Metabase Alternatives (2026): 10 BI Tools Compared

Metabase is popular because a small team can install it and start answering questions quickly. But as companies grow, some want dashboards as code, better modelling or a different licence.

Here are ten Metabase alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from open-source BI to modern code-first tools. Each description comes from the vendor's own website, re-checked today. If you present numbers to others, my reporting narrative prompt pack helps turn charts into a clear story.

Start with your people. Some teams want point-and-click exploration, while analysts want SQL, Git and tests.

Then think about sharing. Internal dashboards, emailed reports and customer-facing analytics all need different things.

Metabase alternatives at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free version, free plan or open-source download, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated. Free versions tend to have limits, so check what's included before you build around one.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Apache Superset	Open-source BI platform	Large open-source deployments	Yes
Count	Data canvas	Collaborative analysis	Yes
Evidence	BI as code	Reports written in code	Yes
Hex	Data notebook platform	SQL and Python notebooks	Yes
Holistics	Self-service BI	Modelling as code	Trial only
Lightdash	Open-source BI	Teams using dbt	Yes
Preset	Managed Superset	Hosted open-source BI	Yes
Redash	Query and dashboard tool	SQL to dashboards	Yes
Rill	Fast dashboard tool	Exploring big datasets quickly	Trial only
Steep	Metrics platform	Defined business metrics	Yes

Ten Metabase alternatives worth a trial

Apache Superset

Best for: Data teams who want open-source dashboards and SQL exploration at scale.

Count

Best for: Analysts who want to explore data together on a shared canvas.

Evidence

Best for: Analysts who want reports written in SQL and Markdown and kept in Git.

Hex

Best for: Data teams who want notebooks that become shareable apps and reports.

Holistics

Best for: Teams who want a governed data model with self-service reports on top.

Lightdash

Best for: Analytics teams who define metrics in dbt and want BI built on them.

Preset

Best for: Teams who want Superset's open-source BI without running it themselves.

Redash

Best for: Analysts who want to write SQL and share simple dashboards.

Rill

Best for: Teams who want very fast, interactive dashboards on large datasets.

Steep

Best for: Companies who want a clean metrics catalogue everyone can explore.

The licence behind Metabase's free edition

Here's a detail worth knowing before you embed Metabase in a product. Metabase's own licence page says its Open Source Edition is offered under the GNU Affero General Public License, and lists commercial agreements for embedding and hosting alongside it.

For internal dashboards that's rarely a problem. But if you plan to put dashboards inside a product for customers, check which licence you need, and check the alternatives' terms too.

What to compare in a BI tool

• Building: point-and-click, SQL or code.
• Modelling: shared definitions for key metrics.
• Sharing: dashboards, scheduled reports and embedding.
• Permissions: row and column security.
• Hosting: self-hosted, managed or both.

How to move your reports without chaos

1. List the dashboards people opened in the past few weeks.
2. Agree definitions for the main metrics.
3. Rebuild the top five dashboards first.
4. Check the numbers match the old tool.
5. Retire unused dashboards instead of moving them.

BI migration mistakes to avoid

• Moving everything. Rebuild what people use.
• Different definitions. Agree metrics first.
• No checks. Compare numbers before switching.
• Loose permissions. Lock down sensitive data.

If you report social numbers too, my look at social media metrics that predict revenue helps you pick what to track.

Questions for your data team before you switch

BI tools sit between your data and every decision, so ask these before you move.

• Which databases and warehouses does it connect to?
• Can people explore without writing SQL?
• How are permissions handled for sensitive tables?
• Can we embed dashboards for customers?
• Which licence covers the version we'd run?

Then rebuild the three reports leaders use most, and check the numbers match.

Three ways teams use BI tools

Some teams want point-and-click exploration, so anyone can answer a question without waiting for an analyst. That works well when the data is already tidy.

Others want reports written as code, reviewed and versioned like software. That suits analytics teams who care about accuracy and repeatability.

A third group needs dashboards inside a product for customers. That brings licensing, security and performance questions that internal dashboards rarely face.

Do you make business intelligence tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on Metabase alternatives

Agree what your key numbers mean before you change tools. Most BI arguments are really definition arguments.

And move less than you think. The dashboards nobody's opened for weeks can stay behind.

Frequently asked questions

What's an open-source alternative to Metabase?

Several open-source BI tools are free to self-host.

Is Metabase open source?

Its Open Source Edition is under the AGPL, according to Metabase.

What's BI as code?

Reports and metrics written as code and stored in version control.

Do I need SQL for these tools?

Some need SQL. Others offer point-and-click exploration.

Can I embed dashboards in my app?

Several tools support embedding. Check the licence.

What's a metrics layer?

A shared place where business metrics are defined once.

Can BI tools connect to spreadsheets?

Many do, alongside databases and warehouses.

Do these tools work with dbt?

Some are built around dbt models.

Is a notebook the same as a dashboard?

No. Notebooks are for analysis, dashboards for regular viewing.

How do I keep data secure?

Use permissions and limit access to sensitive tables.

Can BI tools send scheduled reports?

Many can email dashboards or reports on a schedule.

What's semantic modelling?

A shared layer of business definitions so everyone uses the same metrics.

Can I build dashboards from a spreadsheet?

Many BI tools import spreadsheets, though a database scales better.

What's self-service analytics?

Letting non-analysts explore data and build simple reports themselves.

Can BI tools alert me when a number changes?

Several tools send alerts when a metric crosses a threshold.

Do I need a data engineer?

Not for small setups. Larger data stacks benefit from one.

How many dashboards should a startup have?

A handful that leaders use weekly is plenty.

Can I version control dashboards?

Code-first tools store dashboards as files you can track in Git.