Apache Zeppelin
Open-source web notebook for SQL, Spark, Python and R analytics, run on your own servers.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Self-hosted, Linux, macOS, Web
Is Apache Zeppelin free?
Yes, free and open source
- License:
- Apache-2.0
Checked on Apache Zeppelin's site Nov 6, 2026
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- Alternatives ranked
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About Apache Zeppelin
Apache Zeppelin is an open-source, browser-based notebook from the Apache Software Foundation for exploring and visualising data. Its interpreter system lets one notebook mix Spark, PySpark, Spark SQL, Flink, Python, R, Shell, Markdown and SQL against any JDBC database such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redshift or Hive, with more than 20 interpreters available. Built-in charts and a drag-and-drop pivot view turn query results into graphs without extra code, dynamic forms add input fields to notebooks, and paragraphs can be embedded in other sites. Notebook URLs can be shared so collaborators see changes live, and multi-user setups can authenticate against LDAP and run on YARN clusters. Zeppelin is free under the Apache 2.0 licence; you download it or run the official Docker image and host it yourself, so there is no managed cloud version from the project. It suits data engineering teams working with Spark and big-data clusters more than individual analysts who want a polished hosted notebook.
Best for: Data teams on Spark or Flink clusters who want a self-hosted, multi-language notebook.
Pros and cons
What works
- Deep built-in Apache Spark integration
- 20+ interpreters, including any JDBC database
- Built-in charts and pivot tables without extra code
- Free under Apache 2.0 with an official Docker image
Why people leave
- No hosted version; you install and run the server yourself
- Large download (the full binary is around 700 MB)
- Smaller ecosystem and fewer extensions than Jupyter
Apache Zeppelin vs Hex, marimo and CoCalc
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Apache Zeppelin | Hex | marimo | CoCalc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Open source | Free plan + paid | Open source | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | — | $36 per editor/month (Professional) | — | $8/month (Basic, monthly) |
| Free plan | Free app | Yes (Community) | Free app | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Self-hosted, Linux, macOS, Web | Web | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, Self-hosted | Web, Self-hosted |
Top Apache Zeppelin alternatives
See all 5- 1
Hex61.8Hosted SQL-and-Python notebooks that publish as polished data apps, with no servers to run.
- 2
marimo59.4Modern open-source reactive Python notebook stored as plain .py files.
- 3
CoCalc57.5Hosted collaborative Jupyter, LaTeX and terminals, with a free self-hosted option.
- 4
Jupyter Notebook56.8The standard open-source notebook, with a far larger ecosystem of kernels and extensions.
- 5
Databricks49.0Managed Spark platform whose collaborative notebooks replace Zeppelin's Spark interpreter with no server to run.
Why people left Apache Zeppelin
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Apache Zeppelin: common questions
What is Apache Zeppelin?
Apache Zeppelin: Open-source web notebook for SQL, Spark, Python and R analytics, run on your own servers. Best for data teams on Spark or Flink clusters who want a self-hosted, multi-language notebook. Available for Linux, macOS and Web, and you can host it yourself.
Is Apache Zeppelin free?
Yes. Apache Zeppelin is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
Is Apache Zeppelin open source?
Yes. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does Apache Zeppelin run on?
Apache Zeppelin is available for Self-hosted, Linux, macOS and Web.
What are the best alternatives to Apache Zeppelin?
The highest-ranked Apache Zeppelin alternatives right now are Hex, marimo and CoCalc. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Apache Zeppelin vs Hex: what's the difference?
Apache Zeppelin is free and open source; Hex is free with paid plans. Apache Zeppelin is open source and Hex is not. Only Apache Zeppelin runs on Linux and macOS.