Metabase
Metabase is an open-source business intelligence tool — an alternative to Looker, Tableau, and Power BI — for building dashboards and reports on top of your existing databases. The open-source edition is free with unlimited users, so you avoid per-viewer licensing. Its core is licensed under the AGPL.
- Replaces:
- Looker, Tableau
- Open source:
- AGPL core; enterprise features commercially licensed
Metabase in plain terms
Metabase connects to SQL databases and warehouses and lets people build questions and dashboards with a visual query builder or SQL. Code outside its enterprise directory is AGPL-licensed; features such as row- and column-level permissions, SSO, and multi-tenant embedding are part of the paid editions.
A good fit when…
- Teams whose data already lives in PostgreSQL, MySQL, or a warehouse
- Organizations where per-viewer BI licensing limits who gets to see the numbers
- Companies that want dashboards on infrastructure they control
- Teams that want shared, consistently defined metrics rather than one-off spreadsheets
Choose something else when…
- Data scattered across SaaS tools with no database behind it — that needs a data pipeline first
- Use cases that need row- and column-level permissions or multi-tenant embedding without a paid plan
What running it involves
- A Java (JAR) or Docker deployment
- A PostgreSQL application database for production — Metabase’s docs warn against the default H2 database in production (MySQL or MariaDB are also supported)
- Network access to the databases or warehouse you want to report on
The application database holds users, questions, and dashboards — it is separate from the data you analyze, and it is what you back up.
If you’d rather not self-host
Metabase Cloud Starter lists at $100 per month including 5 users, then $6 per additional user; Pro at $575 per month including 10 users, then $12 per user; Enterprise from $20,000 per year, as of September 2026.
Requirements and prices are from the project’s own docs and pricing pages as of September 2026 — see sources below.
Deploying and customizing Metabase
Data pipeline
Data from your CRM, billing, and operations tools consolidated into a database Metabase can query.
Metric definitions
Each KPI defined once, documented, and reused so numbers stop being debated.
Dashboards by role
Leadership, sales, and operations views built around the decisions each team makes.
Alerts and subscriptions
Scheduled reports and threshold alerts by email or Slack.
Embedding
Reports embedded in your portal or product, with the right edition for your permission needs.
Hosting
Deployed with a PostgreSQL application database, backups, and SSO where licensed.
Migrating to Metabase
Moving from Looker, Tableau, or Power BI means rebuilding dashboards rather than converting them. It is usually the right moment to agree metric definitions and retire unused reports, so the new set is smaller and more trusted than the old one.
Metabase vs Power BI
Metabase vs Power BI compared on licensing, cost per viewer, ease of use, and data modeling — with list prices and when each fits.
Custom Reporting & Business Dashboards
Custom reporting dashboards that combine data from your CRM, billing, and operations into the numbers leadership actually uses.
Metabase — common questions
Is Metabase free?+
What database does Metabase need?+
Can Metabase replace Power BI or Tableau?+
Can Metabase dashboards be embedded in our app?+
Sources
Replacing Spreadsheets With Internal Tools: When and How
When a spreadsheet becomes a liability and how to replace it with a custom internal tool — the warning signs, the options, and a low-risk migration path.
Why API-First Architecture Saves Money Long Term
What API-first architecture means, why it lowers long-term cost and risk, and how building behind your own API layer keeps your software flexible and lock-in free.
7 Signs Your Business Has Outgrown Off-the-Shelf Software
How to tell when SaaS and templates are holding your business back — seven concrete signs it's time for custom software, with a quick self-assessment.
Thinking about Metabase?
Tell us what you use today and what you need. We'll tell you honestly whether Metabase fits, and scope it if it does.