How much does Metabase cost in 2026? Plans and value, broken down
Metabase pricing can look dense; this page breaks it down clearly. Metabase is a bi platform tool offering paid plans only; its paid tiers are summarised below from public plans current at the time of writing.
The easiest open-source path to self-service BI for startups and small teams. Metabase is a paid tool, so plan to buy in once you have validated fit. Open-source, self-service BI that non-technical users can query without SQL; fast to deploy and a popular free self-hosted option with managed cloud tiers.
Plans & pricing tiers
| Plan | Price (approx.) | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | Free (self-host) | Infra + DevOps cost only |
| Starter (Cloud) | $100/mo + $6/user (5 incl.) | 10% off annual |
| Pro | $575/mo + $12/user (10 incl.) | SSO, RLS, white-label, interactive embedding |
| Enterprise | from ~$20k/yr | Median contract ~$39k/yr (Vendr) |
Pricing here reflects published tiers at the time of writing; confirm current costs, billing cycle and local taxes with the vendor.
Prices verified 2026-06-28 from public vendor pricing. Plans and prices change — always confirm on the vendor's own site. No price here is guaranteed.
What you're paying for
The capabilities you are paying for with Metabase include:
- Self-service question builder usable without SQL
- Native SQL editor with variables and snippets
- Open-source (AGPL) self-host plus managed cloud
- Dashboards with filters, alerts and subscriptions
- Models and a lightweight semantic layer
Feature availability varies by tier, so cross-check the plan column before settling on one.
Which plan to pick
Metabase is built for startups and SMB data teams wanting fast self-service BI, self-hosted or cloud. That points most buyers to the Starter (Cloud) plan ($100/mo + $6/user (5 incl.)) as a starting point, with a step up only when self-service-bi forces it.
Is Metabase worth it?
Paid plans run from roughly $20 to $575 per month (or per seat, depending on the plan). If startups is your goal, start low: the cheapest paid tier covers it for most users, and self-service-bi is what eventually pushes you up a level. On a tight budget, line the cheapest paid plan up against the alternatives first.
Pricing watch-outs
- Metabot AI is a 2026 add-on from $100/mo for 500 requests on paid cloud plans.
Drawn from independent reviews and the vendor's own plan details (see sources below).
Two teams rarely pay the same for Metabase: the figure tracks the number of seats or users, so map it to your own numbers for an honest comparison.
Pricing FAQ
Does Metabase have a free plan?
Metabase is a paid tool without a standing free plan; check its site for any current trial or money-back window.
How much does Metabase cost?
Its cheapest paid plan, Starter (Cloud), lists at $100/mo + $6/user (5 incl.). Paid plans run from roughly $20 to $575 per month (or per seat, depending on the plan). The exact bill depends on billing cycle and how many seats or how much usage you need.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Metabase?
There are cheaper bi platform options that cover the core job; the Metabase alternatives page lines up their entry costs for you.
Why does Metabase get more expensive as I grow?
Its pricing scales with usage (seats, contacts or channels), so the headline figure is a starting point; estimate cost at the size you expect to reach, not just today's.
Which Metabase plan should I choose?
Most readers in that situation start with the Starter (Cloud) plan ($100/mo + $6/user (5 incl.)); a higher tier pays off only when you run into self-service-bi.
Sources
The Metabase plan, price and feature details above are compiled from these vendor pages and independent reviews: