eGigOpen-source alternatives to Power BI
Metabase is the easiest for business users, Apache Superset handles larger dashboards, and Grafana is built for live monitoring. Licences and dates read from each project’s public code page on 31 Oct 2026.
Choose by who will use it
| Software | Good for | Licence | Last code change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metabase | Questions and charts without much SQL | Mixed: AGPL, enterprise parts commercial | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Apache Superset | Larger dashboards for people who know SQL | Apache-2.0 | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Grafana | Live monitoring of systems and sensors | AGPL-3.0 | 31 Oct 2026 |
Before you switch
- All three read from a database, so they suit data that already lives in one. If your data is in Excel files, you need a step to load it.
- They need a server to run on, so count someone’s time to keep it running.
- Power BI’s Excel links and DAX formulas have no direct match, so reports need rebuilding rather than copying.
Questions people ask
Is there a free alternative to Power BI?
Yes. Metabase, Apache Superset and Grafana all have free editions you run yourself. Power BI Desktop itself is also free to use on your own computer, and the charges start with sharing.
Which is easiest for people who do not know SQL?
Metabase, because it lets people build a question by choosing from menus. Someone technical still has to connect the database first.
How we check this page
eGig has no paid placements here and does not make these products. A licence shown as “mixed” means the project’s licence file puts parts of it under different terms, so read that file before you rely on it, especially for business use. Check each project’s own site before you install anything, and download only from there. How we check facts.