Apache Superset
Apache Superset is a self-hosted Chart Builder: Scatter Plot on public.cleaned_sales_data, COUNT(*), deal_size, and 591 cached rows — the same Explore desk…
OUR TAKE
Pick Apache Superset for platform teams who will operate Superset themselves at $0. $0 is the license, not the ops bill.
Good fit
Platform teams who will operate Superset themselves at $0.
Poor fit
Teams that want the same builder hosted (Preset Starter $0 / Professional $20) or a question UI (Metabase).
Apache Superset
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-10-28 · superset.apache.org
OUR TAKE
Pick Apache Superset for platform teams who will operate Superset themselves at $0. $0 is the license, not the ops bill. You still pay machines and a warehouse.
Good fit
Platform teams who will operate Superset themselves at $0.
Poor fit
Teams that want the same builder hosted (Preset Starter $0 / Professional $20) or a question UI (Metabase).
Apache Superset
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-10-28 · superset.apache.org
What it costs
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-10-28 · superset.apache.org
Apache Superset
Apache-2.0. You run the metadata DB, cache, and workers
$0
No official paid Apache tile.
Not published by the vendor
Not published by the vendor
Checked 2026-10-28·superset.apache.org
Before you pay
Good fit
Platform teams who will operate Superset themselves at $0.
Poor fit
Teams that want the same builder hosted (Preset Starter $0 / Professional $20) or a question UI (Metabase).
Watch out
$0 is the license, not the ops bill. You still pay machines and a warehouse.
Instead, try
Metabase if OSS questions when you want a simpler self-host desk (OSS $0; Cloud Starter $100/mo); Lightdash if dbt-native Explore when the metrics already live in dbt
Compare Apache Superset with
Limits, in full
- 01
$0 is the license, not the ops bill. You still pay machines and a warehouse.
- 02
You operate the stack. Redis, Celery, and upgrades are yours.
- 03
Not a Markdown report. Use Evidence for SQL+MD pages.
If Apache Superset isn't it
Why: OSS questions when you want a simpler self-host desk (OSS $0; Cloud Starter $100/mo).
Free· paid from$0.01
Starter’s $100 includes 5 usersChecked 2026-10-22·metabase.com/pricing
vs Apache Superset
Why: dbt-native Explore when the metrics already live in dbt.
Free· paid from$3/mo
Cloud Pro is $3,000/monthChecked 2026-10-23·lightdash.com/pricing
vs Apache SupersetLimits & alternatives3 limits · Metabase, Lightdash instead
Limits, in full
- 01
$0 is the license, not the ops bill. You still pay machines and a warehouse.
- 02
You operate the stack. Redis, Celery, and upgrades are yours.
- 03
Not a Markdown report. Use Evidence for SQL+MD pages.
If Apache Superset isn't it
Why: OSS questions when you want a simpler self-host desk (OSS $0; Cloud Starter $100/mo).
Free· paid from$0.01
Starter’s $100 includes 5 usersChecked 2026-10-22·metabase.com/pricing
vs Apache SupersetWhy: dbt-native Explore when the metrics already live in dbt.
Free· paid from$3/mo
Cloud Pro is $3,000/monthChecked 2026-10-23·lightdash.com/pricing
vs Apache Superset