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Head-to-head · Notebook Software

Hex vs Apache Zeppelin

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Hex #7 in Notebook Software 8.7/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Hex
Apache Zeppelin #12 in Notebook Software 8.1/10 Open source ✓ 3 of 3 features Try Apache Zeppelin

Hex leads on 0 checks, Apache Zeppelin on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreHex · 8.7/10
  • Free planonly Hex
  • Free trialonly Hex

Hex scores higher on our rubric for notebook software: 8.7 against 8.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #12.

On execution model, Apache Zeppelin gives you Hybrid where Hex offers Hosted.

Hex is the better fit for analytics teams building shareable outputs. Apache Zeppelin is the better fit for big-data and Spark notebook workflows.

  • Hex fits best

    Analytics teams building shareable outputs

  • Apache Zeppelin fits best

    Big-data and Spark notebook workflows

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Side by side

Feature Hex 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Apache Zeppelin 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.1
Ranking #7 in Notebook Software #12 in Notebook Software
Best for Analytics teams building shareable outputs Big-data and Spark notebook workflows
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $36/user/mo Open source
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial 14 days —
Deployment Cloud Self-hosted
Platforms Web Web, macOS, Linux
Support Email, Live chat, Docs Community, Docs
Integrations 17 integrations 14 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Hex 3/3 · Apache Zeppelin 3/3
Real-time collaboration ✓ ✓
Version history ✓ ✓
GPU compute ✓ ✓
Specs
Execution model Hosted Hybrid
Supported languages SQL, Python, R Scala, Python, SQL, R, Java, Groovy, Shell, Markdown, SPARQL
Notebook formats Jupyter Notebook (.ipynb), Hex YAML (.yaml) JSON, .zpln
Our review
Pros
  • Supports SQL, Python, R, and no-code cells in one workspace
  • Connects warehouses, databases, files, APIs, and workflow tools
  • Combines collaboration, version restoration, dashboards, and published apps
  • Built-in Apache Spark integration with pluggable interpreters
  • Real-time collaboration, sharing, publishing, and Git versioning
  • Charts, tables, REST APIs, and Kubernetes GPU support
Cons
  • Professional limits published apps to five
  • Advanced GPU compute is usage-based on Team and Enterprise
  • Enterprise pricing and plan limits are not shown
  • Self-hosted deployment requires teams to manage infrastructure
  • Its data-platform focus is narrower than general Jupyter tools
  • GPU support depends on Kubernetes interpreter pods
Our verdict

Hex is a hosted analytics platform built around interactive notebooks for data exploration, analysis, and shareable outputs. Analysts, data scientists, business users, and larger organizations can combine SQL, Python, R, and no-code cells;…

Read the review →

Apache Zeppelin is a self-hosted, web-based notebook for interactive data analytics, visualization, and collaboration. It is aimed at data-platform teams and analysts who need notebooks that can connect to multiple languages, processing…

Read the review →
  1. HexNotebook Software 8.7Free plan · 14-day trial
  2. Apache ZeppelinNotebook Software 8.1Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Hex — where it wins

    • Supports SQL, Python, R, and no-code cells in one workspace
    • Connects warehouses, databases, files, APIs, and workflow tools
    • Combines collaboration, version restoration, dashboards, and published apps

    Where it doesn't

    • Professional limits published apps to five
    • Advanced GPU compute is usage-based on Team and Enterprise
    • Enterprise pricing and plan limits are not shown

  • Apache Zeppelin — where it wins

    • Built-in Apache Spark integration with pluggable interpreters
    • Real-time collaboration, sharing, publishing, and Git versioning
    • Charts, tables, REST APIs, and Kubernetes GPU support

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires teams to manage infrastructure
    • Its data-platform focus is narrower than general Jupyter tools
    • GPU support depends on Kubernetes interpreter pods
  • Hex8.7/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

    A flexible hosted notebook platform for collaborative analytics and published outputs.

    Visit HexFull verdict →
  • Apache Zeppelin8.1/10 · Open source

    A strong self-hosted choice for Spark-centered analytics and data-platform teams.

    Try Apache ZeppelinFull verdict →

More comparisons

All notebook software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update