LightningSync vs Fivetran
for Marketing Data to Supabase
Fivetran is the industry-leading data integration platform. LightningSync is a focused tool for one specific job. Here's how to decide which fits your needs.
What is Fivetran?
Fivetran is an enterprise-grade ELT (Extract, Load, Transform) platform with 300+ pre-built connectors. It's designed for companies building centralized data warehouses that pull from many sources: databases, SaaS apps, marketing platforms, and more.
Fivetran is excellent for its intended use case: complex, multi-source data infrastructure at enterprise scale. The trade-off is enterprise pricing, which can be substantial if you only need one connector.
Understanding Fivetran's pricing
Fivetran uses Monthly Active Rows (MAR) pricing, which changed significantly in March 2025.
How MAR pricing works
- • You're billed based on rows that are "active" (created or updated) each month
- • Each connector has its own MAR allocation
- • Pricing is tiered: Starter, Standard, Enterprise
- • Minimum contracts often start around $500-1,000/month
For Marketing Data specifically
- • A medium-sized ad account might sync 100,000+ rows/month
- • This alone could cost $200-500/month on Fivetran
- • Costs become unpredictable with seasonal campaigns or client growth
- • Adding other connectors multiplies the cost
Feature comparison
| Feature | LightningSync | Fivetran |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook Ads Connector | ||
| Pricing Model | Flat $15/mo | Per-MAR per-connector |
| Minimum Monthly Cost | $0 (free tier) | ~$500/mo |
| Setup Complexity | Low (5 min) | Medium (30-60 min) |
| Other Connectors | Marketing/POS focused | 300+ |
| Enterprise Features | No | Yes (RBAC, SSO, etc.) |
When to choose each tool
Be honest with yourself about your actual needs. Both tools are excellent, but for different situations.
Choose Fivetran if you:
- • Need 10+ data source connectors
- • Have enterprise compliance requirements (SOC 2, HIPAA)
- • Need advanced RBAC and team management
- • Have budget for $1,000+/month data infrastructure
- • Want a vendor your finance team has already approved
Choose LightningSync if you:
- • Only need Marketing/POS data
- • Want predictable, simple pricing ($15/mo flat)
- • Use Supabase or PostgreSQL
- • Don't want to pay for 299 connectors you won't use
- • Value speed and simplicity over feature depth
Annual cost comparison: Marketing Data
Fivetran
500K MAR on Standard tier, Facebook Ads connector only:
Estimate based on published pricing tiers
LightningSync
Any volume, Marketing Data:
$15/month × 12 months
Frequently asked questions
Is LightningSync as reliable as Fivetran?
For the specific use case of Marketing Data → Supabase, yes. Both use official APIs. LightningSync handles token refresh, rate limiting, and schema normalization, the same core challenges Fivetran solves. The difference is scope: Fivetran does 300+ sources; we focus on marketing data.
Can I migrate from Fivetran to LightningSync?
Yes. If you're using Fivetran only for Ad Data, you can set up LightningSync in parallel, verify the data matches, then cancel Fivetran. There's no data migration needed. Both tools sync data from APIs to your database fresh.
What if I need more data sources later?
You can use LightningSync for Marketing Data and add Fivetran (or Airbyte, Stitch, etc.) for other sources. There's no lock-in. Many users keep their Ad Data sync on a purpose-built tool and use a full ETL platform only for sources that need it.
Just need Facebook Ads data?
Skip the enterprise pricing. Get your data in Supabase for $15/month. Free tier available with setup in minutes.