DreamFactory

dreamfactory.com
DevOps
Weekend Project

Auto-Generate Secure REST APIs from Any Database

How to Replace DreamFactory

Overview

DreamFactory is a self-hosted enterprise data gateway that automatically generates secure REST APIs from any database, data warehouse, SaaS app, or legacy system without writing code. It provides governed API access with role-based access control, identity passthrough, and complete audit logging, enabling AI agents and applications to access data securely through standard REST or MCP endpoints.

Features

25 features across 12 categories

AI Integration(1)

AI-Ready Data AccessAI

AI agents and LLMs consume governed data through standard REST or MCP endpoints with credentials never leaving DreamFactory

Also in: Apify, Synthesia, Pendo

API Generation(3)

Advanced Query Parameters

Support for complex filters, pagination, sorting, related table joins, and virtual foreign keys

Full CRUD Operations

Auto-generated REST endpoints support full Create, Read, Update, Delete operations out of the box

Instant REST API Generation

Automatically creates secure REST API endpoints for any table, view, or stored procedure without writing code

Administration(2)

Admin Console

Centrally manage the entire platform from one console with complete oversight of API endpoints, access controls, and audit logs

REST API Admin Capabilities

All admin capabilities are exposed as a REST API to automate repetitive tasks

Also in: Notion, Airtable, Smartsheet

Compliance(1)

NIST Policy CompliancePremium

Federal Docker rebuilt on Chainguard's base docker image with NIST policies for US Federal Government security standards

Also in: Insider CDP, Airtable, 1Password

Customization(1)

Server-Side Scripting

Attach pre- or post-process scripts to API endpoints; supports Node.js, PHP, Python, and V8JS scripting engines

Also in: monday.com, Obsidian, Smartsheet

Deployment(3)

Flexible Infrastructure Support

Run on bare metal, VMs, or containers across your entire infrastructure

On-Premise Deployment

Deploy on-prem, in your VPC, or completely air-gapped; data never touches external servers

Portable and Stateless Architecture

Push package files between instances using the REST API or Admin Console for fast migrations across environments

Also in: Kubernetes Dashboard, Hugging Face, Bitwarden

Documentation(1)

Auto-Generated OpenAPI Documentation

Every connected data source gets interactive OpenAPI (Swagger) documentation automatically that stays in sync with the schema

Governance(2)

Complete Audit Logging

Every API call is logged with real user identity; built-in ELK stack provides flexible reporting on all API traffic

Federated Access and Data Governance

AI data access through APIs with federated access patterns, GDPR and HIPAA compliant

Also in: MuleSoft, Looker, Okta

Integration(2)

Multi-Database Connector Support

Connect to 30+ databases including SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, IBM DB2, SAP HANA, and more

SOAP to REST Conversion

Modernize legacy SOAP services by converting JSON requests to SOAP, calling the legacy service, and converting responses back to JSON

Networking(1)

Network APIsPremium

API networking capabilities for enterprise-grade deployments

Scalability(1)

Unlimited API Creation

Generate unlimited REST APIs with no artificial limits on endpoints, keys, or call volume

Security(7)

API Key Management

Secure APIs by default with API keys and limited access; instantly roll keys and reissue as needed

Authentication Suite

Supports OAuth, Active Directory, LDAP, OpenID, Okta, Auth0, and SAML authentication methods

Field-Level Security

Apply field-level security to control which fields AI agents and applications can access

Identity Passthrough

Preserves row-level security and passes through real user identity instead of using service accounts

Rate LimitingPremium

Control API request rates to manage traffic and prevent abuse

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Granular RBAC on every API endpoint with control over tables, fields, and operations accessible to each role

SBOM and CVE ScanningPremium

Federal Docker deployment includes full SBOM and CVE scan for compliance

Pricing

Open Source

Free
  • PostgreSQL connector
  • Basic API generation
  • Limited features

Essential

$1500/year
  • Single Connector of choice
  • Unlimited Roles
  • Unlimited API Keys
  • Unlimited API creation
  • Unlimited API requests
  • RBAC (Role-Based Access Control)
  • API Key Management
  • API Scripting
  • All connectors except Oracle, Snowflake, and DB2

Professional

$4000/year
  • Unlimited Connectors
  • Unlimited Roles
  • Unlimited Keys
  • Unlimited API creation
  • Unlimited API requests
  • All connectors including Oracle, Snowflake, and DB2
  • API Scripting
  • Authentication & Rate Limiting
  • Network APIs
  • Logging & Governance

Enterprise

Custom
  • Unlimited Connectors
  • Unlimited Connections
  • Unlimited Roles
  • Unlimited Keys
  • Unlimited API creation
  • Unlimited API requests
  • All connectors including Oracle, Snowflake, and DB2
  • API Scripting
  • Authentication & Rate Limiting
  • Network APIs
  • Logging & Governance
  • Pricing per vCPU

DF Docker/Kubernetes

$6000/year
  • All connectors including Oracle, Snowflake, and DB2
  • API Scripting
  • Authentication & Rate Limiting
  • Network APIs
  • Logging & Governance
  • Kubernetes scalability
  • Pricing per vCPU - Starts at 4 vCPU, then $1500 per additional vCPU

Federal Docker

Custom
  • US Federal Government security standards
  • Chainguard base docker image
  • NIST policies
  • Full SBOM and CVE Scan
  • All connectors including Oracle, Snowflake, and DB2
  • API Scripting
  • Authentication & Rate Limiting
  • Network APIs
  • Logging & Governance

Cost Calculator

Pricing data not available for DreamFactory. Check their website for current pricing.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a DreamFactory alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 25 features.

Buy DreamFactory

Better Value
Monthly costContact Sales
3-year totalVaries
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$12,000
Maintenance$180/mo
3-year total$18,480
Dev time~1 months

Buying DreamFactory saves ~$18,480 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 25 features and a BuildScore of 5/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

25 known integrations

Active DirectoryAuth0AWSAWS MarketplaceAzure BlobDigital OceanDockerFTP/SFTPIBM DB2KubernetesLDAPLocal StorageMongoDBMySQLOAuthOktaOpenIDOraclePostgreSQLS3SAMLSAP HANASnowflakeSOAPSQL Server