Honest comparison

Primentra vs Semarchy xDM

Semarchy xDM is a user-friendly, agile MDM platform that positions itself as a faster alternative to traditional enterprise MDM tools. It has a modern UI, a flexible data model, and cloud-native architecture. For teams migrating from Microsoft MDS, the gap is clear: Semarchy is not SQL Server-native, does not include an MDS migration wizard, and still requires implementation work. It is a reasonable choice for cloud-forward mid-market teams, but it is not a direct MDS replacement.

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Pricing

What you actually pay

Our pick
Primentra
€7,500/year
Flat fee, unlimited users

Founding rate. Self-service setup, no implementation costs. Runs on your own SQL Server.

Semarchy xDM
€20,000–80,000+/year
Per-user or per-domain licensing

Cloud hosting costs and implementation partner fees on top of licensing.

Feature comparison

Primentra vs Semarchy xDM — what each platform covers

FeaturePrimentraSemarchy xDM
Self-service setup (no consultants)
MDS migration wizard
Flat pricing, unlimited users
Deploy in under a day
On-premise SQL Server
Cloud deployment
Excel-like grid editing
Partial
Match & merge / deduplication
Agile / flexible data model
Partial
Approval workflows
Hierarchy management
API access

Which one is right for you?

Choose Semarchy xDM if…
You want a cloud-hosted MDM platform with a modern, user-friendly interface
You are not tied to SQL Server and prefer a cloud-native or hybrid deployment
You need an agile data model that can be reconfigured without starting over
Match-and-merge or deduplication is a core requirement
Choose Primentra if…
You are migrating from Microsoft MDS and need a direct, SQL Server-native replacement
You want to be live in a day without implementation consultants
Flat pricing matters — your team will grow and per-user licensing adds up
Your data must stay on your own infrastructure with no cloud dependency

Frequently asked questions

Is Primentra a good alternative to Semarchy xDM for teams migrating from MDS?

Yes — especially for teams coming from Microsoft MDS. Primentra runs on the same SQL Server infrastructure as MDS, includes a built-in migration wizard, and covers the reference data management use cases most MDS teams relied on. Semarchy xDM is cloud-first and does not include an MDS migration path, so it requires significantly more planning and implementation work for MDS migrations.

What does Semarchy xDM offer that Primentra does not?

Semarchy xDM offers match-and-merge capabilities, a more flexible "agile" data model that allows schema changes without rebuilding domains, and cloud-native deployment. It is also more suited for multi-domain scenarios beyond reference data. Primentra focuses on structured reference data management with a direct MDS migration path — simpler scope, much faster to deploy.

How much does Semarchy xDM cost compared to Primentra?

Semarchy xDM uses per-user or per-domain licensing, typically €20,000–80,000+/year before implementation costs. Primentra is €7,500/year flat with unlimited users and no per-seat fees. For most mid-market teams, that is a 3–10x cost difference before you factor in implementation.

Can Semarchy xDM replace Microsoft MDS directly?

Not directly. Semarchy xDM does not run on SQL Server and does not include an MDS migration wizard. Moving from MDS to Semarchy requires exporting your MDS models and data manually, mapping them to Semarchy's domain model, and a cloud migration. Primentra is the closer architectural replacement — same SQL Server foundation, built-in migration wizard, no cloud dependency.

How long does Semarchy xDM take to deploy compared to Primentra?

Semarchy xDM typically requires 2–6 months of implementation with a partner — including domain configuration, data migration, integration setup, and user training. Primentra is self-service: most teams are live in under a day, with MDS models imported in minutes using the built-in migration wizard.

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60-day free trial. No credit card. Migrate from MDS in minutes.

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