Steep vs Hex: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Steep and Hex 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.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Steep
Modern analytics platform powered by metrics that changes how companies use data together.
Best for you if:
- • You need business intelligence features specifically
- • Centralizes all company metrics in one platform for consistent definitions.
- • Enables all employees to analyze data without SQL, fostering data-driven decisions.
Hex
Collaborative data workspace for analytics
Best for you if:
- • You need analytics features specifically
- • Hex is a collaborative data science platform combining SQL, Python, and visualization
- • It provides notebooks, scheduling, and sharing for modern analytics workflows
| At a Glance |  Steep |  Hex |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Business Intelligence | Analytics |
Rating | - | 4.5/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Steep or Hex?
Choose Steep if
Modern analytics platform powered by metrics that changes how companies use data together.
- Democratizes data access and analysis for non-technical users.
- Ensures consistent metric definitions across the organization.
- Facilitates collaboration and faster decision-making with shared reports.
- Your work is business intelligence-shaped, not analytics-shaped
Choose Hex if
Collaborative data workspace for analytics
- Collaborative data workspace
- Python/SQL support
- Good for analytics
- Your work is analytics-shaped, not business intelligence-shaped
| Feature | Steep | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.5/5 338 reviews |
| Categories | Business IntelligenceData Visualization | AnalyticsData & Databases |
In-Depth Analysis
Steep
Modern analytics platform powered by metrics that changes how companies use data together.
Strengths
- +Democratizes data access and analysis for non-technical users.
- +Ensures consistent metric definitions across the organization.
- +Facilitates collaboration and faster decision-making with shared reports.
- +Reduces dependency on data teams for ad-hoc analysis.
- +Integrates with modern data stack tools like dbt and Cube.
Weaknesses
- -No lower-priced viewer licenses, though volume discounts are available.
- -Some features like multiple data sources and advanced user management are only available in higher-tier plans or coming soon.
Key features
Value 85/100. Steep's pricing for the Pro tier at $15/seat/month is quite competitive for a modern analytics platform, offering a strong feature set for that price point.
Watch out: Enterprise features require custom quote
Hex
Collaborative data workspace for analytics
Strengths
- +Collaborative data workspace
- +Python/SQL support
- +Good for analytics
- +Team features
- +Good visualizations
Weaknesses
- -Expensive
- -Learning curve
- -Performance varies
- -Enterprise focus
- -Better for larger teams
Key features
Value 85/100. Hex offers a fair pricing model, especially with its generous free 'Community' tier allowing 3 projects and 1 editor.
Watch out: Potential for rapid cost increase with many editors.
Pricing: Steep vs Hex
| Plan | Steep | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $15/seat/month Pro | Free Community |
| Tier 2 | $25/seat/month Business | $50 editor/month Team |
| Tier 3 | Custom pricing Enterprise | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Steep pricing and Hex pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Steep
Want the highest-rated option?
Hex is rated 4.5/5. Steep has no ratings yet.
Go with: Hex
Value user reviews?
Steep: no ratings yet. Hex: 338 reviews (4.5/5).
Go with: Hex
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Steep is a business intelligence tool. Hex is in analytics. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Hex is rated 4.5/5; Steep has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Hex
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Steep
- Better fit for business intelligence
The Bottom Line
Hex is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Steep or Hex better?
Hex is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Steep and Hex used for?
Steep: Modern analytics platform powered by metrics that changes how companies use data together.. Hex: Collaborative data workspace for analytics.
What does Steep cost vs Hex?
Steep is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Hex is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.