Managed tools handle connector maintenance, schema detection, and error handling:
Fivetran: Market leader. + connectors. Expensive but reliable. Best for enterprises.
Airbyte: Open source alternative. Self-hosted or cloud. Growing connector library.
Stitch: Simpler, cheaper. Good for smaller workloads.
When to use managed tools:
- Standard SaaS sources (Salesforce, Stripe, etc.)
- Limited engineering bandwidth
- Need for guaranteed SLAs
Build custom connectors only for unique sources or when cost is prohibitive.