Exploring Metabase, Preset & Visivo

Metabase vs. Preset vs. Visivo

Compare key features, capabilities, and differentiators between Metabase, Preset, 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	Preset	Visivo
Deployment Model	Self-host OSS (Java), Metabase Cloud (hosted SaaS), Docker deployment	Cloud (multi-tenant), Cloud (VPC), Managed service	Open-source, Cloud Service, Self-hosted
Pricing	Open-source core (AGPL v3); Enterprise features in paid plans	Managed service (subscription per creator & usage). Underlying Superset is Apache-licensed.	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

Non-technical business usersProduct teamsData teams for quick analytics

Preset

Data teams wanting managed SupersetOrganizations without resources to self-hostEnterprise analytics teams

Visivo

Analytics EngineersData teamsBusiness usersEngineers

Ease of Development & Deployment

Development experience directly impacts team productivity and time-to-value.

Metabase

5/5

Preset

4/5

Visivo

5/5

Key Integrations & Ecosystem

A robust ecosystem of integrations is essential for modern BI tools.

Metabase

Major SQL databasesNoSQL databases (MongoDB, Druid)dbt metadata via community plugin

Preset

Same database integrations as Supersetdbt Cloud for metadataOAuth connections to popular DBs

Visivo

dbt coreAll major databasesCustom connector frameworkSlack for alertsGithub

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.

Preset

Identical visualization capabilities to Apache Superset (Preset is built on Superset) – plus a nicer UI/UX and theme. Custom visualizations can be added via Preset's marketplace.

Visivo

Highly custom UI with easy defaults

Detailed Differentiators

Each platform's unique strengths and limitations.

Metabase

Extremely easy for non-technical users to ask questions – great for self-service on simple queries.

No semantic layer – each "question" is standalone, which can lead to inconsistent metrics if not careful. Lacks advanced visuals and fine formatting; not ideal for complex dashboards or large-scale governance.

Preset

Easiest way to use Superset – fully managed infrastructure and support from Superset experts. New features and custom connectors often available.

Still catching up to feature parity with mature BI tools in terms of collaboration (Git, fine-grained content permissions).

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

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).

Preset

DB Access: Yes (your databases' credentials are stored in Preset; it queries them directly). Virtualization: No, live queries on sources (with optional result caching). Push: No – you supply data to your DB, Preset pulls on viz. Other: Managed security – SSO integration, teams/roles setup in UI. Data stays in your cloud DB; Preset does not persist data (aside from cached query results).

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.

DAG-Based Architecture for complex data transformations

Visual to Human-readable Code conversion

Multiple development approaches for all skill levels

AI-Powered dashboard creation

Full Git integration and version control

Open-source with enterprise features

Ready to Experience Modern BI?

Try Visivo today and see how it transforms your data analytics workflow.

$ curl -fsSL https://visivo.sh | bash

Start Free Trial Request a Demo


Email	Mute	End Chat