Exploring Lightdash, Sisense & Visivo
Lightdash vs. Sisense vs. Visivo
Compare key features, capabilities, and differentiators between Lightdash, Sisense, Visivo. This comprehensive analysis will help you make an informed decision for your data visualization needs.
Quick Comparison
Key features and capabilities at a glance
| Feature | Lightdash | Sisense | Visivo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment Model | Self-host (Docker, CLI), Lightdash Cloud | Windows/Linux on-prem, Sisense Cloud (managed), Private cloud | Open-source, Cloud Service, Self-hosted |
| Pricing | Open-source (MIT); Cloud hosted plans (basic $800/mo & Cloud Pro $2,400/mo) | Commercial (Proprietary). Pricing by seat and consumption. | Open source (GPL-3.0) |
| Cost | $$ | $$$$$ | $ |
| Git Integration | |||
| CI/CD & Testing | |||
| Real-time | |||
| AI Features | |||
| Visual to Code | |||
| DAG-Based |
Target Users & Use-Cases
Each BI tool is designed with specific user personas in mind.
Lightdash
Sisense
Visivo
Ease of Development & Deployment
Development experience directly impacts team productivity and time-to-value.
Lightdash
Sisense
Visivo
Key Integrations & Ecosystem
A robust ecosystem of integrations is essential for modern BI tools.
Lightdash
Sisense
Visivo
Visualization Capabilities
The ability to create compelling visualizations is key to data storytelling.
Lightdash
Modeled after Looker: define metrics in dbt, then drag-and-drop UI. Provides common charts & filters; less free-form than code, but ensures consistency via definitions.
Sisense
Two flavors merged: traditional dashboard builder (drag-drop charts, with advanced widget for custom UI via scripting) and a notebook-style interface (from acquired Periscope Data) for SQL/Python. Visualizations include a wide range of widgets and the special Sisense BloX for custom coded infographic-like blocks. Highly customizable via JavaScript (for those inclined).
Visivo
Highly custom UI with easy defaults
Detailed Differentiators
Each platform's unique strengths and limitations.
Lightdash
Sisense
Visivo
Security & Architecture
Critical considerations for enterprise deployments.
Lightdash
DB Access: Yes, connects directly to DB (runs SQL on warehouse). Virtualization: Relies on live queries (no internal storage). Push: Data is pulled via queries on demand or scheduled caching. Security: Uses dbt/warehouse for access control; supports role-based access in app; inherits dbt's data perms.
Sisense
DB Access: Depending on setup – Live mode: Sisense queries your DB on the fly (needs access); Elasticube mode: data is extracted into Sisense's proprietary in-memory cube (so queries don't hit source DB at runtime). Virtualization: Allows combining multiple sources in one view via its cubes (not exactly virtualization, more like federation into a single cache). Push: In Elasticube mode, data is essentially pushed into Sisense's storage on a refresh schedule. Other: Robust security – single sign-on, row-level security in Elasticubes, and extensive admin controls.
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 for modern data teams.
Ready to Experience Modern BI?
Try Visivo today and see how it transforms your data analytics workflow.
$ curl -fsSL https://visivo.sh | bash
