Holistics vs Lightdash: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Holistics and Lightdash comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Holistics
Self-service BI platform with DevOps best practices for reliable and maintainable analytics.
Best for you if:
- • You need web analytics features specifically
- • Enables self-service BI with DevOps best practices like analytics-as-code and version control.
- • Provides a semantic layer for consistent metric definitions and AI-assisted self-service for business users.
Lightdash
Open-source BI for dbt projects
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.0/10 vs 7.8/10)
- • You want to try before committing
- • You need business intelligence features specifically
- • Lightdash is an open-source BI tool that connects to dbt projects
- • It creates dashboards and visualizations directly from dbt metrics
| At a Glance |  Holistics |  Lightdash |
|---|---|---|
Price | Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Web Analytics | Business Intelligence |
Rating | 78/100 | 80/100 |
| Feature | Holistics | Lightdash |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 78 | 80 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Web AnalyticsBusiness Intelligence | Business IntelligenceData Visualization |
How Holistics and Lightdash Compare
Holistics
Self-service BI platform with DevOps best practices for reliable and maintainable analytics.
Paid · 78/100 score
Lightdash
Open-source BI for dbt projects
Free tier available · 80/100 score
Holistics is a web analytics tool. Lightdash is in business intelligence.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Lightdash has a free tier. Holistics is paid only.
Go with: Lightdash
Want the highest-rated option?
Holistics: 78/100. Lightdash: 80/100.
Go with: Lightdash
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Lightdash
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Holistics is paid. Lightdash is freemium. Lightdash lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Holistics is a web analytics tool. Lightdash is in business intelligence. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Lightdash scores higher: 80/100 vs 78/100.
Key Takeaways
Lightdash
- Higher score: 80/100 vs 78
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Holistics
- Better fit for web analytics
The Bottom Line
Lightdash (80/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Holistics or Lightdash better?
Lightdash scores 80/100 in our evaluation. Holistics is paid and Lightdash is freemium.
What are Holistics and Lightdash used for?
Holistics: Self-service BI platform with DevOps best practices for reliable and maintainable analytics.. Lightdash: Open-source BI for dbt projects.
What does Holistics cost vs Lightdash?
Holistics is a paid tool. Lightdash is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.