Easy way for everyone in your company to ask questions and learn from data.
- AGPL-3.0
- Clojure
- Docker
- Actively maintained
Analytics comparison
Metabase vs Redash: which should you self-host in 2026?
Pick Metabase for an actively developed BI tool with a visual query builder; pick Redash if your team writes SQL and wants a lightweight, BSD-licensed query and dashboard tool.
Both are open source and run on your own server. Below: a side-by-side of license, stack and features, live GitHub activity, and our verdict on who should pick which.
Connect and query your data sources, build dashboards to visualize data and share them with your company.
- BSD-2-Clause
- Python
- Docker
- Actively maintained
Head-to-head
Metabase vs Redash, side by side
Hand-checked differences first, then live numbers from GitHub, refreshed with every catalog update.
| Aspect |  Metabase |  Redash |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 outside the enterprise directory, which is under the Metabase Commercial License | BSD-2-Clause |
| Language/stack | Clojure on the JVM, React frontend | Python backend, React frontend |
| Architecture | Single JAR or container; H2 by default, PostgreSQL for production | Web server, workers and scheduler; requires PostgreSQL and Redis |
| Standout features | Visual question builder, models, scheduled reports | SQL editor with schema browser, query snippets, parameters and alerts |
| Learning curve | Low for business users | Low for SQL users, limited for people who do not write SQL |
| GitHub stars | 49,547 | 28,831 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 6,378 | 82 |
| Last commit | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
| Latest release | v0.63.19Oct 1, 2026 | v26.9.0Sep 24, 2026 |
| Main language | Clojure | Python |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| Repository | metabase/metabase | getredash/redash |
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps. GitHub figures come from the public API. Highlighted values are the higher of the two.
Verdict
Metabase is the safer long-term choice for most teams, with active development and a query builder that non-technical users can handle. Redash is a lean SQL-first tool that still works well for analysts, but since its hosted service closed after the Databricks acquisition it is maintained by the community at a slower pace.
Best for
Choose Metabase for
Teams that want self-serve BI for SQL and non-SQL users alike.
Best for
Choose Redash for
SQL-fluent analysts who want simple queries, charts and dashboards.
Deploy either in minutes
Not sure yet? Spin up a small VPS or a managed instance, try both for a week, and keep the one that fits.
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Is Redash still maintained?
Yes, Redash is maintained by its community after Databricks ended the hosted service. Check the activity data on this page to see the current pace.
Does Redash have a no-code query builder?
No, Redash is SQL-first. Metabase's visual question builder is the better fit for non-technical users.
Which is lighter to run?
Metabase runs as one container. Redash needs PostgreSQL and Redis alongside its server and worker containers.
Which is more popular on GitHub, Metabase or Redash?
Metabase has 49,547 GitHub stars against 28,831 for Redash. Over the last twelve months Metabase received 6,378 commits and Redash received 82, so Metabase is the more actively developed of the two right now. Stars measure interest, not fit, so weigh them against the differences above.
Keep comparing
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Umami vs Matomo
Pick Umami for a lightweight, cookieless dashboard that is easy to host; pick Matomo if you need a full Google Analytics replacement with deep reports, goals and plugins.
Plausible Analytics vs Matomo
Pick Plausible for a simple, cookieless dashboard that anyone on your team can read; pick Matomo if you need ecommerce reports, segments and the depth of Google Analytics.
Metabase vs Apache Superset
Pick Metabase for the easiest setup and a query builder non-technical users love; pick Apache Superset for SQL-first teams that need many chart types and a permissive Apache license.
Grafana vs Metabase
Pick Grafana for real-time dashboards over metrics, logs and time-series data; pick Metabase for business intelligence questions over SQL databases that non-technical users can answer.
