1. Data Source Integration: PostgREST is specifically designed as a thin API layer on top of a PostgreSQL database, providing automatic REST API endpoints for tables and queries, whereas Quilt is a collaborative data portal that integrates various data sources including databases, spreadsheets, and cloud services in a unified interface. Quilt offers a wider range of data integration capabilities compared to PostgREST.

2. Collaboration Features: Quilt focuses on enabling collaboration and sharing of data assets within and across teams through features like data lineage tracking, data annotations, and data versioning, while PostgREST primarily focuses on providing a fast and efficient REST API endpoint for PostgreSQL databases without extensive collaboration functionality. Quilt prioritizes collaborative data management over API generation.

3. Visualization and Analysis: Quilt offers built-in tools for data visualization and analysis, allowing users to explore and derive insights from the integrated data sources within the platform itself, while PostgREST does not include native support for data visualization or analysis, requiring users to integrate external tools for such purposes. Quilt provides a more comprehensive data analysis environment compared to PostgREST.

4. Security and Access Control: PostgREST offers basic authentication and authorization mechanisms to secure access to the database resources exposed through the REST API, whereas Quilt provides more advanced security features such as fine-grained access control, role-based permissions, and encryption of data at rest and in transit. Quilt prioritizes data security and access control mechanisms.

5. Workflow Automation: Quilt includes workflow automation capabilities that allow users to create custom data pipelines, automate data ingestion and transformation processes, and schedule data refreshes, while PostgREST primarily focuses on providing static REST API endpoints without built-in workflow automation features. Quilt streamlines data workflows through automation tools.

6. Customization and Extensibility: While PostgREST offers limited customization options for the generated API endpoints, Quilt provides a more flexible and extensible platform that allows users to extend the functionality through custom plugins, integrations with third-party services, and the development of custom data processing modules. Quilt offers a higher level of customization and extensibility compared to PostgREST.

In Summary, PostgREST primarily focuses on providing a simple REST API interface for PostgreSQL databases, whereas Quilt offers a comprehensive data collaboration and integration platform with advanced features such as data visualization, collaboration tools, and workflow automation.