Metabase vs Steampipe: 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 Metabase and Steampipe side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a 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:
Metabase
Business intelligence for everyone
Steampipe
Dynamically query APIs, code, and cloud resources with SQL for Zero-ETL insights.
| At a Glance | Metabase | Steampipe |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $100/mo, billed monthly Starter plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Business Intelligence Analytics | Data & Databases API Tools |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.5 209 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Metabot AI add-on is extra ($100-$500/mo) | n/a |
Choose Metabase or Steampipe?
Choose Metabase if
- You need business intelligence features specifically.
Choose Steampipe if
- You need data & databases features specifically.
In-Depth Analysis
Metabase
Business intelligence for everyone
Metabase's pricing is generally fair, offering a generous Open Source tier for self-hosting.
Watch out
Metabot AI add-on is extra ($100-$500/mo)
Strengths
- Pro: Open source
- Pro: Easy to use
- Pro: Self-hosted option
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited advanced features
- Con: Less enterprise support
Key features
Steampipe
Dynamically query APIs, code, and cloud resources with SQL for Zero-ETL insights.
Steampipe offers a very generous pricing model with two free tiers.
Strengths
- Pro: SQL for cloud APIs
- Pro: Good plugins
- Pro: Open source
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Good documentation
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Niche use case
- Con: Resource usage
- Con: Plugin quality varies
- Con: Still maturing
Key features
Plans and prices: Metabase vs Steampipe
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Metabase |
| metabase.com/pricing read Nov 8, 2026 |
| Steampipe |
| steampipe.io read Sep 30, 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 Metabase pricing and Steampipe pricing.
Key Takeaways
Metabase
- Worth considering for business intelligence
Steampipe
- Worth considering for data & databases
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Metabase has a published user rating (4.4/5 from 209 reviews); Steampipe has none we can show.
- Metabase starts at $100/mo, billed monthly; Steampipe has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have 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 Metabase and Steampipe compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Metabase has a published user rating (4.4/5 from 209 reviews); Steampipe has none we can show. Metabase starts at $100/mo, billed monthly; Steampipe has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Metabase and Steampipe used for?
Metabase: Business intelligence for everyone. Steampipe: Dynamically query APIs, code, and cloud resources with SQL for Zero-ETL insights.
What does Metabase cost vs Steampipe?
Metabase's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $100/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Steampipe is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 8, 2026.
What's the main difference between Metabase and Steampipe?
Metabase's main strength: open source. Steampipe's main strength: SQL for cloud APIs.
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