Editorial take
Why it stands out
Alation should be framed as enterprise data intelligence and governance infrastructure, not as a lightweight catalog utility.
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Tool profile
Enterprise data intelligence and catalog platform for search, governance, trust, and AI-ready knowledge layers over organizational data.
Enterprise data catalog
Alation belongs in the catalog because it is one of the defining enterprise names in data catalog, governance, and data intelligence. The checked site now positions it as an agentic data intelligence platform and a knowledge layer for governance and trusted AI, which makes it especially relevant to modern buyers trying to connect data cataloging, governance, and AI-readiness in one platform story. That is a meaningful enterprise capability category, not just metadata administration.
It also deserves inclusion because the pricing posture is explicit about being request-led. The checked pricing page does not pretend to be self-serve. Instead it centers on getting a quote and frames the value around data intelligence, governance, trusted data, and enterprise searchability. That is enough for a premium buyer-facing entry as long as the copy stays honest about the quote-driven motion.
Quick fit
Editorial take
Alation should be framed as enterprise data intelligence and governance infrastructure, not as a lightweight catalog utility.
What it does well
Primary use cases
Fit notes
Compare with
Pressure-test this pick against nearby alternatives.
Pricing snapshot
Alation's pricing path is request-based and quote-led. The official pricing page centers on requesting pricing and positions the platform around data intelligence, governance, trusted data, and enterprise search and collaboration rather than a public self-serve plan table.
Algolia
Free planEcommerce and marketplace catalog search with facets
Hosted search platform for autocomplete, filtering, ranking, and fast product discovery.
Search and recommend meters differ—count both in forecasts.
