Dromo alternatives: comparing CSV import tools in 2026

Finding the right CSV import solution matters. Your users expect to upload spreadsheets, map columns to your schema, and import data cleanly. The tool you choose affects developer experience, user experience, and your budget.

Dromo is a popular option with strong enterprise features. But it may not be the best fit for every team. This guide compares Dromo with alternatives including ImportCSV, CSVBox, OneSchema, and Flatfile. Each has different strengths depending on your requirements.

What is Dromo?

Dromo is an embeddable CSV importer designed for SaaS applications. It offers a polished import experience with AI-powered column matching and data validation built in.

Key features include:

• AI-powered column matching: GPT-powered automatic column detection
• AI-assisted data editing: Intelligent suggestions for fixing data issues
• Privacy mode: Browser-only processing where Dromo never sees your data
• No-code schema builder: Non-developers can configure schemas without engineering help
• Enterprise security: SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA BAA (Enterprise), GDPR ready
• Self-hosting option: Kubernetes deployment available for Enterprise customers
• 100+ integrations: Connect to various data destinations

Pricing:

Dromo has transparent, public pricing:

Professional includes 100,000 row limit per file and 10 schemas. Enterprise adds unlimited imports, support for 10M rows, headless API, global language support, and on-premise deployments.

When to choose Dromo

Dromo is a solid choice for specific use cases. Consider it if you:

• Need enterprise compliance today: SOC 2 Type II certification, HIPAA BAA (Enterprise), and GDPR compliance are built in.
• Require browser-only data processing: Privacy mode means your data never touches Dromo's servers. This is valuable for sensitive data or strict compliance requirements.
• Want AI-powered features: GPT-based column matching and AI-assisted data editing can reduce manual work for end users.
• Have self-hosting requirements: Enterprise customers can deploy on Kubernetes with multi-region and bring-your-own-storage options.
• Value responsive support: Dromo offers priority chat and email support with 1 business day SLA (Professional) or 4-hour SLA with dedicated CSM (Enterprise).
• Are migrating from Flatfile: Dromo claims most customers migrate from competitors in 1-3 hours.
• Have budget at the $500/month level: At this price point, Dromo offers competitive features.

When to consider alternatives

Dromo may not be the best fit if you:

• Are a startup with limited budget: $499/month is expensive when you're pre-revenue or early stage.
• Need more than 100K rows without Enterprise pricing: Professional tier limits files to 100,000 rows.
• Import volume exceeds 250/month regularly: At $2.50/import after the allowance, costs add up quickly.
• Need more than 10 schemas: Professional tier limits you to 10 schemas.
• Want direct database integrations: Dromo exports via API but doesn't push directly to databases.
• Need global language support without Enterprise: Localization requires Enterprise tier.
• Prefer drop-in scripts over SDK setup: Dromo requires SDK integration which takes 1-2 days.

Dromo alternatives

1. ImportCSV

ImportCSV is an open-source CSV import component for React applications. The frontend is MIT-licensed and can be self-hosted.

Pricing:

• Free: 100 imports/month
• Pro: $49/month (unlimited imports)
• Team: $149/month (team features)
• Enterprise: Custom

Best for: Teams that want transparent pricing, open-source code they can inspect, or the option to self-host for data privacy requirements without paying enterprise prices.

Compared to Dromo:

• 10x lower starting price ($49 vs $499)
• Open source frontend (MIT license)
• Self-hosting available on all tiers
• No per-import overage fees

2. CSVBox

CSVBox is a managed CSV importer focused on quick integration and lower price points.

Pricing:

• Free: 100 imports/month
• Starter: $19/month
• Growth: $195/month
• Business: $495/month

Best for: Teams wanting quick setup (15-30 minutes), transparent pricing, and direct database integrations without enterprise contracts.

Compared to Dromo:

• 25x lower starting price ($19 vs $499)
• Drop-in script instead of SDK (faster setup)
• Direct database integrations (Postgres, MySQL, Supabase, Airtable)
• 500K row limit vs 100K on comparable tiers
• Mobile-optimized UI

3. OneSchema

OneSchema focuses on embeddable CSV imports with a strong emphasis on user experience.

Pricing: Starts at $99/month with public pricing tiers.

