dbt vs Mage AI: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for dbt and Mage AI side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, dbt leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
dbt
Transform data in your warehouse with SQL
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Mage AI
Run AI-ready data engineering workflows that are current, reliable, and reusable.
Best for you if:
- • You want ensures data reliability and reproducibility for AI systems
| At a Glance | dbt | Mage AI |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $100/user/mo, billed monthly Starter plan | From $100/mo, billed monthly Starter plan |
Category | Testing & QA Documentation | Developer Tools AI & Automation |
Rating | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 209 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | Model run overages: Starter includes 15,000 runs/month. Every run beyond costs $0.01. | n/a |
Choose dbt or Mage AI?
Choose dbt if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want industry standard
- You want great community
- You work in testing & QA, not developer tools
Choose Mage AI if
- You want ensures data reliability and reproducibility for AI systems
- You want accelerates workflow development with AI assistance and automation
- You work in developer tools, not testing & QA
In-Depth Analysis
dbt
Transform data in your warehouse with SQL
dbt Cloud pricing shifted to a consumption-based model in 2024, adding per-model-run charges on top of per-seat fees.
Watch out
Model run overages: Starter includes 15,000 runs/month. Every run beyond costs $0.01.
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard
- Pro: Great community
- Pro: Excellent documentation
- Pro: Free tier available
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Requires SQL knowledge
- Con: Cloud pricing can add up
Key features
Mage AI
Run AI-ready data engineering workflows that are current, reliable, and reusable.
Mage AI's pricing is on the higher side, especially for smaller teams or individuals.
Strengths
- Pro: Ensures data reliability and reproducibility for AI systems.
- Pro: Accelerates workflow development with AI assistance and automation.
- Pro: Reduces operational overhead and total cost of ownership by consolidating tools.
- Pro: Supports a wide range of data sources and programming languages (SQL, dbt, Python, R).
- Pro: Offers flexible deployment options to meet various infrastructure and compliance needs.
Weaknesses
- Con: Pricing model based on block runs and AI tokens may require careful monitoring for cost management.
- Con: The platform's advanced features might have a learning curve for new users.
Key features
Plans and prices: dbt vs Mage AI
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| dbt |
| getdbt.com/pricing read Oct 10, 2026 |
| Mage AI |
| mage.ai/pricing read Oct 16, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on dbt pricing and Mage AI pricing.
Key Takeaways
dbt
- Has a free plan
Mage AI
- Choose if you want run AI-ready data engineering workflows that are current, reliable, and reusable
What the data shows
On the data below, dbt leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only dbt has a published user rating (4.7/5 from 209 reviews); Mage AI has none we can show.
- Both start at the same entry price ($100/user/mo, billed monthly).
- Only dbt has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do dbt and Mage AI compare in 2026?
On the data below, dbt leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only dbt has a published user rating (4.7/5 from 209 reviews); Mage AI has none we can show. Both start at the same entry price ($100/user/mo, billed monthly). Only dbt has a free plan.
What are dbt and Mage AI used for?
dbt: Transform data in your warehouse with SQL. Mage AI: Run AI-ready data engineering workflows that are current, reliable, and reusable.
What does dbt cost vs Mage AI?
dbt's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $100/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Mage AI's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $100/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 16, 2026.
What's the main difference between dbt and Mage AI?
dbt's main strength: industry standard. Mage AI's main strength: ensures data reliability and reproducibility for AI systems.