Sequin

Sequin is a self-hosted tool for streaming PostgreSQL changes to messaging, cache, search, and webhook destinations. It suits teams that want to build change-driven workflows and are prepared to operate the software themselves. Its routing and replay options are broad, but there is no longer a managed Sequin Cloud service.

Overview

Sequin uses log-based capture and supports an initial snapshot. It runs as a Docker image alongside PostgreSQL and can be started with Docker Compose, so deployment fits teams already comfortable managing database-adjacent infrastructure. It is not the right choice for organizations that require a hosted pipeline.

The project is open source under the MIT license and is in maintenance mode, with security patches and critical bug fixes planned. Sequin Cloud shut down on October 23, 2025, and all Cloud subscriptions were canceled. Self-hosting remains the available deployment path.

Key features

Sequin routes changes to Kafka, AWS SQS, GCP Pub/Sub, Redis Streams and Strings, NATS, Elasticsearch, Typesense, Meilisearch, and webhooks. Users can filter and transform messages, enrich changes with PostgreSQL data, and route them to sinks. That range supports event streaming, audit logging, cache synchronization, and search indexing in a single PostgreSQL-focused workflow.

Backfills can begin at a table's start or a chosen point, and can replay selected rows. This is useful when initializing a destination or correcting a downstream view without treating every replay as an all-or-nothing restart. The maker describes delivery as 100% with automatic retries, exponential backoff, strict ordering, and exactly-once processing; teams evaluating those guarantees should account for their own deployment and operational responsibilities.

Sinks can be managed through the console, CLI, YAML configuration, or API, giving teams several ways to fit configuration and operations into their workflows. For monitoring, Sequin exposes Prometheus metrics and includes a Grafana dashboard. Its database guide recommends a dedicated production user with connect, select, and replication permissions. The security page describes encryption using NIST-approved protocols such as TLS and says customers will be notified of incidents without undue delay, and where feasible within 72 hours.

Pricing

The self-hosted Sequin plan costs nothing. It is open source under the MIT license and runs on your own infrastructure; the plan has no published seat or usage quota in the stated terms. This makes it a no-license-cost option for teams able to provide and maintain the runtime themselves, rather than a hosted service with operational work included.

Sequin Cloud subscriptions were canceled when the service shut down. There is no current Cloud plan to choose, and self-hosting is the practical trade-off behind the free plan.

Platforms

Sequin is listed for API, Linux, self-hosted, and web use. It is designed to run alongside PostgreSQL as a Docker image. The database documentation supports PostgreSQL 14 or higher; versions 12 and 13 are soft-supported with limitations, while the homepage describes compatibility with version 12 or later. Teams on PostgreSQL 12 or 13 should check the version-specific limitations before committing.

Who it's for

Sequin is a strong fit for teams whose applications depend on PostgreSQL and need to fan database changes out to event, cache, or search systems. Its backfills, transformations, multiple sink types, and operational interfaces are most valuable when teams want control over how changes move and can run the capture service themselves. It is a poor fit for teams that need a managed cloud offering or want to avoid operating another service next to the database.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad destination support and filtering, enrichment, and transformation make it useful across event, cache, and search workflows.
• Pros: Backfills from a chosen point and selected-row replays give teams practical recovery and initialization options.
• Pros: MIT licensing and a free self-hosted plan avoid a software license charge.
• Cons: Sequin Cloud has shut down, so deployment and ongoing operation fall to the user.
• Cons: PostgreSQL 12 and 13 are only soft-supported with limitations; PostgreSQL 14 or later is the documented supported baseline.
• Cons: The project is in maintenance mode, focused on security patches and critical bug fixes rather than an active Cloud service.

Alternatives

Consider Apache Flink CDC if its released JARs and connectors, Apache License 2.0, or support across Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and Windows better match your environment.

Canal is another free, Apache-2.0 open-source option with API, Linux, macOS, and self-hosted platforms. Choose Debezium instead if you want an open-source distributed change data capture platform under Apache License 2.0, with API, Linux, self-hosted, and Windows support.

pgstream offers a free open-source CDC CLI and Go library under Apache 2.0 for Linux, macOS, and self-hosted environments. dbmazz may suit users who want a free self-hosted engine with a CLI and terminal dashboard, local web UI, and community support.

If a free tier with defined stream and task limits is preferable to operating a self-hosted tool, Decodable offers 24 hours or 10GiB of stream retention, 20 streams, and four running tasks on its Free plan. Estuary is an alternative with a free plan, a free trial, and a pay-as-you-go option at $100 a month.

LinkedIn Databus is a free Apache 2.0 open-source option. Browse more options in Change Data Capture Software.

Verdict

Choose Sequin if you need PostgreSQL change capture with flexible routing and replay, and your team can self-host and maintain it. Its MIT license and practical destination and backfill features are compelling; the main reason to look elsewhere is the loss of managed Cloud hosting, compounded by maintenance-mode development.