At a glance
| Status | Acquired by Databricks (October 2023); no current standalone offering found |
| Sources | Historical: 20+ enterprise databases and warehouses (list not readable). Lakeflow Connect: SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle |
| Targets | Lakeflow Connect writes to Databricks streaming tables only |
| CDC mechanism | Lakeflow Connect: database change logs (SQL Server change tracking or CDC, Oracle LogMiner) |
| Initial load | Lakeflow Connect: first run ingests all selected data, later runs ingest changes |
| Schema evolution | Not documented in the pages reviewed |
| Latency | Not documented; Databricks describes data as available almost instantly |
| Conflict handling | Not applicable (one-way ingestion into Databricks) |
| Monitoring | Lakeflow Connect: pipeline monitoring and system.billing.usage for cost |
| Licensing | Arcion: historical. Lakeflow Connect: Databricks DBUs, free tier of 100 DBUs per day for eligible sources |
Arcion is not a current purchasing option. If you were evaluating it to bring operational database changes into Databricks, look at Lakeflow Connect, where Databricks says the database connectors come from the Arcion acquisition; if you need replication to targets other than Databricks, compare independent CDC tools instead.
Overview
Arcion replicated data between on-premises and cloud databases and data platforms using change data capture. When Databricks agreed to buy it in October 2023, the press release described connectors for more than 20 enterprise databases and data warehouses, and said the deal would let Databricks ingest data from enterprise databases and SaaS applications natively, under its security, governance and compliance controls.
In June 2024 Databricks introduced LakeFlow and said its database connectors were powered by the Arcion acquisition. Lakeflow Connect, generally available since June 2025, documents database connectors for SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL and Oracle (Oracle using LogMiner): an ingestion gateway captures snapshots and change logs into a Unity Catalog staging volume, and a serverless ingestion pipeline applies them to streaming tables. The product page lists SQL Server, Salesforce and Workday as generally available, with other connectors needing preview access through a Databricks account team.
Key features
- Historical: CDC replication across on-premises and cloud databases, with connectors for 20+ enterprise databases and data warehouses (per the 2023 press release)
- Successor: Lakeflow Connect database connectors for SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL and Oracle, built on Arcion technology according to Databricks
- Successor: ingestion gateway that reads snapshots, change logs and metadata, with a staging volume purged after 30 days
- Successor: serverless ingestion pipelines that write to streaming tables governed by Unity Catalog
- Successor: SQL Server ingestion through change tracking or CDC, from primary instances only
Integrations and ecosystem
Pros and cons
Pros
- Its technology lives on inside Databricks, so Databricks users get managed database CDC without a separate tool
- Lakeflow Connect is governed by Unity Catalog and runs pipelines on serverless compute
- Lakeflow Connect has a documented daily free allowance for eligible managed sources
Cons
- No longer available as a standalone, multi-target replication product that we could find
- Lakeflow Connect only delivers into Databricks, not to other databases or warehouses
- Several Lakeflow Connect database connectors need preview access, and the gateway runs (and bills) continuously
Pricing
We found no current official page selling or pricing Arcion as a standalone product: arcion.io no longer completed a secure connection and the Arcion documentation site refused access when checked. Its technology now powers the database connectors in Databricks Lakeflow Connect, which is billed in Databricks units (DBUs); the Lakeflow Connect page lists a free tier of 100 DBUs per day for eligible managed sources. The database ingestion gateway runs continuously on classic compute and is billed even when the ingestion pipeline is idle.
Pricing checked on the vendor's official page on 7 November 2026. Prices change; confirm before buying.
Who it is best for
Readers researching what happened to Arcion, and Databricks customers who want managed CDC from SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL or Oracle into the lakehouse through Lakeflow Connect.
Typical use cases
- Understanding the lineage of Databricks Lakeflow Connect database connectors
- Ingesting SQL Server changes into Databricks with change tracking or CDC
- Replacing an older Arcion deployment with a supported CDC tool
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams that need replication to targets other than Databricks: compare Qlik Replicate, Striim or Debezium.
Verdict
Arcion now matters mainly as the origin of Databricks Lakeflow Connect database connectors, and should not be treated as something you can buy. Databricks users can evaluate Lakeflow Connect directly; anyone who needs CDC into several targets should compare independent replication tools.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still buy Arcion?
We found no current official page offering Arcion as a standalone product. Databricks acquired Arcion in 2023 and says the database connectors in Lakeflow Connect are powered by that acquisition. Ask Databricks directly if you have an existing Arcion contract.
What replaced Arcion?
Inside Databricks, Lakeflow Connect. Its database connectors cover SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL and Oracle, using an ingestion gateway and serverless pipelines that write to Unity Catalog streaming tables. SQL Server is listed as generally available; other connectors may need preview access.
How is Lakeflow Connect priced?
In Databricks units (DBUs). The Lakeflow Connect page lists a free tier of 100 DBUs per day for eligible managed sources. For database sources, the ingestion gateway runs continuously on classic compute and is billed even when the pipeline is idle.
Sources
- Databricks agrees to acquire Arcion (press release, 23 October 2023)
- Introducing Databricks LakeFlow (13 June 2024)
- Lakeflow general availability (12 June 2025)
- Lakeflow Connect product page
- Lakeflow Connect database connectors (CDC overview)
- Lakeflow Connect SQL Server ingestion
Checked November 2026.
Listed in: Change Data Capture & Replication.
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