Aphelion vs Tonic.ai

At a Glance

Feature	Aphelion $49/year	Tonic.ai $20k+/year
PostgreSQL Support	✅ Native	✅ Yes
Constraint Handling	✅ Automatic	✅ Yes
CLI Tool	✅ Primary	⚠️ Secondary
Web UI	❌ No	✅ Yes
Multi-Database Support	❌ PostgreSQL Only	✅ Multiple DBs
HIPAA Compliance	✅ Built-in	✅ Yes
CI/CD Integration	✅ Easy	✅ Yes
Local Development	✅ Free Forever	❌ Cloud Only
Pricing Model	$49/year	$20k+/year
Setup Time	< 5 minutes	Hours to days

Detailed Comparison

Why Choose Aphelion

✓
Price Disruption: $49/year vs $20k+. Same PostgreSQL features at 1/400th the cost.
✓
PostgreSQL Native: Deep support for ltree, JSONB, arrays, hierarchies—not generic.
✓
Developer-First: CLI-first approach, perfect for DevOps workflows and automation.
✓
Local Development: Free forever for local use. No cloud dependency.
✓
Instant Setup: Download binary, run command. No complex configuration.
✓
Deterministic: Same seed = same data every time. Perfect for testing.

Why Choose Tonic.ai

✓
Multi-Database: Supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, MongoDB, and more.
✓
Web UI: Visual interface for non-technical users and data previews.
✓
ML-Based Generation: Statistical similarity using machine learning models.
✓
Enterprise Features: SSO, audit logs, team collaboration, role-based access.
✓
Brand Recognition: Established player with major enterprise customers.
✓
Support: Dedicated account management and priority support.

Which One is Right for You?

Choose Aphelion If:

✓ You use PostgreSQL exclusively
✓ You're a startup or mid-market company (50-500 employees)
✓ You prefer CLI tools and DevOps workflows
✓ You need local development capabilities
✓ Budget is a concern ($49/year vs $20k+)
✓ You value PostgreSQL-native features (ltree, JSONB, arrays)
✓ You want instant setup (< 5 minutes)

Choose Tonic.ai If:

✓ You use multiple database types (MySQL, MongoDB, etc.)
✓ You're an enterprise (500+ employees)
✓ You prefer web UI over CLI tools
✓ You need ML-based statistical similarity
✓ You require enterprise features (SSO, audit logs, RBAC)
✓ You need dedicated support and account management
✓ Budget is not a primary concern

Migrating from Tonic.ai to Aphelion

If you're using Tonic.ai for PostgreSQL and want to save $19,951/year, here's how to switch:

1

Download Aphelion

curl -L https://algomimic.com/api/download/free -o aphelion && chmod +x aphelion

2

Test with Your Schema

./aphelion clone postgresql://user:pass@localhost/your_db \
  --output test_data.json \
  --rows 1000

3

Compare Results

Verify constraint handling, data quality, and generation speed match your needs.
4

Upgrade to Pro (Optional)

If you need unlimited rows and CI/CD automation:
Get Pro for $49/year

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aphelion really as good as Tonic.ai for PostgreSQL?

For PostgreSQL-specific features, yes. Aphelion has deep native support for PostgreSQL data types (ltree, JSONB, arrays, hierarchies) and constraint handling. Where Tonic.ai excels is multi-database support and enterprise features like SSO and web UI.

Why is Aphelion so much cheaper?

We focus exclusively on PostgreSQL and use a CLI-first approach, which reduces development and infrastructure costs. We also don't have enterprise sales teams or cloud hosting costs. We pass those savings to you.

Can I use both tools?

Absolutely! Many teams use Aphelion for PostgreSQL development/testing and Tonic.ai for other databases or production data masking. Since Aphelion is $49/year, it's easy to run both.

Does Aphelion have enterprise features?

Not yet. We're focused on the core product first. If you need SSO, audit logs, or team management, Tonic.ai is currently the better choice. We're planning enterprise features for Q2 2025.

Ready to Save $19,951/Year?

Try Aphelion free for local development. No credit card required.

Download Free CLI View Pricing