Metabase: Pricing, Features & Alternatives
Metabase is the open-source BI tool most startups install first. People ask questions with a point-and-click builder or SQL, save them to dashboards, and get alerts and subscriptions. It connects to 20+ databases and warehouses, has an MCP server and can use your own AI model. The open-source edition is AGPL, free and self-hosted, with unlimited users, questions and dashboards.
Metabase Cloud Starter is $100 a month for the first 5 users, then $6 per user. Pro is $575 a month for the first 10 users, then $12 per user, and adds row and column permissions, SSO, white-labeling and multi-tenant embedding. Enterprise starts at $20,000 a year. AI, transforms and storage are billed as usage add-ons. As of October 2026.
Category
BI & Dashboards
Pricing
Free tier available
Free tier
Yes
Best for
BI & Dashboards — bi, dashboards
Metabase Pricing Plans (2026)
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Open Source | $0 (self-hosted, AGPL) |
| StarterPopular | $100 / month (5 users, then $6 / user) |
| Pro | $575 / month (10 users, then $12 / user) |
| Enterprise | From $20,000 / year |
Pricing summary: Free · paid from $100/user/mo. Always confirm current pricing on the official site.
Key Metabase Features
- Hosted by Metabase
- Email and Slack support
- 14-day free trial
Pros
- +Non-technical people can build their own questions
- +Free self-hosted edition with unlimited users
- +Easy embedding in your own product
Cons
- −Row-level permissions and SSO need Pro at $575/month
- −Self-hosting means running and upgrading it yourself
- −Less suited to heavy modelling than code-first tools
Best Metabase Alternatives
Compare allMetabase Compared
Metabase FAQ
What is Metabase used for?⌄
Metabase is a bi & dashboards tool. Open-source BI that non-technical people can use: ask questions without SQL, build dashboards and embed them, self-hosted for free.
Is Metabase free?⌄
Yes — Metabase has a free tier you can start with, and paid plans for more usage and features.
How much does Metabase cost?⌄
Metabase offers a free tier, with paid plans starting at $100/month. Some plans are usage-based (pay-as-you-go).
What are the best Metabase alternatives?⌄
Popular Metabase alternatives include Apache Superset, Google Data Studio, Hex. Compare pricing and features on our Metabase alternatives page.
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