Data Visualization

Superset71.1k★

Superset is the open-source BI dashboard that engineering teams actually like using. SQL-first, highly customizable, and backed by Apache with 71K+ stars. It connects to virtually any database and lets you build dashboards without a Tableau license. If you have data engineers or analysts comfortable with SQL, Superset gives them a playground with 40+ visualization types and no per-seat pricing. Metabase is the friendlier alternative — faster setup, better for non-technical users with its visual query builder. Redash is the lightweight option for quick SQL dashboards. Commercially, Looker, Tableau, and Power BI are what you're avoiding. The semantic layer and role-based access control make it enterprise-capable. The chart library is extensive, and the dashboard caching handles decent query loads. The catch: Superset assumes SQL fluency. Your marketing team won't self-serve the way they would with Metabase's point-and-click builder. Self-hosting requires Redis, a metadata database, and careful configuration. The initial setup is heavier than expected. And while it's improving, the embedded analytics story is weaker than Metabase's — embedding dashboards in your product takes work.

Metabase46.6k★

Metabase is the open-source BI tool that non-technical people can actually use. Connect it to your database, and your product manager can build dashboards without writing SQL — the visual query builder translates clicks into queries. It's the fastest path from "we need analytics" to "here's a dashboard." If you want self-hosted analytics that your whole team can use, Metabase is the answer. Superset is the power-user alternative — more chart types, more customization, but SQL-required. Redash is the developer-focused option for quick SQL dashboards. Commercially, Looker, Tableau, and Power BI are what Metabase replaces at a fraction of the cost. The setup is genuinely fast — a single Docker container connects to your database and you're exploring data. The embedded analytics feature lets you put dashboards inside your product. The catch: the open-source (AGPL) version lacks some features that Metabase Pro gates — row-level permissions, audit logs, and SSO cost money. The visual query builder hits its limits for complex joins and subqueries. Performance degrades with large datasets unless you configure caching carefully. And "Metabase license" is technically AGPL plus a commercial license — if you're embedding it in a SaaS product, read the terms carefully.