What is the best alternative to Metabase?

Redash is the top-rated alternative to Metabase. It offers SQL-native and Free open source, and is open-source starting at $0/month.

Is there a free alternative to Metabase?

Yes — Redash is a open-source alternative to Metabase. SQL-native

Best Metabase Alternatives(2026)

Q: Why do developers switch from Metabase?

Common reasons to switch from Metabase: Performance on large datasets; Complex permissions in OSS; Limited advanced analytics.

We compared 3 alternatives to Metabase — so you can find the best option for your needs and budget.

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You're replacing

Metabase

open-source

Open-source business intelligence for everyone

Starts at $0

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Common reasons to switch

Performance on large datasetsComplex permissions in OSSLimited advanced analytics

Redash

open-source

From $0

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Redash is an open-source BI tool for teams who prefer SQL — connect to any database, write queries, visualize results, and share dashboards without a no-code abstraction layer.

Pros

+SQL-native

+Free open source

+Simple concept

Cons

−Development slowed (Databricks acquisition)

−No no-code query builder

−UI dated vs modern alternatives

SQL-firstMultiple data source connectorsDashboardsScheduled queriesAlerts

Apache Superset

open-source

From $0

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Apache Superset is a modern open-source data exploration platform supporting SQL queries, a chart builder, and interactive dashboards — with enterprise features available via Preset.io.

Pros

+Feature-rich open source

+Apache Foundation backing

+SQL + no-code

Cons

−Complex self-hosting

−Security setup non-trivial

−Slower release cadence

SQL Lab (query editor)Chart builder (40+ types)DashboardsRow-level securitySemantic layer

Lightdash

open-source

From $0

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Lightdash is an open-source BI tool that reads your dbt project as its semantic layer — turning your dbt models and metrics into dashboards with zero metric duplication.

Pros

+Best for dbt-first data teams

+No metric duplication

+Open source

Cons

−Requires dbt

−Smaller community than Metabase

−Less polished for non-dbt teams

dbt integration (semantic layer)Metrics catalogDashboardsSQL runnerScheduled deliveries

Compare Metabase Head to Head

Metabase vs Redash Metabase vs Apache Superset Metabase vs Lightdash