Metabase vs Redash: What are the differences?

Introduction

Metabase and Redash are popular business intelligence tools that allow users to create visualizations and dashboards using their data. While both tools serve a similar purpose, there are some key differences between Metabase and Redash that set them apart.

1. Data Source Connectivity: Metabase provides a wide range of data source connectivity options, including databases, APIs, and third-party services. It has built-in support for popular database systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. In contrast, Redash has a more limited set of native connectors and relies more heavily on SQL queries to extract data from various sources.

2. Query Building: Metabase offers a user-friendly query builder with a visual interface, allowing users to create complex queries with ease. It provides a drag-and-drop interface and a graphical representation of the data model, making it intuitive for non-technical users. Redash, on the other hand, primarily relies on writing SQL queries manually. While it supports advanced query editing features, it may require more technical knowledge.

3. Visualization Options: Metabase provides a rich set of visualization options, including charts, tables, and maps. It offers an extensive library of customizable charts and allows users to easily switch between different visualizations. Redash also supports a variety of visualizations, including line charts, bar charts, and scatter plots, but it may not have the same level of customization and flexibility as Metabase.

4. Embedding and Sharing: Metabase allows users to embed visualizations and dashboards into other applications or websites seamlessly. It provides an easy-to-use embedding feature, allowing users to share interactive reports with external stakeholders. Redash also supports embedding, but it may require more manual setup and customization.

5. User Permissions and Access Control: Metabase offers granular user permissions and access control settings, allowing administrators to control who can view and edit specific data and dashboards. It provides role-based access control and allows for fine-grained permission assignment. Redash, while also providing user permissions, may have more limited options and may not offer the same level of flexibility as Metabase.

6. Community and Support: Metabase has a strong and active community of developers and users, with regular updates and active discussions on forums and GitHub. It has a more extensive documentation and resources available. Redash also has a community and support resources, but it may not have the same level of activity and resources as Metabase.

In Summary, Metabase and Redash differ in terms of data source connectivity, query building, visualization options, embedding and sharing capabilities, user permissions and access control, and the size and activity of their respective communities and support resources.