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Alation Data Lineage
What Alation Data Lineage is
Alation Data Lineage maps data flows, transformations and dependencies so users can follow information from source to destination. Visual lineage views can display data-quality and trust flags, business metadata and asset context. Automated capture uses metadata harvesting, connected-system query logs and query parsing, while users can annotate spreadsheets or custom scripts manually. Impact views identify downstream reports affected by source changes and help assess outage or migration effects. Lineage can connect with policies, data-quality rules and team annotations in Alation’s catalog. Alation lists more than 120 database and BI connectors and supports custom development through its Open Connector Framework SDK. A public Lineage API can create or update lineage data. Documentation covers Alation Cloud Service and customer-managed deployments. Column-level coverage depends on the source and connector. The service is available through API, self-hosted and web platforms. Pricing is on request, with no free plan. Alation reports ISO 27001:2022 certification and SOC 2 Type 2 controls.
Who it suits
Alation Data Lineage suits technical and non-technical users who need searchable paths, visual lineage and change-impact analysis. It is relevant to teams connecting catalogs, policies and data-quality context across many systems.
What it does well
- Maps flows, transformations and dependencies
- Captures lineage automatically and manually
- Offers more than 120 connectors
- Includes public lineage API access
- Supports cloud and customer-managed deployments
What to know first
- No free plan
- Pricing requires a sales conversation
- Column coverage depends on source and connector
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Alation Data Lineage | Pricing requires a conversation with Alation; the pricing page describes a shared pool of Alation Consumption Units. | On request |
As alation.com lists them, read 3 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Alation Data Lineage combines automated discovery, manual annotation, visual context and impact analysis. Connector coverage and deployment options are broad, but column-level detail varies by source and connector.
Facts from Alation Data Lineage's own pages
- API
- Alation’s user guide says lineage data can be created or updated through its public Lineage API. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Automated capture
- The product describes capturing lineage through metadata harvesting, connected-system query logs, and query parsing. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Catalog context
- Lineage information can link data assets to policies, data-quality rules, and team annotations in Alation’s catalog. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Compliance
- Alation reports ISO 27001:2022 certification and SOC 2 Type 2 controls, and says its SOC 2 report includes HIPAA and HITECH. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Alation documentation applies lineage to both Alation Cloud Service and customer-managed instances. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2012 · alation.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Redwood City, California, USA · alation.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Impact analysis
- Lineage can show downstream reports affected by a source change and help identify potential outages or migration impacts. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Alation says it offers more than 120 connectors, including connectors for databases and BI platforms, and supports custom connector development through its Open Connector Framework SDK. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The product describes visual lineage graphs and searchable paths for both technical and non-technical users. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Lineage coverage limit
- Column-level lineage depends on the data source and connector; Alation directs customers to the support matrix for version-specific coverage. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Lineage views
- Visual lineage maps can show data quality, trust flags, business metadata, and contextual details about data assets. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Manual lineage
- Users can manually annotate lineage, including lineage from spreadsheets or custom scripts. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Maps data flows, transformations, and dependencies so users can trace data from source to destination. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Security
- Alation says Cloud Service customer data is encrypted and not accessible to its site engineers. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Support
- Alation offers product demonstrations and directs prospective customers to contact its sales team for pricing and product information. · alation.com, 3 Oct 2026
Where Alation Data Lineage stands on Freedom251
- Data Lineage Tools#21 of 43