Apache Superset vs Metabase: which one to choose in 2026?
Both are open source alternatives to Tableau. We compare license, tech stack and features to help you decide which fits your team best.
| Apache Superset | Metabase | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| GitHub stars | 62k | 38k |
| Tech stack | Python, Flask, React | Clojure, PostgreSQL |
| Replaces | Tableau, Power BI | Looker, Tableau |
Apache Superset has more GitHub stars, which usually indicates a larger community (not necessarily that it's the best option for your use case).
Apache Superset
Large-scale BI and data visualization, an alternative to Tableau/Power BI.
Pros
- Apache-2.0 license with no commercial-use restrictions
Things to consider
- Production setup is more involved (Redis/Celery recommended)
Metabase
Dashboards and BI over your databases, an alternative to Looker/Tableau.
Pros
- Very low learning curve for non-technical teams
Things to consider
- Advanced data governance features are Enterprise-edition only
Key features
Apache Superset
- Dozens of chart types
- SQL editor with autocomplete
- Scheduled alerts and reports
Metabase
- Visual queries without SQL
- Dashboards and scheduled alerts
- Connects to most SQL databases