Side by side
Evolve vs pt-online-schema-change
Both stand on database migration tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxWindows
Choose Evolve if you want a free SQL migration tool that can run as a .NET library, tool, or standalone CLI. Look elsewhere if you need officially supported concurrent migrations for CockroachDB or cannot meet its runtime requirements.
Visit Evolve Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted
pt-online-schema-change provides a chunked approach to MySQL table replacement with load and replica checks. Existing triggers, key requirements, and foreign-key handling can constrain its use, so table conditions matter before execution.
Visit pt-online-schema-changeThe facts
| Evolve | pt-online-schema-change | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Windows | Linux, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | docs.percona.com |
| On database migration tools | #14 of 32 | #18 of 32 |
Evolve: what it does well
- Free, open-source, and self-hosted.
- Supports seven documented database systems.
- Provides versioned and repeatable SQL migrations.
- Offers rollback support and CI/CD automation.
- Cluster mode coordinates runs with a session-level lock.
What to know first
- The .NET library and tool require specified .NET runtimes.
- CockroachDB concurrent migrations are not officially supported.
- Cassandra scripts require a semicolon at the end of a line.
pt-online-schema-change: what it does well
- Copies rows in small chunks.
- Can pause for high load or delayed replicas.
- Does not alter tables without --execute.
- Free and self-hosted on Linux.
What to know first
- Most tables need a primary or unique key.
- Tables with existing triggers are unsupported.
- Foreign-key handling introduces additional risk.
- Requires Perl, DBI, DBD::mysql, and MySQL 5.0.2 or newer.
Alternatives to Evolve Alternatives to pt-online-schema-change The whole list