Exploring Sigma Computing, Deepnote & Visivo

Sigma Computing vs. Deepnote vs. Visivo

Compare key features, capabilities, and differentiators between Sigma Computing, Deepnote, 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

FeatureSigma ComputingDeepnoteVisivo
Deployment ModelCloud (SaaS) - AWS, Cloud (SaaS) - GCP, Multi-tenant deploymentCloud (browser-based), Enterprise deployment, Private cloudOpen-source, Cloud Service, Self-hosted
PricingCommercial SaaS; no free tier (trial available). Proprietary.Free tier (limited projects); paid for premium features. Closed-source.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.

Sigma Computing

Business users (spreadsheet aficionados)BI & data teamsFinancial analysts

Deepnote

Data science teamsEducatorsAnalysts collaborating on notebooks

Visivo

Analytics EngineersData teamsBusiness usersEngineers

Ease of Development & Deployment

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

Sigma Computing

4/5

Deepnote

4/5

Visivo

5/5

Key Integrations & Ecosystem

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

Sigma Computing

Cloud data warehousesdbt metadata syncEmbedding API for apps

Deepnote

SQL databases (PostgreSQL, BigQuery, etc.)Cloud storage (Google Drive, S3)dbt workflow integration

Visivo

dbt coreAll major databasesCustom connector frameworkSlack for alertsGithub

Visualization Capabilities

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

Sigma Computing

Spreadsheet-like UI on cloud data: users drag columns, create formulas in cells (Excel-style). Visualizations are built atop these 'workbooks.' Good variety of charts, but geared towards data in tables first. Custom visuals possible via SQL or minimal coding (no full script extensions as in PowerBI).

Deepnote

Jupyter-like notebooks with collaborative editing. Supports interactive visualizations by writing code (Python, R, SQL blocks). Has a GUI for basic charts: you can switch a SQL cell's results into a chart view (bar/line) quickly. Can arrange outputs into a dashboard layout for sharing. Custom viz requires coding (e.g., Plotly, seaborn).

Visivo

Highly custom UI with easy defaults

Detailed Differentiators

Each platform's unique strengths and limitations.

Sigma Computing

Familiar Excel-like interface on big data – low learning curve for spreadsheet users. No data extraction – queries run in your warehouse, so leverages its power. Unique ability to "write-back" or materialize prepared datasets into the DB.
Performance can suffer on very large datasets or complex filters (depends on warehouse; UI might hang on millions of rows). Less suitable for pixel-perfect presentations (focuses on ad-hoc exploration).

Deepnote

Real-time collaboration on notebooks (like Google Docs for Jupyter) – multiple users can work simultaneously. Great for mixed code-and-text narratives and then turning into lightweight dashboards for stakeholders.
Still requires coding for most analysis; not a drop-in replacement for tools like Tableau for a pure business user.

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.

Sigma Computing

DB Access: Yes – requires direct access to cloud DB (Sigma sends SQL to your warehouse). Virtualization: Yes – leaves data in DB, no local storage (except temp cache), effectively a virtualization approach. Push: Not typical; however, users can push (materialize) a result back to DB if needed. Other: Data never leaves your cloud environment (Sigma runs within cloud region). Supports row-level security via warehouse and within Sigma. SSO support available.

Deepnote

DB Access: Yes, uses direct credentials to query databases in SQL cells. Virtualization: No separate layer – it's a client executing queries or code. Push: No (though you could push data via Python in a notebook to an external system). Other: Deepnote runs in cloud with project-specific isolation; offers Google SSO. Not designed for role-based consumption – notebooks can be shared via link with view/edit rights.

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