Azure Data Factory vs SAS Data Integration Server comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Microsoft and SAS are both solutions in the Data Integration category. Microsoft is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.0, while SAS is ranked #40 with an average rating of 7.0. Microsoft holds a 2.2% mindshare in DI, compared to SAS’s 0.9% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of SAS users who would recommend it.

Azure Data Factory

Read 97 Azure Data Factory reviews

15,321 Views
10,725 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

SAS Data Integration Server

Read 4 SAS Data Integration Server reviews

2,914 Views
2,302 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

Azure Data Factory

SAS Data Integration Server

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

SAS Data Integration Server and Azure Data Factory compete in the data integration space. Azure Data Factory appears to have the upper hand due to its cloud-native design and diverse features, offering superior value for tech buyers.

Features: SAS Data Integration Server offers robust enterprise-level transformation capabilities, extensive integration options with SAS products, and excels in traditional ETL processes. Azure Data Factory is recognized for seamless Azure service integration, large-scale orchestration abilities, and user-friendly cloud management. It provides dynamic data transformation and management for hybrid environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SAS Data Integration Server requires significant infrastructure and expertise, resulting in potentially complex deployments. It provides comprehensive customer support for intricate data integrations. Azure Data Factory offers a cloud-based, scalable deployment model, simplifying setup with easy configuration and efficient customer support. Its deployment process is more streamlined, benefiting businesses with quicker turnaround times.

Pricing and ROI: SAS Data Integration Server involves higher setup costs due to infrastructure needs but can lead to strong ROI in stable enterprise environments that rely on SAS ecosystems. Azure Data Factory’s pay-as-you-go model offers flexibility and lower upfront costs, making it cost-effective for businesses needing cloud scalability. It caters to variable workloads and delivers better ROI for modern, adaptive data strategies.

To learn more, read our detailed Azure Data Factory vs. SAS Data Integration Server Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Azure Data Factory vs. SAS Data Integration Server

September 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Azure Data Factory

Ranking in Data Integration

6th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Cloud Data Warehouse (6th)

SAS Data Integration Server

Ranking in Data Integration

40th

Average Rating

7.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Data Integration category, the mindshare of Azure Data Factory is 2.2%, down from 5.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAS Data Integration Server is 0.9%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Data Integration Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Azure Data Factory	2.2%
SAS Data Integration Server	0.9%
Other	96.9%

Data Integration

Featured Reviews

Kunal Das

Test Engineer at Happiest Minds Technologies

Drag-and-drop pipelines have saved days of work and now automate data movement and backfilling

If the AI features were more improved so that I don't have to provide each and every detail, Azure Data Factory could be improved in a much better way by improving the AI features. For example, if I want to fetch any data from a raw source, I need to provide each and every detail. But if I am just uploading my raw data and if AI will sync with that data, it can analyze that data and give me proper suggestions on how that should be done in a proper way. Automatic suggestions could improve in a much better way. As I have mentioned, the AI features as well as more drag-and-drop activities could be improved. If I am making a pipeline, it should give me suggestions, such as which activity should be used, so that I don't have to remember each activity. If I have used one activity, I shouldn't have to remember what activity should I use next. It should give auto-suggestions. That is why I have given a nine out of 10. Currently, I don't know about its governance and security, but in view of its improvement, I think Azure Data Factory should improve in these areas. As I already mentioned, the AI features should be improved. Also, the auto-suggestion features should also improve.

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reviewer2937544

Works at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees

Offloads processes on the server side but needs better installation syntax

One area for improvement is the installation process. Another point could be the syntax, as it sometimes involves using syntax names that are not intuitive. For example, to calculate the difference between two dates, the general syntax in SAS is called the data difference or data net function. However, another name is used, such as NF and INK. Without knowledge of SAS programming, it becomes unclear what these functions mean. It is not good to define function names this way.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The most valuable part of this product is the ease of use, as it is easy to use and rather intuitive, and because it is easy to use, you can do things with it easily, making your work easier and therefore more valuable."

"The most valuable features are data transformations."

