governance features
- Pricing can escalate quickly for large-scale scanning outside Microsoft licensing
- Less intuitive for non-Microsoft environments compared to specialized catalogs
Best For
Enterprises deeply integrated with Microsoft services seeking comprehensive hybrid data governance and cataloging.
Pricing
Capacity-unit metered pricing (e.g., ~$0.0043/GB/month for Data Map scanning); premium governance included in Microsoft 365 E5 (~$57/user/month) or available as add-ons.
Atlan
enterpriseAtlan is an active metadata platform that combines data cataloging with real-time collaboration and automation for modern data teams.
Active Metadata, which automates metadata evolution, governance workflows, and contextual enrichment across the entire data stack
Atlan is a modern active metadata platform and data catalog that unifies metadata from diverse sources like data warehouses, BI tools, and ML platforms for seamless discovery and governance. It offers AI-powered search, automated data lineage, contextual enrichment, and real-time collaboration features to help data teams trust and utilize data effectively. Atlan stands out in data mesh architectures by enabling cross-team workflows and integrations with tools like Slack, Teams, and dbt.
Pros
- AI-driven search and automated lineage for quick data discovery
- Seamless collaboration via Slack/Teams integrations
- Robust governance with policy enforcement and compliance tools
Cons
- Enterprise pricing can be steep for SMBs
- Initial setup requires metadata connector configuration
- Advanced customization may need developer support
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises with distributed data teams needing collaborative governance in data mesh environments.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically starts at $20,000+ annually for mid-sized deployments, scaling with usage and seats.
Google Cloud Data Catalog
enterpriseGoogle Cloud Data Catalog offers a fully managed metadata service for discovering and enriching data across Google Cloud.
Automated data lineage visualization across GCP pipelines and services
Google Cloud Data Catalog is a fully managed, metadata management service that helps organizations discover, understand, and manage data assets across Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It provides unified search across diverse data sources like BigQuery, Cloud Storage, and Pub/Sub, while supporting tagging, business glossaries, and data lineage visualization. Designed for data governance, it enables collaboration among data analysts, scientists, and engineers by enriching metadata automatically from GCP services.
Pros
- Deep integration with GCP services for automatic metadata ingestion and lineage
- Powerful semantic search with natural language processing and tag-based querying
- Robust data governance tools including business glossaries and IAM-based access controls
Cons
- Limited native connectors for non-GCP or on-premises data sources
- Pricing scales with metadata volume and scans, potentially costly at enterprise scale
- Requires GCP familiarity, with a steeper setup curve for multi-cloud users
Best For
GCP-centric organizations seeking comprehensive metadata management and discovery for cloud-native data workloads.
Pricing
Free for up to 10,000 metadata entries per region; $1 per 1,000 additional entries/month, plus $0.10 per 1,000 search requests and scan job costs.
DataHub
otherDataHub is an open-source metadata platform for data discovery, lineage, and observability in large-scale environments.
End-to-end data lineage that traces data flow across pipelines, tables, and ML models in real-time
DataHub is an open-source metadata platform that serves as a centralized data catalog for discovering, understanding, and governing data assets across an organization. It supports metadata ingestion from over 40 connectors, enabling features like full-text search, data lineage visualization, and domain-based governance. Built for scale, it handles massive datasets and integrates with tools like Kafka, dbt, and Snowflake, making it ideal for modern data stacks.
Pros
- Comprehensive metadata ingestion from 40+ sources with real-time updates
- Powerful lineage tracking and interactive visualizations
- Extensible open-source architecture with strong community support
Cons
- Complex initial deployment requiring Kubernetes expertise
- Steep learning curve for advanced customization
- UI can feel overwhelming for non-technical users
Best For
Large enterprises with engineering teams needing scalable, metadata-driven data discovery and governance.
Pricing
Fully open-source and free to self-host; enterprise support available via partners like Acryl Data starting at custom pricing.
Amundsen
otherAmundsen is an open-source data discovery and metadata engine designed for indexing and searching data assets.
Popularity tracking with badges that dynamically rank datasets based on real usage metrics
Amundsen is an open-source metadata engine and data discovery platform developed by Lyft, designed to help users search, discover, and understand data assets across large-scale environments. It provides semantic search capabilities, dataset lineage visualization, and popularity tracking to promote data trustworthiness and reuse. Integrated with tools like Apache AI rflow and various data warehouses, it enables metadata management without vendor lock-in.
Pros
- Powerful semantic search with Elasticsearch for quick data discovery
- Dataset popularity badges and usage stats to identify trusted assets
- Highly extensible with integrations to major data tools and open-source community support
Cons
- Complex deployment requiring Kubernetes and significant DevOps effort
- Limited native support for advanced governance or data quality monitoring
- Outdated UI and documentation that can hinder onboarding
Best For
Engineering-heavy organizations seeking a customizable, cost-free data catalog for large-scale discovery and metadata management.
Pricing
Fully open-source and free; self-hosting incurs infrastructure costs (e.g., Kubernetes clusters).
Talend Data Catalog
enterpriseTalend Data Catalog provides automated data discovery, semantic mapping, and quality assessment for enterprise data.
AI-powered Semantic Discovery that automatically detects and maps business relationships across disparate datasets
Talend Data Catalog is a robust data intelligence platform that automates the discovery, cataloging, and governance of data assets from diverse sources including databases, cloud services, and big data environments. It excels in providing end-to-end data lineage, semantic mapping, and quality profiling to enable data teams to understand relationships and trust their data. Integrated seamlessly with Talend's ETL and integration tools, it supports enterprise-scale data management with AI-driven insights.
Pros
- Automated machine learning-based discovery and semantic relationships
- Comprehensive data lineage and impact analysis visualization
- Broad connector support for hybrid and multi-cloud environments
Cons
- Steep learning curve for initial setup and advanced features
- Pricing can be prohibitive for small organizations
- UI feels dated compared to newer competitors
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises using Talend's data integration suite or needing advanced automated discovery in complex, hybrid data landscapes.
Pricing
Quote-based subscription model, typically starting at $10,000-$50,000 annually depending on data volume, users, and deployment scale.
OvalEdge
enterpriseOvalEdge is an AI-powered data catalog and governance tool for automating metadata management and data lineage.
AI-powered semantic search that understands natural language queries for intuitive data discovery
OvalEdge is an AI-powered data catalog platform that automates the discovery, cataloging, and governance of enterprise data assets from diverse sources including databases, cloud storage, and BI tools. It offers comprehensive metadata management, interactive data lineage visualization, and collaborative features to enable data democratization and compliance. With semantic search and policy enforcement, it helps organizations build a unified data intelligence layer.
Pros
- Extensive automated scanning and connector support for 100+ data sources
- Strong AI-driven semantic search and data lineage capabilities
- Robust governance tools including stewardship and policy management
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for smaller organizations
- Advanced features have a moderate learning curve
- Performance may lag with very large-scale deployments
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises seeking an automated, AI-enhanced data catalog for governance and discovery across hybrid environments.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing starting around $20,000 annually, based on data volume and users; free trial available.
Conclusion
The reviewed data cataloging tools differ in focus—from enterprise hybrid capabilities to AI-driven collaboration and open-source flexibility—yet all empower teams to manage data effectively. Leading the pack, Collibra excels as a comprehensive solution, while Alation stands out for its user-friendly AI discovery and Informatica Enterprise Data Catalog impresses with automation and lineage tools, offering strong alternatives for varied needs.
Explore Collibra to unlock seamless data governance and stewardship across your environment, or dive into Alation or Informatica to find the perfect fit for your team’s unique requirements.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
