Metabase

What is Metabase?

Metabase is an open source business intelligence platform for asking questions, building dashboards and embedding analytics into other products. It is made by Metabase and can be self-hosted or used as Metabase Cloud. The problem it solves is access to data: non-technical teammates can explore tables with a visual query builder, while analysts keep a SQL editor and developers can embed the same charts in an application.

Key features

• Visual query builder. Users ask questions by clicking through tables, joins and filters without writing SQL.
• SQL editor. Analysts can write native SQL against supported databases and save the results as questions or dashboards.
• Dashboards and reporting. Charts, filters and saved questions can be arranged into shared dashboards.
• Wide data source support. Metabase connects to more than 20 databases and warehouses.
• AI and MCP. Metabase AI can answer questions with a preferred model, and an MCP server exposes analytics to compatible clients.
• Embedded analytics. Teams can embed charts and dashboards in customer-facing products, with white labelling on Pro.
• Permissions and governance. Pro adds row and column permissions, SSO, required two-factor authentication, caching controls and audit logs.

Who is Metabase for?

Startups and mid-sized companies that want self-service analytics without a data engineering team, and product teams that need to embed reporting in their app. It suits organisations that already have a SQL database and want a fast internal BI layer, as well as regulated teams that need self-hosting or granular permissions. It is less suited to very large enterprises with complex semantic modelling requirements.

Use cases

• Giving sales and operations teams a self-service dashboard over company data.
• Embedding customer-facing charts in a SaaS product.
• Exploring a production database without writing SQL.
• Sharing a weekly revenue or product metrics dashboard.
• Letting an AI client query analytics through MCP.

Pricing

Metabase Open Source is free with unlimited users, a query builder, SQL editor, dashboards, 20 or more data sources and an MCP server. Starter costs $100 per month, or $90 billed annually, and includes the first five users, then $6 per user per month. Pro costs $575 per month, or $517.50 billed annually, and includes the first ten users, then $12 per user per month, plus row and column permissions, SSO, caching, audit logs and white-label embedding. Enterprise starts at $20,000 per year. A 14-day trial is available. See the official Metabase pricing page.

Getting started

1. Run Metabase locally with Docker, or create a Metabase Cloud account.
2. Open the setup wizard and create the admin account.
3. Add a database connection.
4. Ask a question with the query builder or SQL editor, then save it to a dashboard.

docker run -d -p 3000:3000 --name metabase metabase/metabase

Alternatives

• Lightdash is an open source BI platform built for dbt projects.
• Omni Analytics is a modern BI platform with a semantic model.
• Grafana Cloud combines dashboards with metrics, logs and traces.
• PostHog combines product analytics with dashboards and experimentation.

FAQ

Is Metabase free?

Yes. Metabase Open Source is free with unlimited users and can be self-hosted. Metabase Cloud plans start at $100 per month, with a 14-day trial.

What is Metabase used for?

Metabase is used for business intelligence: teams explore databases, build charts and dashboards, and embed analytics into products.

Metabase vs Looker?

Metabase is an open source BI tool with a visual query builder and self-hosting option. Looker is a Google Cloud enterprise BI platform built around a semantic modelling layer. Metabase is often faster to start with, while Looker suits large organisations with governed data models.

Can I embed Metabase in my app?

Yes. Metabase offers embedded analytics, including interactive charts and dashboards, with white labelling and multi-tenant permissions on the Pro plan.

Does Metabase support SQL?

Yes. Metabase includes a native SQL editor alongside its visual query builder, and both can feed the same dashboards.