PostgreSQL Anonymizer
- Android app
- Not listed
- Free plan
- Yes
- Runs on
- Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows
Summary
PostgreSQL Anonymizer is a PostgreSQL extension for masking personally identifiable or commercially sensitive data. You can define masking rules in SQL with PostgreSQL DDL and keep them in the database schema. Its documented approaches include anonymous dumps, static or dynamic masking, replica masking, masking views and data wrappers. Functions can randomize, fake, partially scramble or shuffle values, add noise, generalize data, or apply custom transformations. A masked database role can export anonymized data with pg_dump; the resulting dump should have its masking rules removed. Identifier detection searches for common names using English and French dictionaries, though it can return false positives or miss identifiers. Installation instructions cover Linux and self-hosted PostgreSQL, with source builds on macOS and use within PostgreSQL on WSL2 for Windows. The extension is free under a license that permits use, modification and distribution; commercial support is available separately.
Who it is for
It suits PostgreSQL teams that need to mask or export sensitive data while retaining SQL-defined rules. Cloud database customers need a provider that adds the extension to its catalog.
What is good
- SQL masking rules are stored in the database schema.
- Offers static, dynamic, replica and dump masking.
- Includes several built-in masking function types.
- Supports synthetic data and data subsetting.
What to know first
- Installation requires superuser privileges.
- Windows has no native build; WSL2 is described.
- Community support for macOS is not provided.
- Dynamic masked roles cannot use EXPLAIN.
Verdict
PostgreSQL Anonymizer provides multiple masking approaches and SQL-based rule configuration without a license fee. Check provider support and platform constraints before planning a deployment.
PostgreSQL Anonymizer plans and pricing
All plansCompared on data masking software
- Free plan
- Yespostgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io
- Masking methods
- bothpostgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io
- Synthetic data
- Yespostgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io
- Referential integrity
- Yespostgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io
- Data subsetting
- Yespostgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io
- API access
- Yespostgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io
Facts
- Purpose
- A PostgreSQL extension for masking or replacing personally identifiable or commercially sensitive data.postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Declarative rules
- Masking rules can be declared in SQL using PostgreSQL DDL and stored in the database schema.postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Masking functions
- Available function types include randomization, faking, partial scrambling, shuffling, noise, generalization, and custom functions.postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Identifier detection
- Its detection function searches for common identifier names using English and French dictionaries, and the documentation warns that detection can produce false positives and false negatives.postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Anonymous exports
- A masked database role can be used with pg_dump to export anonymized data, and the documentation says masking rules should be removed from the resulting dump.postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Installation documentation includes Ansible, Docker, and Django, and lists compatible PostgreSQL forks and cloud database providers.postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Supported deployment
- The extension has installation instructions for Linux distributions and self-hosted PostgreSQL; it can also be built from source on macOS, but community support for macOS is not provided.postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Windows support
- There is no native Windows build; the documentation describes running PostgreSQL Anonymizer inside PostgreSQL on WSL2.postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Cloud limitation
- Installation requires superuser privileges, so a DBaaS provider must add the extension to its catalog for customers to use it.postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Dynamic masking limitation
- Masked roles are not allowed to use EXPLAIN, and masking rules can break data integrity, for example when masking a UNIQUE column to NULL.postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Support
- The project invites users to join its Matrix or Discord communities or open a public GitLab issue; enterprise support is available by contacting Dalibo.postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- License
- The project license permits use, copying, modification, and distribution without a fee, while disclaiming any obligation to provide maintenance, support, or updates.gitlab.com · 29 Sept 2026
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Sources
- postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io/en/stable/· checked 29 Sept 2026
- postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io/en/stable/detection/· checked 29 Sept 2026
- postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io/en/stable/anonymous_dumps/· checked 29 Sept 2026
- postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io/en/stable/INSTALL/· checked 29 Sept 2026
- postgresql-anonymizer.readthedocs.io/en/stable/dynamic_masking/· checked 29 Sept 2026
- gitlab.com/dalibo/postgresql_anonymizer/-/blob/mas· checked 29 Sept 2026