"The trigger scheduling options are decently robust."

"The platform excels in data transformation with its user-friendly interface and robust monitoring capabilities, making ETL processes seamless."

"In terms of my personal experience, it works fine."

"I think it makes it very easy to understand what data flow is and so on. You can leverage the user interface to do the different data flows, and it's great. I like it a lot."

"Most of our customers are Microsoft shops and prefer Azure Data Factory because they have good licensing options and a trust factor with Microsoft."

"From what we have seen so far, the solution seems very stable."

More Azure Data Factory pros

"The most valuable feature of the solution is its amazing capabilities in regard to data handling."

"The solution is very stable."

"The solution offers very good data manipulation and loading."

"A key feature allows us to enhance job performance by offloading processing to the server side, rather than processing on the server itself."

Cons

"There is always room to improve. There should be good examples of use that, of course, customers aren't always willing to share. It is Catch-22. It would help the user base if everybody had really good examples of deployments that worked, but when you ask people to put out their good deployments, which also includes me, you usually got, "No, I'm not going to do that." They don't have enough good examples. Microsoft probably just needs to pay one of their partners to build 20 or 30 examples of functional Data Factories and then share them as a user base."

"The product could provide more ways to import and export data."

"There are limitations when processing more than one GD file."

"Real-time replication is required, and this is not a simple task."

"Azure Data Factory should be cheaper to move data to a data center abroad for calamities in case of disasters."

"Areas for improvement would be the product's performance and its mapping of data flow."

"There is a need for better data transformation, especially since many people are now depending on DataBricks more for connectivity and data integration."

"There is one particular problem with Azure Data Factory. When you have a parent-to-child relationship and the child has one more relationship, creating a hierarchy situation, there are issues."

More Azure Data Factory cons

"The initial setup had issues, and even after using it for about one year, it was still not fixed."

"The transform tool has limited access. They should make it more flexible."

"One area for improvement is the installation process."

"Something that could improve is writing SQL to integration studio because it is not that straightforward. There should be better integration with other software."

"So I would like to see improved integration with other software."

"The initial setup of SAS Data Integration Server was complex."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Azure Data Factory gives better value for the price than other solutions such as Informatica."

"The price is fair."

"This is a cost-effective solution."

"There's no licensing for Azure Data Factory, they have a consumption payment model. How often you are running the service and how long that service takes to run. The price can be approximately $500 to $1,000 per month but depends on the scaling."

"My company is on a monthly subscription for Azure Data Factory, but it's more of a pay-as-you-go model where your monthly invoice depends on how many resources you use. On a scale of one to five, pricing for Azure Data Factory is a four. It's just the usage fees my company pays monthly."

"The price you pay is determined by how much you use it."

"I am aware of the pricing of Azure Data Factory, but I prefer not to disclose specific details."

"Our licensing fees are approximately 15,000 ($150 USD) per month."

More Azure Data Factory pricing and cost advice

"It is an expensive program."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

23%

Comms Service Provider

14%

Construction Company

13%

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	31
Midsize Enterprise	21
Large Enterprise	64

No data available

Questions from the Community

How do you select the right cloud ETL tool?

AWS Glue and Azure Data factory for ELT best performance cloud services.

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How does Azure Data Factory compare with Informatica PowerCenter?

Azure Data Factory is flexible, modular, and works well. In terms of cost, it is not too pricey. It offers the stability and reliability I am looking for, good scalability, and is easy to set up an...

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How does Azure Data Factory compare with Informatica Cloud Data Integration?

Azure Data Factory is a solid product offering many transformation functions; It has pre-load and post-load transformations, allowing users to apply transformations either in code by using Power Q...

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What needs improvement with SAS Data Integration Server?

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What is your primary use case for SAS Data Integration Server?

I am involved in the ETR job. My role is focused on executing the ETR job.

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What advice do you have for others considering SAS Data Integration Server?

I use it without further details. For example, if I use SAS to connect to a NetEazt database or purchase a shared asset to ODBC, I can connect to any database with ODBC connection support. The over...

