Top 5 Atlan competitors for data catalog management (2025)

More than ever before, data cataloging has become non-negotiable.

Businesses need fast, reliable access to trusted data, and that means having the right cataloging platform in place.

While Atlan is a popular choice, it's far from the only option. In fact, many organizations are now evaluating other Atlan competitors that better fit their needs for usability, governance, or AI readiness.

In this guide, we’ll unpack the top Atlan alternatives worth considering in 2025, examine their benefits and drawbacks, and show you why DataGalaxy is rapidly becoming the go-to solution for organizations that want more than just a data catalog.

What is data cataloging?

Before diving into the best Atlan competitors, it’s important to understand the role of a data catalog. 

Simply put, a data catalog is a centralized system that indexes and enriches metadata about your enterprise data, including tables, reports, dashboards, APIs, and more. A data catalog works to make data discoverable, understandable, and usable for everyone from data scientists to business analysts.

A data catalog helps increase organizational:

AI readiness

Machine learning models require accurate, governed, and well-documented data inputs

Business alignment

Teams need consistent definitions, metrics, and data knowledge to make decisions with confidence

Data governance

With regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, understanding data lineage and ownership is essential

Cloud migration

As companies shift to hybrid and multi-cloud environments, metadata visibility becomes more complex and urgent

Why data cataloging matters more than ever in 2025

Choosing the right catalog means choosing the right foundation for your data strategy.

The role of the data catalog has expanded. It is no longer just about finding tables or documenting schemas—it’s about enabling trust in data.

Here’s why it matters:

Accelerated AI adoption

requires structured, trusted metadata

Data governance and compliance mandates

depend on clear lineage and ownership

Cross-functional collaboration

breaks down when data definitions vary between teams

Cloud data platforms

can introduce complexity: Metadata sprawls, tools multiply, and without a catalog, chaos ensues

Organizations that treat data cataloging as foundational are seeing faster product development cycles, lower compliance risk, and higher data team productivity.

Top 5 Atlan Competitors in 2025

Now let’s explore five strong Atlan alternatives that offer unique advantages across different use cases, industries, and data maturity levels.

1. Collibra

Collibra is a well-established player in the data governance space, offering deep functionality for metadata management and compliance.

  • Governance-first design with enterprise workflows
  • Trusted in highly regulated sectors like finance and healthcare
  • Supports policy management and steward assignments

Limitations:

  • Complex and time-consuming implementation
  • Less user-friendly for non-technical stakeholders
  • Best suited for organizations with large governance teams

2. Alation

Alation is known for its robust data search capabilities and behavioral metadata features. It pioneered the idea of a collaborative, usage-based catalog.

  • Excellent data discovery powered by usage analytics
  • Popularity scoring helps surface high-value assets
  • Proven deployments across Fortune 500 companies

Limitations:

  • High total cost of ownership
  • Some UI and integration components are dated
  • May be too rigid for fast-scaling or cloud-native teams

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3. Microsoft Purview

Microsoft Purview is integrated within the Azure ecosystem and increasingly features in discussions around Atlan competitors, especially in Microsoft-heavy environments.

  • Built-in compatibility with Azure Data Lake, Synapse, and Power BI
  • Automated classification and sensitivity labeling
  • Strong fit for enterprise-wide Microsoft governance

Limitations:

  • Limited support for multi-cloud or non-Microsoft systems
  • Customization and extensibility are constrained
  • Governance capabilities are still maturing

4. Informatica 

Informatica offers a powerful cloud-native catalog as part of its broader data management suite, making it a strong Atlan alternative for complex enterprises.

  • AI-powered metadata enrichment and automated discovery
  • Deep integration with data quality and MDM tools
  • Ideal for end-to-end governance across large datasets

Limitations:

  • Complex licensing and feature bundles
  • Steeper learning curve for business users
  • Requires broader Informatica ecosystem buy-in

5. DataGalaxy

Among the broad field of Atlan competitors, DataGalaxy is emerging as the platform that not only solves cataloging challenges but also builds an authentic, collaborative data culture.

Here’s how DataGalaxy outpaces other Atlan alternatives:

1. Real-time collaboration

Unlike static catalogs that rely on a small team of data stewards, DataGalaxy enables everyone to participate in the cataloging process—live, in real time. Think of it like Google Docs, but for your entire metadata layer.

This allows for faster documentation, richer context, and stronger data ownership.

2. Business-friendly, intuitive interface

DataGalaxy offers one of the most user-centric experiences in the market. Business analysts, product owners, and data scientists can all navigate the platform with ease without steep learning curves or technical dependencies.

3. Integrated lineage, governance, and quality

DataGalaxy doesn’t treat governance as an optional addition to your data atmosphere. Instead, it provides automated data lineage, built-in quality indicators, and traceable ownership as part of the core experience.

4. Semantic layer built for AI & BI

With the rise of GenAI and LLMs, structured, contextual metadata is gold. DataGalaxy’s semantic knowledge layer organizes business definitions and relationships to support AI pipelines and BI tools alike.

5. Rapid deployment

Compared to other Atlan competitors, DataGalaxy is fast to deploy—often in weeks, not months—and comes with transparent, scalable pricing.

This leads to quick wins and long-term sustainability without hidden complexity.

DataGalaxy does more than just cataloging

While many Atlan competitors focus purely on metadata management, DataGalaxy is built to activate metadata, not just store it.

Here’s what sets us apart:

Data knowledge hubs

Curate business-ready knowledge spaces aligned with teams, domains, or initiatives

Usage analytics

See who’s using which data, how often, and in what context to optimize your ecosystem

Governance-as-code

Automate governance policies with reproducible templates and APIs

Community-driven curation

Encourage internal data sharing and recognition with social features like comments, ratings, and badges

Choosing the right Atlan competitor

If you're evaluating Atlan competitors in 2025, the choice ultimately comes down to your organization's priorities: Governance, user experience, integration depth, or AI readiness.

But if you’re looking for a future-proof platform that combines real-time collaboration, business accessibility, automated lineage, and AI-ready metadata, there’s one standout among Atlan competitors: DataGalaxy.

We’re the modern data catalog platform that does more than cataloging. We drives true data fluency to bring consciousness to all.

FAQ

What is value governance?

Value governance is the strategic oversight of data and digital initiatives to ensure they deliver measurable business value. It aligns investments with organizational goals, maximizes ROI, and promotes accountability. Effective value governance is key to driving data-driven decisions, optimizing resource use, and sustaining long-term growth in digital transformation and AI readiness.

Reference data categorizes other data—like country or currency codes—and provides a stable framework for consistency across systems. Proper management supports data quality, compliance, and operational efficiency by ensuring accurate, reliable reporting and analysis.

Reference data management oversees classifications like country codes or product categories across systems. Since it’s widely shared, consistency and accuracy are essential. Centralized management boosts efficiency, ensures compliance, and supports better decisions through a unified view of key business terms.

DataGalaxy is a modern data & AI governance platform that centralizes metadata, data lineage, and business definitions to create a shared understanding of data across the organization. Designed for collaboration, we empower teams to find, trust, and use data confidently. Learn how DataGalaxy accelerates data-driven decision-making at www.datagalaxy.com.

DataGalaxy stands out with our user-friendly, collaborative data governance platform that empowers everyone—from data stewards to business users—to understand, trust, and use data confidently. Unlike complex legacy tools, DataGalaxy offers intuitive metadata management, real-time lineage, and a business glossary in one centralized hub. Discover how we drive agile, value-first data strategies at www.datagalaxy.com.