kitio.aiMetabase vs Lightdash
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Metabase has the lower starting price: about $100 a month, against $3000 for Lightdash.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Visual query builder
- SQL editor
- Metabot AI assistant
- Dashboards and alerts
- Embedded analytics
- dbt-based semantic layer
- Self-serve explores
- AI analyst agents
- Slack integration
- Dashboards as code
| Feature | Metabase | Lightdash |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-source BI with a simple query builder and AI help | Open-source BI built on dbt with AI analyst agents |
| Category | Data & analytics | Data & analytics |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $100/mo | $3000/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Metabase | Lightdash |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Metabase has the lower starting price: about $100 a month, against $3000 for Lightdash.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Open Source
Free
- Self-hosted
- Free unlimited users
Starter
$100/mo
- First 5 users, then $6/user
- AI questions and MCP server
- 14-day free trial
Pro
$575/mo
- First 10 users, then $12/user
- Row and column permissions
- SSO, caching, usage analytics
Enterprise
From $20,000/yr
- Dedicated success engineer
- Air gap available
- 1-day support SLA
3 plans
Open Source
Free
- Self-hosted core BI
- Manage your own infrastructure
- Community Slack support
Cloud Pro
$3000/mo
- Hosted by Lightdash
- Unlimited users and charts
- Native dbt semantic layer
- Scheduled reports and alerts
Enterprise
Custom
- US and EU hosting
- HIPAA BAA available
- SOC2 report
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Metabase
- Free open-source edition
- Easy for non-analysts
- Quick to set up
- Less advanced modeling than enterprise BI
- Some features locked to paid plans
Lightdash
- Reuses existing dbt work
- Metrics stay consistent
- Open-source option
- Requires dbt
- Fewer visual options than big BI tools
Which one should you choose?
Choose Metabase if you want:
- Free open-source edition
- Easy for non-analysts
- Quick to set up
Watch out: less advanced modeling than enterprise bi.
Choose Lightdash if you want:
- Reuses existing dbt work
- Metrics stay consistent
- Open-source option
Watch out: requires dbt.
Metabase vs Lightdash FAQ
What is the difference between Metabase and Lightdash?
Metabase: Open-source BI with a simple query builder and AI help. Lightdash: Open-source BI built on dbt with AI analyst agents. Both are data & analytics tools.
Is Metabase or Lightdash cheaper?
Metabase has the lower starting price: about $100 a month, against $3000 for Lightdash.
Do Metabase and Lightdash have free plans?
Metabase: Yes. Lightdash: Yes.
Who makes Metabase?
Metabase is made by Metabase, based in United States.
Who makes Lightdash?
Lightdash is made by Lightdash.
Which should I choose, Metabase or Lightdash?
Choose Metabase if you value free open-source edition and easy for non-analysts. Choose Lightdash if you value reuses existing dbt work and metrics stay consistent.