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Head-to-head · Data Visualization Software

Metabase vs Plotly

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Metabase #5 in Data Visualization Software 8.7/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Metabase
Plotly #6 in Data Visualization Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Plotly

Metabase leads on 0 checks, Plotly on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMetabase · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Metabase
  • Most featuresPlotly · 2 of 2

Metabase scores higher on our rubric for data visualization software: 8.7 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #6.

Metabase is the better fit for affordable self-hosted or embedded BI. Plotly is the better fit for developers building interactive visual apps.

  • Metabase fits best

    Affordable self-hosted or embedded BI

  • Plotly fits best

    Developers building interactive visual apps

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Metabase 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Plotly 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.6
Ranking #5 in Data Visualization Software #6 in Data Visualization Software
Best for Affordable self-hosted or embedded BI Developers building interactive visual apps
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $65/user/yr $290/seat/yr
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 14 days —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms Web Web, Windows, macOS
Support Email, Tickets, Community Tickets, Docs, Email
Compliance SOC 2, SSO/SAML SOC 2, ISO 27001, SSO/SAML
Integrations 237+ integrations 20 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Metabase 0/2 · Plotly 2/2
Scheduled refresh Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Embedded dashboards Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Dashboard type Not checked yet Interactive
Data sources Not checked yet Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, MotherDuck, Oracle, CSV, and anything Python can connect to
Viewer limit Not checked yet 10 viewers
Platform Not checked yet Web_and_desktop
Our review
Pros
  • Free open-source edition with unlimited questions and dashboards
  • Visual query builder plus SQL editing and AI questions
  • Embedding, alerts, subscriptions, and row-level security
  • 70+ chart and trace types with rich interactive controls
  • Open-source libraries plus Dash and self-hosted deployment
  • Broad notebook, cloud, database, and app-platform integrations
Cons
  • Paid plans start at $100 per month before additional user fees
  • Advanced permissions and SSO require the Pro plan
  • Enterprise capabilities use custom pricing
  • The suite spans several products rather than one packaged application
  • Enterprise governance is narrower than dedicated BI platforms
  • Plotly-branded apps are part of the Free plan
Our verdict

Metabase is a business intelligence and embedded analytics platform for teams that need to connect databases, explore data, create charts and dashboards, and share results. Its visual query builder supports filtering, summarizing, joining,…

Read the review →

Plotly is a suite of open-source graphing libraries and data application tools for developers, data scientists, engineers, analysts, researchers, and organizations building interactive visualizations. Its scope includes Python and…

Read the review →
  1. MetabaseData Visualization Software 8.7Free plan · 14-day trial
  2. PlotlyData Visualization Software 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Metabase — where it wins

    • Free open-source edition with unlimited questions and dashboards
    • Visual query builder plus SQL editing and AI questions
    • Embedding, alerts, subscriptions, and row-level security

    Where it doesn't

    • Paid plans start at $100 per month before additional user fees
    • Advanced permissions and SSO require the Pro plan
    • Enterprise capabilities use custom pricing

  • Plotly — where it wins

    • 70+ chart and trace types with rich interactive controls
    • Open-source libraries plus Dash and self-hosted deployment
    • Broad notebook, cloud, database, and app-platform integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • The suite spans several products rather than one packaged application
    • Enterprise governance is narrower than dedicated BI platforms
    • Plotly-branded apps are part of the Free plan
  • Metabase8.7/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

    A flexible BI option with free self-hosting, SQL, dashboards, and embedded analytics.

    Visit MetabaseFull verdict →
  • Plotly8.6/10 · Free plan

    A flexible choice for developers building interactive charts, maps, dashboards, and data apps.

    Visit PlotlyFull verdict →

More comparisons

All data visualization software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update