Metabase vs Redash
Self-host pick — both replace Tableau (Business intelligence / dashboards / data exploration).
Both Metabase and Redash self-host as a replacement for Tableau (Business intelligence / dashboards / data exploration). Pick Metabase if you want the lighter footprint — 10min — single JAR or docker-compose, $10 vps handles a small team; postgres app db is light. Pick Redash if you need teams whose Tableau use is essentially canned SQL → chart, where Tableau Desktop's authoring fluency was overkill — 20min docker-compose (Redash server + Postgres + Redis + worker) and $10 vps; lighter than superset but heavier than metabase.
| Metabaseopen-source | Redashopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | BSD-2-Clause |
| Setup time | 10min — single JAR or docker-compose | 20min docker-compose (Redash server + Postgres + Redis + worker) |
| Monthly cost | $10 VPS handles a small team; Postgres app DB is light. Heavier queries cost on the warehouse, not Metabase. | $10 VPS; lighter than Superset but heavier than Metabase. |
| GitHub | metabase/metabase | getredash/redash |
| Replaces | Tableau | Tableau |
Good fit for
Metabase
Teams that want most analysts to self-serve via a friendly UI; non-technical users get a gentler ramp than Tableau Desktop.
Weak at:Tableau-grade visualizations (advanced chart calc, level-of-detail expressions, complex drill-throughs) are not all there.
Redash
Teams whose Tableau use is essentially canned SQL → chart, where Tableau Desktop's authoring fluency was overkill.
Weak at:Project pace has slowed since Databricks acquired the original team; check the freshness pill before adopting.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli tableau prints Tableau's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Metabase or Redash?
Metabase: 10min — single JAR or docker-compose. Redash: 20min docker-compose (Redash server + Postgres + Redis + worker).
What does each cost to run?
Metabase: $10 VPS handles a small team; Postgres app DB is light. Heavier queries cost on the warehouse, not Metabase.. Redash: $10 VPS; lighter than Superset but heavier than Metabase.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Metabase and Redash replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Tableau.