Open source alternatives · Data and dev
Open Source Alternative to Tableau
Tableau costs US$75 per user monthly. Apache Superset and Metabase build the same dashboards open source.
What the paid app costs: US$75/user/mo
Why switch?
Business intelligence per-seat pricing is brutal at team scale. Superset is the Apache Foundation's BI platform, Metabase lets anyone ask questions without SQL, and both connect to the databases you already have.
Compare the alternatives
| Alternative | License | Platforms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Superset | Apache-2.0 | Web, self-hostable | The open-source BI standard |
| Metabase | AGPL-3.0 | Web, self-hostable | For non-technical teams |
Apache Superset
Free forever Apache-2.0 · Web, self-hostable
- Drag-and-drop dashboards
- 50+ chart types
- Connects to any SQL database
The open-source BI standard
Metabase
Free forever AGPL-3.0 · Web, self-hostable
- Ask questions in plain language
- Dashboards in minutes
- Easiest self-hosted BI
For non-technical teams
Which one should you pick?
- Apache Superset: The open-source BI standard
- Metabase: For non-technical teams
Frequently asked questions
Which should I pick: Superset or Metabase?
Metabase for simplicity and non-technical users; Superset for scale, customization, and data teams.
Can they connect to my database?
Yes, both connect to PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery, Snowflake, and dozens more.
Is self-hosting required?
Both offer hosted clouds, but self-hosting is free and straightforward with Docker.