Census vs RudderStack Pricing (2026)
How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.
| Census | RudderStack | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | Custom | $265/mo |
| Number of plans | 4 | 3 |
| Free plan | ||
| Free trial | ||
| Pricing model | usage-based | usage-based |
Free
- 500,000 monthly active rows (MAR) for connections
- 3,500 monthly active rows (MAR) for activations
- 5,000 monthly model runs (MMR) for transformations
Standard
Popular- Unlimited users
- 15-minute syncs
- 700+ fully managed connectors
- 200+ fully managed activation destinations
- Integration for dbt Core
- Role-based access control
- Access to Fivetran REST API
- Access to SSH tunnels for encryption
Enterprise
- 1-minute syncs
- Fivetran Activations' Audience Hub
- Enterprise database connectors
- Custom roles
- VPN tunnels (annual contract only)
- SCIM/user provisioning
- Pick any cloud provider (GCP, AWS, Azure)
- Hybrid deployment option
Business Critical
- Customer-managed keys for encryption
- PCI DSS Level 1 certification
- Private networking options
Free
- 16 SDK sources
- 200+ cloud destinations
- Warehouse destinations
- Reverse ETL
Growth
Popular- Unlimited team members
- Unlimited tracking plans
- 30 minute warehouse sync
- 2 workspaces
- 25 reverse ETL connections
Enterprise
- 5 minute warehouse sync
- Unlimited Transformations
- Access to Profiles & Data Apps
- HIPAA
- SSO
- White glove support
Census vs RudderStack FAQ
- Which one is cheaper?
- One or both use custom pricing, so it depends on your specific needs.
- Can I use either one for free?
- Both offer free plans, so you can try each without paying. Start with whichever fits your workflow better and upgrade when you hit the limits.
- How do they charge?
- Both use a usage-based model, so the comparison is straightforward — it comes down to features and limits at each price point.
- Which one is a better deal?
- Depends on what you need. RudderStack: RudderStack plays in the middle of the CDP pack — not a free-forever hobbyist tool, but noticeably cheaper than Segment at comparable volumes, especially since it leans on open-source roots to undercut the big incumbents. It's angling for teams that want Segment-like functionality without Segment-like invoices.
Still deciding? See the best Census alternatives or the best RudderStack alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
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