Flatfile vs Ivandt
Two different approaches to data import. Which fits your needs?
Flatfile is a well-established platform for data onboarding with server-side processing and collaborative features. Ivandt takes a different approach: 100% client-side processing, transparent pricing, and minimal setup. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.
At a glance
Key differences
Detailed comparison
Architecture & Privacy: Server-side vs Client-side
Flatfile is 100% server-side. Your data is uploaded to their servers immediately. Crucially, Flatfile claims to have used billions of previous uploads to train their AI models. By using their platform, you are potentially exposing your sensitive enterprise data to train their general-purpose AI, which poses a significant data privacy and IP risk.
Ivandt processes everything client-side in the browser. We never train AI models on your data. Even if you use our optional hosted storage for querying and filtering (SOC 2 compliant), your data remains strictly yours. We are an infrastructure provider, not a data aggregator.
If you can't risk your data being used to train third-party AI models, Ivandt is the safe choice.
Integration Complexity: Platform vs Web Component
Flatfile is notoriously complex, with a documentation site that rivals AWS in confusion. Concepts like Spaces, Workbooks, and Portals are hard to grasp. Embedding their portal often takes days of engineering time and likely requires talking to support just to get started.
Ivandt is designed to be dead simple. Install the npm package, drop the <ivt-importer /> web component into your app, and you're running in minutes. Our docs are concise, up-to-date, and focused on getting you live immediately.
Flatfile is a "platform" that takes days to learn. Ivandt is a component that takes minutes to install.
Performance Comparison: The "Upload & Wait" Trap
Because Flatfile uploads everything to their servers for processing, performance is sluggish. Uploading a file with just 10k rows can take minutes as you wait for their servers to parse and analyze it. Users often experience "100% uploaded" followed by a crash or error, forcing a restart.
Ivandt gives instant feedback. Parsing, validation, and transformation happen locally on the user's machine using Web Workers. There is no network latency for processing. A 500k row file validates in seconds, and users see results immediately.
Don't make your users wait for a server upload just to see column headers. Client-side is simply faster.
Validation Capabilities: AI vs Deterministic Rules
Flatfile relies heavily on its AI for mapping and basic validation, which can be hit-or-miss.
Ivandt uses a superior, deterministic rule engine (@ivandt/json-rules) that handles complex cross-field validation, nested logic, and custom business rules securely
For complex business rules that must be 100% accurate every time, a deterministic rule engine beats a probabilistic AI.
AI Transformation Quality & Reliability
Flatfile's AI transformation features are ambitious but often buggy. Simple requests like "merge columns" or basic formatting often fail or produce hallucinations. It tries to do too much and often delivers too little reliability.
Ivandt's AI transformation is modular and focused. It sends prompts and schema instructions—never your actual dataset—to the model, ensuring security. It works alongside our robust standard transformers to deliver reliable, repeatable results.
Ivandt's AI is secure by default and scoped to be reliable. Flatfile's AI is a black box that trains on your data.
Product Identity: Importer vs Spreadsheet Workspace
Flatfile seems to be trying to replace Google Sheets, building a collaborative workspace that sits awkwardly between an importer and a spreadsheet. It's complex, expensive, and tries to do too many things without mastering the core import experience.
Ivandt is laser-focused on one thing: being the best data import experience for your application. We aren't trying to be a spreadsheet tool. We are the fastest, most reliable way to get external data into your system cleanly.
If you need a collaborative workspace, use Google Sheets. If you need to import data into your app, use Ivandt.
Pricing Comparison: Hidden Costs vs Flat Rate
Flatfile uses usage-based pricing with different tiers. Pricing details require contacting sales. Plans are based on records processed, features needed, and support level. Enterprise features and higher volumes require custom quotes.
Ivandt offers flat monthly pricing: $399/month for SDK (unlimited imports, you store data) or $599/month for hosted (includes storage, dashboards, audit logs). No per-record fees, no volume tiers, no sales calls required.
Ivandt's pricing is transparent and predictable. You know exactly what you'll pay. Flatfile's pricing scales with usage, which can be unpredictable.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to try Ivandt?
See how Ivandt handles your data imports. Client-side processing, flat pricing, and setup in minutes.
Last updated: December 2025 • Have feedback? Let us know