Exploring Plotly Dash, Apache Superset & Visivo

Plotly Dash vs. Apache Superset vs. Visivo

Compare key features, capabilities, and differentiators between Plotly Dash, 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

FeaturePlotly DashApache SupersetVisivo
Deployment ModelSelf-hosted (open-source) or Plotly Enterprise ServerSelf-host (Apache OSS), Preset Cloud (managed), Docker deploymentOpen-source, Cloud Service, Self-hosted
PricingOpen-source (MIT); Enterprise plans for supportOpen-source (Apache 2.0); Preset Cloud offers paid hosting/supportOpen 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.

Plotly Dash

DevelopersHighly technical Data ScientistsStudents

Apache Superset

Data analystsSQL-savvy business usersData engineers

Visivo

Analytics EngineersData teamsBusiness usersEngineers

Ease of Development & Deployment

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

Plotly Dash

1/5

Apache Superset

3/5

Visivo

5/5

Key Integrations & Ecosystem

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

Plotly Dash

dbtGithubGitLabGoogle Sheets

Apache Superset

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

Visivo

dbt coreAll major databasesCustom connector frameworkSlack for alertsGithub

Visualization Capabilities

The ability to create compelling visualizations is key to data storytelling.

Plotly Dash

Fully custom UI with code; any plotly or HTML component; highly flexible but code-driven

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.

Plotly Dash

Extreme flexibility in design and functionality (code-level control).
Requires programming; not a drag-drop tool for non-devs.

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.

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.

Plotly Dash

Requires direct DB/API access in code (no built-in data layer); no built-in virtualization or push. App pulls data as coded; security handled by app deployment (auth, etc. configurable)

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.

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
undefined
Jared Jesionek (co-founder)
Jared Jesionek (co-founder)
Jared Jesionek (co-founder)
agent avatar
How can I help? This connects to our slack so I'll respond real quickly 😄
Powered by Chatlio