Apache Atlas vs SemanticWorx Affirma

Apache Atlas is open-source software for managing metadata and governance around data assets. It supports cataloging, classification, governance, and collaboration, with predefined metadata types and tools for defining custom types, entities, and relationships. Teams can create classifications, associate them with multiple entities, and propagate them through data lineage. The interface displays lineage, and REST APIs can access and update it. Metadata search works by type, classification, attribute value, or free text, including through a SQL-like language. Fine-grained access controls apply to metadata entities and classification operations. Integration with Apache Ranger can use classifications for authorization and data masking. Atlas exposes REST endpoints for metadata types, entities, lineage, and discovery; documented integrations include Hive, HBase, Sqoop, Storm, and Kafka. Atlas is server software for self-hosted deployment, built and packaged for an environment with HBase and Solr. It is listed for Linux, web, API, and self-hosted use, at free.

SemanticWorx Affirma is a paid enterprise semantic and metadata management solution for harmonizing data architecture. Its catalog stores data models, schemas, integration schemas, and other definitions, while an enterprise semantic model records shared meanings and dataset relationships. Lineage, mapping, and transformation features show data origins and movement between sources and targets. Governance workflows support approvals, audit review, and notifications. Build Automation provides code generation, and Data Design can generate XSD and DDL for MySQL, Hana, Snowflake, Oracle, MS SQL, and SQLite. Deployment options are on-premises and cloud-based, with self-hosted and web access listed. Affirma can import schemas, ODBC sources, UML, XML, and reference data, and the site describes Databricks Unity Catalog metadata harvesting and lineage integration. Core, Professional, and Ultimate subscriptions are annual and priced by inquiry, considering users and data sources. Basic Support includes updates, ticket turnaround, a knowledge base, and a solution forum.