Exploring Metabase, Apache Superset & Visivo
Metabase vs. Apache Superset vs. Visivo
Compare key features, capabilities, and differentiators between Metabase, Apache Superset, 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 | Metabase | Apache Superset | Visivo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment Model | Self-host OSS (Java), Metabase Cloud (hosted SaaS), Docker deployment | Self-host (Apache OSS), Preset Cloud (managed), Docker deployment | Open-source, Cloud Service, Self-hosted |
| Pricing | Open-source core (AGPL v3); Enterprise features in paid plans | Open-source (Apache 2.0); Preset Cloud offers paid hosting/support | 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.
Metabase
Apache Superset
Visivo
Ease of Development & Deployment
Development experience directly impacts team productivity and time-to-value.
Metabase
Apache Superset
Visivo
Key Integrations & Ecosystem
A robust ecosystem of integrations is essential for modern BI tools.
Metabase
Apache Superset
Visivo
Visualization Capabilities
The ability to create compelling visualizations is key to data storytelling.
Metabase
Simplified UI: users can create questions (queries) via a point-and-click interface or SQL editor. Visualizations cover basic needs (bar, line, pie, maps, etc.). Dashboards allow filter widgets to link multiple cards. Customization is basic – focus is on quick insights over polished design.
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.
Visivo
Highly custom UI with easy defaults
Detailed Differentiators
Each platform's unique strengths and limitations.
Metabase
Apache Superset
Visivo
Security & Architecture
Critical considerations for enterprise deployments.
Metabase
DB Access: Yes, Metabase connects directly to each data source to run queries. Virtualization: No intermediate layer – it's live queries (with caching). Push: No (pull-based queries; can cache results in application DB). Other: Supports row-level security with query filters (enterprise). Offers auditing of questions run. Embedding to apps with signed tokens available (with its own permissions).
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).
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
