Databricks vs Metabase: Pricing Comparison (2026)
Databricks starts at Free. Metabase starts at $100/mo. Databricks is $100/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Metabase.
See price history: Databricks · Metabase
The Lakehouse Platform combining data warehouse + data lake + AI/ML in one Apache Spark-based system, founded 2013 by the creators of Spark. Positioned as the open, multi-cloud alternative to Snowflake for data teams that also do ML/AI (Mosaic AI, MLflow). Distinctive for Unity Catalog governance across data + AI plus native Delta Lake open-source format. Pricing is purely usage-based via DBUs (Databricks Units) across Standard/Premium/Enterprise tiers — no monthly subscription. Publicly discussed valuation $62B (2024 Series J). Serves 12,000+ organizations including 60% of Fortune 500.
Open-source business intelligence tool positioned as the alternative to Tableau and Looker for engineering-led teams. Distinctive for its free self-hosted tier that runs on Docker — the go-to "first BI tool" for startups before they can justify a data team. Cloud version priced from $85/mo. Acquired minority stake by Insight Partners; still open-source. Popular with technical founders who want SQL access to their Postgres/BigQuery data.
All plans compared
| # | Plan | Databricks monthly | Databricks annual | Metabase monthly | Metabase annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard (RETIRED) / Starter | 0 | 0 | 100 | 90 |
| 2 | Premium / Pro | 0 | 0 | 575 | 517.50 |
| 3 | Enterprise | 0 | 0 | custom | custom |
What each is best for
The Lakehouse Platform combining data warehouse + data lake + AI/ML in one Apache Spark-based system, founded 2013 by the creators of Spark. Positioned as the open, multi-cloud alternative to Snowflake for data teams that also do ML/AI (Mosaic AI, MLflow). Distinctive for Unity Catalog governance across data + AI plus native Delta Lake open-source format. Pricing is purely usage-based via DBUs (Databricks Units) across Standard/Premium/Enterprise tiers — no monthly subscription. Publicly discussed valuation $62B (2024 Series J). Serves 12,000+ organizations including 60% of Fortune 500.
Open-source business intelligence tool positioned as the alternative to Tableau and Looker for engineering-led teams. Distinctive for its free self-hosted tier that runs on Docker — the go-to "first BI tool" for startups before they can justify a data team. Cloud version priced from $85/mo. Acquired minority stake by Insight Partners; still open-source. Popular with technical founders who want SQL access to their Postgres/BigQuery data.
At a glance
| Databricks | Metabase | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | Free | $100/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | Hybrid |
| Last verified | August 21, 2026 | August 24, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified August 24, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Databricks and Metabase
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- How much does Metabase cost in 2026?
- Does Metabase have a free plan?
- How often does Metabase change prices?
- What are the best Metabase alternatives in 2026?