Drift Scanner vs Atlas Zero-config drift detection vs schema-as-code
Atlas wants your schema in HCL. Drift Scanner just connects to your database and starts watching. Different bets — here's how they line up.
The short version
Connects with read-only credentials and watches the live schema. No schema-as-code, no HCL, no rewrite. Alerts in real time on drift.
Declarative schema-as-code in HCL. CLI is open source; Cloud adds visualization, planning, and team collaboration. Migration tool, not a drift watcher.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Drift Scanner | Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Detect unauthorized schema drift | Declarative schema-as-code migrations |
| Schema definition required | No (reads live DB) | Yes (HCL files) |
| Setup time | < 5 minutes | Hours to days (schema rewrite) |
| Continuous monitoring | Yes (always-on) | No (CI/manual diff) |
| Real-time alerts | Slack, email, webhook | No |
| Manages migrations | No | Yes (declarative + versioned) |
| Read-only connection | Yes | No (needs write access) |
| Migration lock prediction | Yes | No |
| Schema visualization | Diff view | Yes (Atlas Cloud) |
| Database support | PostgreSQL | PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, SQL Server, ClickHouse |
| Open source | No | CLI is open source (Apache 2.0) |
| Pricing | From $49/mo | Free CLI / Cloud pricing varies |
What Drift Scanner does
Drift Scanner connects to Postgres with read-only credentials and snapshots the live schema. No HCL, no schema definition file. The database is the source of truth.
It compares each scan against the baseline and alerts on every drifted object — columns, types, constraints, indexes, extensions, RLS policies. Always-on, not on-demand.
Where Drift Scanner pulls ahead
- Five-minute setup — no schema rewrite.
- Continuous monitoring with real-time alerts to Slack, email, or webhook.
- Read-only by design. Safe to point at production.
- Postgres-deep coverage including extensions, custom types, and RLS policies.
What Atlas does
Atlas treats your schema as code. You define the desired state in HCL files, and Atlas computes the migration to get there. The CLI is open source under Apache 2.0; Atlas Cloud adds visualization, migration planning, and collaboration features.
Atlas can compute a diff between your HCL and the live database, which surfaces unexpected changes — but the diff is run on demand, not continuously.
Where Atlas shines
- Declarative schema-as-code workflow.
- Open source CLI.
- Strong schema visualization in Atlas Cloud.
- Multi-database support.
Which should you choose?
Choose Drift Scanner if…
- You want drift monitoring without rewriting your schema in HCL
- You need always-on detection, not on-demand diffs
- You want real-time Slack alerts when something changes
- Read-only credentials are a hard requirement
- Postgres-specific drift (extensions, custom types, RLS) matters
Choose Atlas if…
- You want a declarative schema-as-code workflow
- You like generated migration plans from a desired-state HCL
- You need an open source CLI
- You manage schemas across many database engines
- You want visualization in a hosted product
If your schema lives in HCL, Atlas fits. If you want drift detection without rewriting your schema, Drift Scanner fits. They can also coexist — Atlas plans migrations, Drift Scanner watches what's actually live.
Questions
Do I need to rewrite my schema in HCL to use Drift Scanner?
No. Drift Scanner reads the live database directly — no HCL, no schema-as-code files.
Does Atlas detect unauthorized schema changes?
Atlas can diff its HCL against the live database, but on demand. Drift Scanner runs continuously with real-time alerts.
Can I use Drift Scanner with Atlas?
Yes. Atlas plans migrations from HCL; Drift Scanner watches what's actually live. Complementary.
How long does setup take?
Drift Scanner: under five minutes. Atlas: hours to days for the initial HCL definition on a complex database.
Which supports more databases?
Atlas. It covers Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, SQL Server, ClickHouse. Drift Scanner is Postgres-only by design — that's how it goes deeper.
Is Atlas open source?
The CLI is Apache 2.0. Atlas Cloud is commercial. Drift Scanner is a commercial SaaS starting at $49/mo.
Skip the HCL rewrite
Connect Drift Scanner in under five minutes. Read-only credentials. No schema files to maintain.
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