Exploring Apache Superset, Omni & Visivo

Apache Superset Vs. Omni Vs. Visivo

In this article, we'll compare the key features, capabilities, and differentiators between Apache Superset, Omni, Visivo. This comprehensive comparison will help you make an informed decision about which platform best suits your data visualization and analytics needs.

Quick Comparison

A high-level overview of key features and capabilities across these BI tools. This comparison helps you quickly identify which platform best matches your needs.

Feature	Apache Superset	Omni	Visivo
Deployment Model	Self-host (Apache OSS), Preset Cloud (managed), Docker deployment	Cloud (SaaS on AWS), Private cloud, Enterprise VPC	Open-source, Cloud Service, Self-hosted
Pricing	Open-source (Apache 2.0); Preset Cloud offers paid hosting/support	Commercial (Proprietary SaaS); demo & trial available (pricing not public)	Open source (GPL-3.0)
Cost	$	$$$$	$
Git Integration	❌	❌	✔️
CI/CD & Testing	❌	❌	✔️
Real-time	❌	❌	❌
AI	❌	❌	✔️
Visual to Code	❌	❌	✔️
DAG-Based	❌	❌	✔️

Deployment & Pricing

Understanding the deployment options and pricing structure is crucial for making an informed decision. Here's how each platform handles deployment and what you can expect in terms of costs.

Tool	Deployment Model	Pricing	Cost
Apache Superset	Self-host (Apache OSS), Preset Cloud (managed), Docker deployment	Open-source (Apache 2.0); Preset Cloud offers paid hosting/support	$
Omni	Cloud (SaaS on AWS), Private cloud, Enterprise VPC	Commercial (Proprietary SaaS); demo & trial available (pricing not public)	$$$$
Visivo	Open-source, Cloud Service, Self-hosted	Open source (GPL-3.0)	$

Target Users & Use-Cases

Each BI tool is designed with specific user personas in mind. Understanding the target audience helps ensure you choose a platform that aligns with your team's skills and needs.

Apache Superset

Data analystsSQL-savvy business usersData engineers

Omni

SQL usersSpreadsheet usersBusiness executivesData teams

Visivo

Analytics EngineersData teamsBusiness usersEngineers

Ease of Development & Deployment

The development experience can significantly impact your team's productivity. This section compares how easy it is to build, deploy, and maintain dashboards in each platform.

Apache Superset

Omni

Visivo

Key Integrations & Ecosystem

A robust ecosystem of integrations is essential for modern BI tools. Here's how each platform connects with other tools in your data stack.

Apache Superset

SQL databases via SQLAlchemyAuthentication systems (OAuth, LDAP)dbt outputs as data sources

Omni

dbt (bi-directional sync)Cloud data warehouses (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift)Spreadsheet data sources

Visivo

dbt coreAll major databasesCustom connector frameworkSlack for alertsGithub

AI & Advanced Features

Artificial intelligence is transforming how we interact with data. Compare the AI capabilities and advanced features offered by each platform.

Tool	AI Features
Apache Superset	❌
Omni	❌
Visivo	✔️

Visualization Capabilities

The ability to create compelling and insightful visualizations is a key differentiator between BI tools. Here's how each platform handles data visualization.

Apache Superset

Rich set of visualizations (bar, line, time-series, big number, etc.) via built-in plugins. Dashboards support filters and cross-highlighting. Customization is decent (colors, chart options) but not as polished as Tableau. Can create custom viz plugins with React/D3 if needed.

Omni

Combines spreadsheet-like calculations, SQL, and drag/drop. Users can create charts with one-click from data tables. Good selection of standard visuals, with focus on ease (smart defaults). Custom styling is somewhat guided (aims for simplicity over exhaustive options).

Visivo

Highly custom UI with easy defaults

Detailed Differentiators

Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses. Here's a detailed breakdown of what sets each tool apart, including both advantages and limitations.

Apache Superset

+ Open-source BI with no vendor lock-in. Large community and improving UI. Suitable for embedding into internal tools.

− Setup and maintenance require engineering effort (Docker, config). UI can be less intuitive for non-technical users; SQL knowledge often needed for custom queries.

Omni

+ Spreadsheet meets SQL: users can use Excel formulas or SQL interchangeably. AI "calculation assistant" suggests formulas from natural language. Governed semantic model ensures consistent metrics.

− Newer product – not as feature-rich in visualization customization as legacy tools; purely cloud (may not suit those needing on-prem).

Visivo

+ BI-as-code approach enables version control, collaboration, and CI/CD workflows. DAG-based architecture provides powerful data transformation capabilities and dependency management. Seamless visual-to-code workflow allows both technical and non-technical users to build dashboards effectively.

− Requires understanding of data concepts; not a pure drag-and-drop tool like Tableau. Initial setup requires technical knowledge for optimal configuration.

Security & Architecture

Security and architecture are critical considerations for enterprise deployments. Here's how each platform handles data security and system architecture.

Apache Superset

DB Access: Yes, connects directly to databases with provided creds (queries run in DB). Virtualization: No internal data storage beyond caches – queries are delegated to sources. Push: No, data is pulled via queries on demand or scheduled caching. Other: Supports row-level security filters and role-based access to datasets/dashboards. Uses your DB's security for data access (you supply read-only creds).

Omni

DB Access: Yes, Omni directly queries your databases (encrypted connections). Virtualization: Queries data in place (no data copy) – essentially virtualization with a semantic layer. Push: No, it's live query (though cached metrics can be materialized on demand). Other: Strong security focus – column & row-level controls, SAML SSO, data encrypted at rest. SOC 2 compliant.

Visivo

No db access required. Very strong security features due to the DAG-based access controls and the push based deployment model.

Why Visivo Stands Out

While each platform has its strengths, Visivo offers unique advantages that make it an excellent choice for modern data teams.

DAG-Based Architecture: Enables complex data transformations and dependencies
Visual to Human-readable Code: Seamlessly switch between visual and code-based development
Ease of Development: Multiple approaches to build for both technical and non-technical users
AI-Powered Development: Leverage AI to accelerate dashboard creation
Git Integration: Full version control and collaboration capabilities

Ready to experience the power of modern BI? Try Visivo today and see how it compares to other tools in your stack.

$pip install visivo