
Apache Superset
Open-source data exploration and dashboard platform from the Apache Software Foundation.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web, Self-hosted
Is Apache Superset free?
Yes, free and open source
- License:
- Apache-2.0
Checked on Apache Superset's site Nov 3, 2026
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All 6- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Apache Superset
Apache Superset is a free, open-source business intelligence platform maintained under the Apache Software Foundation. It began at Airbnb and is now used by many companies as a self-hosted alternative to Tableau or Looker. Superset connects to almost any SQL database or query engine, and offers two ways to work: a no-code chart builder with dozens of visualization types, from simple line charts to geospatial maps, and SQL Lab, a full SQL editor for writing queries and browsing database metadata. Charts are combined into interactive dashboards with cross-filtering, caching and CSS theming. It has no paid tier of its own; you run it yourself with Docker or Kubernetes, or buy hosting from third-party vendors. That freedom comes with setup and maintenance work, and the interface assumes some comfort with SQL and data modelling, so it suits data teams more than non-technical business users.
Best for: Data teams comfortable with SQL who want a free, self-hosted Tableau-style platform.
Pros and cons
What works
- Completely free under the Apache 2.0 licence
- 40+ built-in chart types, including geospatial maps
- Built-in SQL Lab editor alongside a no-code chart builder
Why people leave
- You must deploy and maintain it yourself, or pay a third-party host
- Less approachable for non-technical users than Metabase
- No official vendor support from the project itself
Apache Superset vs Metabase, Grafana and Tableau
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Apache Superset | Metabase | Grafana | Tableau |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Open source | Open source | Open source | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | — | $100/month (Starter) | From $19/month + usage | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Open Source, unlimited users | 10k metric series, 50 GB logs, 14-day retention | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Self-hosted | Web, Self-hosted | Web, Self-hosted | Web, Windows, macOS, Self-hosted |
Top Apache Superset alternatives
See all 6- 1
Metabase83.8Also open source, but easier for non-technical users to ask questions without SQL.
- 2
Grafana65.0Open-source dashboards that query SQL databases too, and shine for time-series and monitoring data.
- 3
Tableau62.6Commercial, polished visual analytics with vendor support and hosted options.
- 4
Microsoft Power BI61.8Managed service with strong data modelling, priced per user.
- 5DaData Studio (Looker Studio)59.4
Free hosted dashboards from Google with no server to run, good for teams already using Google data.
Why people left Apache Superset
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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Apache Superset: common questions
What is Apache Superset?
Apache Superset: Open-source data exploration and dashboard platform from the Apache Software Foundation. Best for data teams comfortable with SQL who want a free, self-hosted Tableau-style platform. Available for Web, and you can host it yourself.
Is Apache Superset free?
Yes. Apache Superset is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
Is Apache Superset open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at apache/superset. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does Apache Superset run on?
Apache Superset is available for Web and Self-hosted.
What are the best alternatives to Apache Superset?
The highest-ranked Apache Superset alternatives right now are Metabase, Grafana and Tableau. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Apache Superset vs Metabase: what's the difference?
Both Apache Superset and Metabase are free and open source. Both run on Web.