Sequin

Sequin is open-source software for streaming PostgreSQL changes in real time to other systems. It can send data to destinations including Kafka, AWS SQS, GCP Pub/Sub, Redis Streams and Strings, NATS, search indexes, and webhooks. Users can filter or transform changes, enrich them with PostgreSQL data, and route them to destinations. Backfills can start from the beginning of a table or a selected point, with partial replays of chosen rows. Sequin runs as a Docker image alongside Postgres and can be started with Docker Compose. It is self-hosted under the MIT license; the listed self-hosted plan is free. Sink management is available through a console, CLI, YAML configuration, or API, and monitoring includes a Prometheus metrics endpoint and Grafana dashboard. PostgreSQL 14 or later is supported; versions 12 and 13 are soft-supported with limitations. Sequin Cloud shut down on October 23, 2025, and users are directed to self-host. The project continues in maintenance mode with security patches and critical bug fixes.

Sequin provides a self-hosted path for routing and processing PostgreSQL changes, with backfills and monitoring tools. It is not a current cloud service, so deployment requires running it on your own infrastructure.

Sequin may suit developers and teams that need to stream Postgres changes into queues, search systems, or other destinations and can run self-hosted software. It is also aimed at use cases such as audit logging, cache synchronization, and search indexing.

Sequin is a PostgreSQL change-data-capture tool for teams that want to route database updates into messaging, cache, search, or webhook systems. It is best suited to operators comfortable running infrastructure beside their database. Its routing and replay controls are useful; the absence of a current hosted service is the central trade-off.

Overview

Sequin captures changes from PostgreSQL’s log and supports an initial snapshot. It runs as a Docker image alongside the database, and Docker Compose can start it. That keeps deployment under your control, but also makes operation and upkeep your responsibility.

The project is open source under the MIT license and is in maintenance mode, with security patches and critical bug fixes planned. Sequin Cloud shut down on October 23, 2025, and its subscriptions were canceled. Teams that require a managed pipeline should look elsewhere.

Key features

Sequin routes changes to Kafka, AWS SQS, GCP Pub/Sub, Redis Streams and Strings, NATS, Elasticsearch, Typesense, Meilisearch, and webhooks. Users can filter and transform messages, enrich them with PostgreSQL data, and route them to sinks. That range suits event streaming, audit logging, cache synchronization, and search indexing; the tool’s focus is specifically PostgreSQL change flows.

Backfills can start from a table’s beginning or a chosen point, and can replay selected rows. This is useful when bringing a destination up to date or correcting a partial downstream gap without replaying everything. The maker describes delivery as 100%, with automatic retries, exponential backoff, strict ordering, and exactly-once processing—capabilities aimed at dependable change handling.

Sinks can be managed through a console, CLI, YAML configuration, or API, so teams can choose an operational interface that fits their workflow. For monitoring, Sequin exposes a Prometheus metrics endpoint and includes a Grafana dashboard. Its database guide recommends a dedicated production user with connect, select, and replication permissions. Security documentation describes support for NIST-approved encryption protocols such as TLS and incident notification without undue delay, where feasible within 72 hours.

Pricing

Self-hosted Sequin — free. The free plan is the MIT-licensed open-source software running on your own infrastructure. There is no paid hosted tier to choose instead: Cloud subscriptions were canceled when the service shut down. The price is attractive for teams able to operate the software themselves, but it does not remove the infrastructure and maintenance work.

Platforms

Sequin is available for API, Linux, web, and self-hosted use. PostgreSQL 14 or later is supported; versions 12 and 13 are soft-supported with limitations, so production plans should account for that distinction. The homepage describes support for any PostgreSQL version 12 or later, while the database reference sets version 14 as the supported baseline.

Who it's for

Sequin fits teams already operating PostgreSQL that need a self-hosted path from database changes to queues, event streams, caches, or search indexes. It is particularly relevant when selective replay, transformation, or enrichment matters. It is a poor fit for teams that want a vendor-managed cloud pipeline or do not want to maintain another service.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad destination support plus filtering, transformation, and enrichment lets teams shape change flows for several downstream uses.
• Pros: Backfills from a chosen point and partial replays of selected rows give operators control over recovery and synchronization.
• Pros: MIT licensing, Prometheus metrics, and a Grafana dashboard support self-managed deployment and observability.
• Cons: Cloud has shut down, so deployment is self-hosted and operational responsibility stays with the user.
• Cons: PostgreSQL 12 and 13 have limitations; version 14 or newer is the supported baseline.
• Cons: Maintenance mode is limited to security patches and critical bug fixes, which may not suit teams seeking an actively expanding product.

Alternatives

Change Data Capture Software is a broader place to compare tools. Consider Canal for a free, Apache-2.0 open-source option with API, Linux, macOS, and self-hosted platforms. Estuary is worth considering if a freemium service and a listed $$100 monthly pay-as-you-go plan better fit your needs; it also offers a free plan and trial.

dbmazz offers free self-hosted options, including a CLI, terminal dashboard, local web UI, and community support. Debezium is another free, Apache License 2.0 change-data-capture platform, with API, Linux, self-hosted, and Windows platforms. Decodable has a free tier capped at 24 hours or 10GiB of stream retention, 20 streams, and four running tasks; consider it if those limits fit your workload.

LinkedIn Databus is a free Apache 2.0 open-source option. PeerDB offers a free open-source plan for individuals with Docker setup, CDC, streaming query, and query-layer features, as well as a free trial. pgstream is a free open-source CDC CLI and Go library under Apache 2.0.

Verdict

Choose Sequin if your team needs flexible PostgreSQL change routing and backfills, and can run the pipeline on its own infrastructure. Its useful replay and processing controls are the strongest reasons to adopt it. Look elsewhere if you need hosted operation, broader database support, or a project with a development path beyond maintenance fixes.