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Redash vs Metabase(2026)

Redash is better for teams that need sql-native. Metabase is the stronger choice if free open source. Redash is open-source (from $0) and Metabase is open-source (from $0).

Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.

By Bikram Nath

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Redash logo

Redash

open-source

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.

Starting at $0

Visit Redash
Metabase logo

Metabase

open-source

Metabase is an open-source BI tool that lets anyone in your company — not just analysts — ask questions of your database and build dashboards with a no-SQL query builder.

Starting at $0

Visit Metabase

How Do Redash and Metabase Compare on Features?

FeatureRedashMetabase
Pricing modelopen-sourceopen-source
Starting price$0$0
SQL-first✓—
Multiple data source connectors✓—
Dashboards✓✓
Scheduled queries✓—
Alerts✓—
API✓—
Self-hostable✓—
No-SQL question builder—✓
Scheduled reports—✓
Embedding—✓
SQL editor—✓
Caching—✓
Self-hosted or cloud—✓

Redash Pros and Cons vs Metabase

R

Redash

+SQL-native
+Free open source
+Simple concept
+Good connector support
−Development slowed (Databricks acquisition)
−No no-code query builder
−UI dated vs modern alternatives
M

Metabase

+Free open source
+Non-technical user friendly
+Easy embedding
+Active community
−Performance on large datasets
−Complex permissions in OSS
−Limited advanced analytics

Should You Use Redash or Metabase?

For most teams, Redash is the better default: it offers sql-native and is open-source (from $0). Choose Metabase instead if free open source matters more than development slowed (databricks acquisition). There is no universal winner — the right pick depends on your budget, team size, and whether you value sql-native or free open source more.

Choose Redash if…

  • •SQL-native
  • •Free open source
  • •Simple concept

Choose Metabase if…

  • •Free open source
  • •Non-technical user friendly
  • •Easy embedding

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