Superset vs Metabase vs Redash – Comparing Open Source BI Tools
A human brain retains more information through patterns and visuals as compared to reading or studying numbered files. In the business world, visualization is imperative in understanding the significance of data. Let us understand with an example.
An e-commerce company receives thousands of orders per day. For studying the weekly performance, a graphical plot showing the number of orders per day will result in faster interpretation than a spreadsheet comprising the order details.
Hence, visual data representation is a powerful technique. It helps companies in analyzing trends and gaining valuable insights which further helps in decision making.
Open-source data visualization tools like Redash, Metabase, and Apache Superset are gaining popularity as the learning curve isn’t steep for non-technical users. A large number of startups are using Metabase, Redash, and Superset to query, collaborate and visualize.
This blog talks about the Metabase vs. Redash vs. Superset over a few parameters.
Table of contents
1. Data Sources:
The widely used data warehouses- Amazon Redshift and Google BigQuery and databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL are supported by all the three visualization tools. Snowflake is supported by Metabase and Redash. Cassandra is supported only by Redash. Below is a list of data backends supported by Metabase, Redash, and Superset.
Data Sources | Metabase | Redash | Superset |
Amazon Redshift | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Google BigQuery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Cassandra | ✓ | ||
MongoDB | ✓ | ✓ | |
PostgreSQL | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
MySQL | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Google Analytics | ✓ | ✓ | |
Snowflake | ✓ | ✓ | |
Druid | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
H2 | ✓ | ||
SQLite | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Microsoft SQL Server | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
CrateDB | ✓ | ||
Oracle | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Vertica | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Presto | ✓ | ✓ |

2. Extension Platform:
It is simple to extend open source BI tools if required. Metabase apparatus is developed on Clojure whereas Redash and Superset are based on Python. This helps you to decide which tool is favourable if your company uses the same platform – Python or Clojure.
Hevo Data: A Simpler Alternative to Integrate your Data for Analysis
Hevo Data, offers a faster way to move data from 100+ data sources like Databases, SaaS applications, CRMs, etc. into your Data Warehouse to be visualized in a BI tool. Hevo is fully automated and hence does not require you to code.
Get Started with Hevo for FreeCheck out some of the cool features of Hevo:
- Completely Automated: The Hevo platform can be set up in just a few minutes and requires minimal maintenance.
- Real-time Data Transfer: Hevo provides real-time data migration, so you can have analysis-ready data always.
- 100% Complete & Accurate Data Transfer: Hevo’s robust infrastructure ensures reliable data transfer with zero data loss.
- Scalable Infrastructure: Hevo has in-built integrations for 100+ sources that can help you scale your data infrastructure as required.
- 24/7 Live Support: The Hevo team is available round the clock to extend exceptional support to you through chat, email, and support calls.
- Schema Management: Hevo takes away the tedious task of schema management & automatically detects the schema of incoming data and maps it to the destination schema.
- Live Monitoring: Hevo allows you to monitor the data flow so you can check where your data is at a particular point in time.
3. Authentication Support:
Superset provides richer options in terms of authentication. While Metabase and Redash have support for Google OAuth and SSO only, with Superset you can also integrate your in-house authentication backends or LDAP.
Tool | Google OAuth | LDAP | OpenID | Database |
Metabase | Present | Present | Absent | Absent |
Redash | Present | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Superset | Present | Present | Present | Present |
4. Access Control and Permissions:
While using Metabase, Redash, and Superset at an organizational level it is important to understand the access controls. One can restrict access to databases, queries, and dashboards as per the requirements.
Metabase and Redash follow a group-based approach to provide access control and set permissions. One can be a member of multiple groups. The level of access to databases and SQL is determined by group membership.
For instance, when you are a part of a group, you have access to all the databases in the group. Your permissions are tabulated as per the level of access, groups, databases, etc. in the permissions’ section of the admin panel.
Superset has different levels of access control: Admin, Alpha, Gamma, and Public.
Role | Permissions |
Admin |
|
Alpha |
|
Gamma |
|
Public |
|
Want to learn more about BI and Data Visualisation tools? Here’s a detailed Hevo post on Periscope vs Chartio vs Looker .
Conclusion
Data Pipeline, Data Warehouse, and Data Visualisation are three components of a Data Integration Stack. In this post, we learned about open-source visualization tools.
We, at Hevo, are building the most robust and comprehensive ETL solution in the industry. We integrate with your in-house databases, cloud apps, flat files, clickstream. Drop us your queries at info@hevodata.com.
Visit our Website to Explore HevoHevo offers a faster way to move data from Databases or SaaS applications into your Data Warehouse to be visualized in a BI tool. Hevo is fully automated and hence does not require you to code. You can try Hevo for free by signing up for a 14-day free trial. You can also have a look at the unbeatable pricing that will help you choose the right plan for your business needs!
Want to take Hevo for a spin? Sign Up for a 14-day free trial and experience the feature-rich Hevo suite first hand.
K Shiv says:
Very crisp & simplified content…
Informative & insightful blog by shalaka…
Good one?
Shalaka Kulkarni says:
Thank you Shiv.
Krutika says:
Well written and explained the points in clear way!
Shalaka Kulkarni says:
Thank you Krutika.
Vishnu says:
. Druid as a data source is missing probably a big one for superset
Shalaka Kulkarni says:
Hi Vishnu, thanks for bringing it to our notice. Your suggestion is valuable and I have included Druid in the chart of data sources.
Maz Ameli says:
Thanks for the writeup, Shalaka.
Metabase actually does have LDAP support now: http://www.metabase.com/docs/latest/administration-guide/10-single-sign-on.html
Shalaka Kulkarni says:
Hi Maz, Thanks a lot for the documentation link. Incorporated the changes.
Maz Ameli says:
Thanks! I also noticed it says we don’t support Druid, which we do.
Here’s the full list of databases we support:
Amazon Redshift
Google BigQuery
H2
MongoDB (version 3.0 or higher)
MySQL (version 4.1 or higher, as well as MariaDB)
Postgres
SQLite
SQL Server
Druid
CrateDB
Oracle
Vertica
Presto
Google Analytics
Shalaka Kulkarni says:
Thanks a bunch. Updated.
David Howell says:
FYI: You updated the table, but the sentence above it has not been updated to reflect that Metabase supports LDAP.
Fouad ALi says:
Druid is not supported by Redash!
https://github.com/getredash/redash/issues/2065#event-1527904183
Ved Mulkalwar says:
According to metabase’s github page, it now also supports Snowflake database.l