Best for: Teams prioritizing user experience who need 50+ prebuilt validations and trusted by companies like Ramp, Scale AI, and Vanta.

Compared to Dromo:

• 5x lower starting price ($99 vs $499)
• Best-in-class UX (voted by G2)
• One-click mode for pre-mapped columns
• SOC 2 Type II compliance

4. Flatfile

Flatfile (recently rebranded to Obvious) is an enterprise data onboarding platform.

Pricing: Contact sales required. Based on research, pricing starts around $799/month with complex usage-based metering.

Best for: Large enterprises needing collaboration features, support for 1GB+ files, and don't mind sales-led procurement.

Compared to Dromo:

• Higher price point
• More complex pricing (PDV metering)
• Larger file support (1GB vs 10M rows)
• More complex setup
• Collaboration features for multi-stakeholder workflows

5. Impler (open source)

Impler is an open-source CSV and Excel importer you can self-host.

Pricing: Free (open source) with optional managed hosting.

Best for: Teams with engineering resources who want full control and zero licensing costs.

Compared to Dromo:

• Free and open source
• Self-hostable
• Validates 100K records in 5 seconds
• Supports files up to 5M rows
• Requires more setup and maintenance

Feature comparison

Pricing comparison

Migration guide

If you decide ImportCSV is the right fit, here's how to migrate from Dromo.

Step 1: Install ImportCSV

npm install @importcsv/react@1.0.0

Step 2: Map your schema

Dromo and ImportCSV use similar schema concepts:

// Dromo schema
const dromoFields = [
  { key: 'email', label: 'Email', validators: [{ validate: 'required' }, { validate: 'email' }] },
  { key: 'firstName', label: 'First Name' },
  { key: 'company', label: 'Company' },
];

// ImportCSV equivalent
const importCSVSchema = [
  { key: 'email', label: 'Email', type: 'email', required: true },
  { key: 'firstName', label: 'First Name', type: 'string' },
  { key: 'company', label: 'Company', type: 'string' },
];

Step 3: Replace the component

// Before (Dromo)
import { DromoUploader } from 'dromo-uploader-react';

function ImportButton() {
  return (
    <DromoUploader
      licenseKey="your-license-key"
      fields={dromoFields}
      settings={{ importIdentifier: 'contacts' }}
      onResults={(results) => {
        console.log(results.data);
      }}
    />
  );
}

// After (ImportCSV)
import { ImportCSV } from '@importcsv/react';
import '@importcsv/react/dist/styles.css';

function ImportButton() {
  return (
    <ImportCSV
      schema={[
        { key: 'email', label: 'Email', type: 'email', required: true },
        { key: 'firstName', label: 'First Name', type: 'string' },
        { key: 'company', label: 'Company', type: 'string' },
      ]}
      onComplete={(data) => {
        console.log(data.validRows);
      }}
    />
  );
}

Step 4: Handle custom validations

If you used Dromo's validation hooks, use ImportCSV's validate function:

<ImportCSV
  schema={[
    {
      key: 'email',
      label: 'Email',
      type: 'email',
      required: true,
      validate: (value) => {
        if (!value.includes('@company.com')) {
          return 'Must be a company email address';
        }
        return null;
      }
    },
  ]}
  onComplete={handleComplete}
/>

Common migration issues

Module resolution errors: Ensure you're using a compatible bundler (Webpack 5+, Vite, or Next.js 13+).

Missing styles: Import the CSS explicitly:

import '@importcsv/react/dist/styles.css';

TypeScript errors: Update tsconfig.json to include "moduleResolution": "bundler".

Conclusion

Choosing a CSV importer depends on your specific needs:

• Dromo is strong for teams that need enterprise compliance, browser-only processing, and AI features at the $500+/month budget level.
• ImportCSV fits teams wanting transparent pricing, open source, or self-hosting without enterprise pricing.
• CSVBox offers the fastest setup and lowest prices with direct database integrations.
• OneSchema provides excellent UX with competitive pricing and enterprise compliance.
• Flatfile suits large enterprises needing collaboration features and very large file support.
• Impler is ideal if you have engineering resources and want zero licensing costs.

Related posts

• Flatfile alternative
• OneSchema alternative
• CSVBox alternative