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Comparisons

Snowflake vs Azure Data Factory

Compared 4% of the time

Databricks vs Azure Data Factory

Compared 4% of the time

Palantir Foundry vs Azure Data Factory

Compared 3% of the time

Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) vs Azure Data Factory

Compared 3% of the time

SnapLogic vs Azure Data Factory

Compared 3% of the time

More Azure Data Factory Competitors

SSIS vs SAS Data Integration Server

Compared 8% of the time

Palantir Foundry vs SAS Data Integration Server

Compared 6% of the time

Oracle Data Integrator (ODI) vs SAS Data Integration Server

Compared 6% of the time

Informatica PowerCenter vs SAS Data Integration Server

Compared 5% of the time

Pentaho Data Integration and Analytics vs SAS Data Integration Server

Compared 4% of the time

More SAS Data Integration Server Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Azure Data Factory

September 2026

Download Azure Data Factory product report

Buyer's Guide

Data Integration

September 2026

Download SAS Data Integration Server product report

Also Known As

No data available

SAS Enterprise Data Integration Server, Enterprise Data Integration Server

Overview

Azure Data Factory efficiently manages and integrates data from various sources, enabling seamless movement and transformation across platforms. Its valuable features include seamless integration with Azure services, handling large data volumes, flexible transformation, user-friendly interface, extensive connectors, and scalability. Users have experienced improved team performance, workflow simplification, enhanced collaboration, streamlined processes, and boosted productivity.

Microsoft

SAS Data Integration Server automates and manages data integration processes, enabling efficient data management, transformation, and migration in enterprises. It provides a comprehensive suite for data-driven solutions.

Designed for extensive data management needs, SAS Data Integration Server supports seamless data integration, allowing users to access, run, and monitor data transformation processes. It is tailored to enhance data quality and streamline processes, serving industries reliant on precise data interpretation and utilization. With robust functionalities, it simplifies complex data environments, promoting productivity and reliability in data handling.

What are the key features of SAS Data Integration Server?

Data Profiling: Ensures data accuracy and quality through thorough analysis.
ETL Capabilities: Extracts, transforms, and loads data efficiently.
Metadata Management: Centralized control over data definitions and usage.
Data Lineage: Tracks data source origins and transformations for transparency.

What benefits and ROI should reviewers look for?

Improved Data Accuracy: Enhances decision-making with high-quality data.
Increased Efficiency: Reduces time and effort in data-related tasks.
Scalability: Adapts to growing business data demands seamlessly.
Reduced Costs: Optimizes resources, minimizing unnecessary expenditures.

SAS Data Integration Server finds applications across numerous industries, like finance and healthcare, where data integration and quality are critical. In finance, it helps manage vast amounts of transaction data, while in healthcare, it ensures accurate patient information management and reporting.

SAS

Sample Customers

1. Adobe 2. BMW 3. Coca-Cola 4. General Electric 5. Johnson & Johnson 6. LinkedIn 7. Mastercard 8. Nestle 9. Pfizer 10. Samsung 11. Siemens 12. Toyota 13. Unilever 14. Verizon 15. Walmart 16. Accenture 17. American Express 18. AT&T 19. Bank of America 20. Cisco 21. Deloitte 22. ExxonMobil 23. Ford 24. General Motors 25. IBM 26. JPMorgan Chase 27. Microsoft (Azure Data Factory is developed by Microsoft) 28. Oracle 29. Procter & Gamble 30. Salesforce 31. Shell 32. Visa

Credit Guarantee Corporation, Cr_dito y Cauci‹n, Delaware State Police, Deutsche Lufthansa, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, DSM, Livzon Pharmaceutical Group, Los Angeles County, Miami Herald Media Company, Netherlands Enterprise Agency, New Zealand Ministry of Health, Nippon Paper, West Midlands Police, XS Inc., Zenith Insurance

Buyer's Guide

Azure Data Factory vs. SAS Data Integration Server

September 2026

Free Report: Azure Data Factory vs. SAS Data Integration Server

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