DataTamed vs Redgate SQL Clone
Both are SQL Server database cloning tools. They take very different approaches. Here's where each wins — and where DataTamed makes the cleaner trade-off for teams that need GDPR-ready cloning out of the box.
The short version
Redgate SQL Clone is a mature, well-known SQL Server cloning product built around differencing disks: every clone is a tiny pointer to a single shared image, written-to via copy-on-write. It's elegant and battle-tested.
DataTamed is built around the same core insight — clones should be small — but takes a different route: masked, reduced database images created at import time. The result is similar (clones provision in seconds, take a fraction of the storage), but the trade-offs are different in places that often matter for compliance teams.
Feature-by-feature
| Capability | DataTamed | Redgate SQL Clone |
|---|---|---|
| Cloning model | Reduced + masked image at import time | Differencing-disk image, copy-on-write clones |
| Typical clone size | ~60–70 MB | Few MB pointer + per-clone diff (grows with writes) |
| Clone provisioning time | Seconds | Seconds |
| Automatic PII detection | Built in (6 categories) | Add-on (Data Masker, separate product) |
| Masking applied at | Import time (before image is stored) | Modification scripts run after image creation |
| Self-hosted | Yes — server + agents in your network | Yes — on-prem deployment |
| Distributed agent architecture | Yes — Windows + Linux agents | Single Clone Server |
| SQL Server on Linux | Yes | Windows-only Clone Server |
| Backup file scanner | Built in | Manual selection |
| SQL Server discovery | Built in | Manual registration |
| Post-clone scripts (script sets) | Named, reusable, applied automatically | Modifications applied to image, not per-clone |
| Audit / masking report export | CSV, Excel, Word, PDF | Logs available; reporting is BYO |
| Pricing model | Tiered by databases + data volume; £49–£699 / mo | Per-instance licensing, typically several × higher |
| Free trial | 14 days, all features | 14 days |
Where Redgate SQL Clone is the right choice
- You need clones that contain the full production dataset for performance testing and you want copy-on-write semantics so they're cheap.
- You're already deep into the Redgate toolchain (SQL Source Control, SQL Compare, DLM Dashboard) and value first-party integration.
- You handle PII masking with a separate, mature pipeline already.
Where DataTamed is the cleaner choice
- You want PII masking baked in, not bolted on, and applied before the database file is ever stored to disk.
- You want a single, exportable audit report covering every clone, masking, and backup event — ready to hand to an auditor in seconds.
- You run SQL Server on Linux as well as Windows — DataTamed agents run cross-platform.
- You're cost-sensitive: tiered pricing by databases and data volume usually lands well below per-instance licensing for the same outcomes.
- You like the idea of not needing to keep the entire production dataset around just to run integration tests.
Redgate SQL Clone vs DataTamed: differencing disks vs masked reduced images. Different trade-offs, both legitimate — but only one masks before storage.Click to share
The honest summary
If you have a Redgate-shop already and a separate masking pipeline you trust, SQL Clone is a fine choice and we'd point you at it without hesitation. If you're starting fresh, or your auditors keep asking pointed questions about non-prod PII, DataTamed gives you a sharper default: masking is enforced at import time, the audit trail is exportable in four formats, and clones really are just 60–70 MB.
The fastest way to decide is to try both on a real database. Our 14-day free trial takes about ten minutes to set up.