Plotono vs Metabase

BI Dashboards with Built-In Data Pipelines

Metabase makes it easy to query databases and build dashboards. Plotono starts there and adds a full visual pipeline builder, SQL compiler, and federated execution so you can transform, analyze, and visualize data without leaving a single platform.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Plotono	Metabase
Pipeline Building	Visual drag-and-drop with Source, Filter, Join, Aggregate, SQL nodes	No pipeline building (query-only)
SQL Support	Custom SQL compiler with pipe syntax + standard SQL editor	Native SQL editor with variables
Chart Types	20+ types including funnel, treemap, sankey, radar, geo, calendar	Standard charts: bar, line, pie, scatter, map, funnel
Multi-Tenancy	Hierarchical workspaces with hard tenant isolation	Collections and groups (no true multi-tenancy)
Access Control	RBAC with tag-based policies and workspace hierarchy	Collection permissions and sandboxing (paid)
Pricing	Free tier; paid per-user for teams	Free open-source edition; paid Pro plans for teams
Data Transformations	5 macro nodes, 12 query optimizers, pipeline composition	No transformation layer (query only)
Execution Engine	DuckDB + BigQuery with federated distributed workers	Passes queries to connected database
Dashboard Filters	Global filters with parameter binding across charts	Dashboard filters linked to question parameters
Real-Time Updates	SSE-based live updates for pipeline status and data	Periodic cache refresh
Self-Hosting	Docker-based self-hosted or managed	Docker-based self-hosted (simple JAR deployment)

What Metabase Does Well

Metabase has earned widespread adoption for good reasons. Its strengths are real and worth recognizing when comparing tools.

✓ Genuinely easy to start. Download a JAR, point it at your database, and start querying. Metabase's question builder lets non-technical users explore data within minutes of setup. No other BI tool has a faster time-to-first-dashboard.
✓ Open-source community edition. The community edition is fully functional for small teams. Self-host it for free, connect any supported database, and build dashboards without paying for a license.
✓ Simple SQL querying. Write SQL with parameterized variables, or use the visual query builder. Metabase makes database querying accessible without requiring users to know about connections or drivers.
✓ Embedded analytics. Metabase Pro offers a mature embedding SDK that lets you integrate dashboards into your own product, complete with theming and row-level security.

Where Metabase Stops

Metabase is a querying and visualization tool. It intentionally stays focused on that scope, which means certain capabilities are left to other tools in your stack.

No Pipeline Building

Metabase queries existing tables. If your raw data needs joins across sources, multi-step aggregations, or deduplication before it is useful, you need a separate tool like dbt, Airflow, or custom scripts to prepare that data.

Limited Transformations

The visual query builder handles basic filtering, grouping, and sorting. Complex transformations like window functions, multi-table joins with conditions, or recursive queries require raw SQL. There is no visual representation of data flow or transformation logic.

Basic Access Control

The free tier offers collection-based permissions. Data sandboxing (row and column level security) requires Metabase Pro. There is no concept of hierarchical workspaces or tag-based access policies that span across resources.

No Multi-Tenancy

Metabase serves a single organization. If you need tenant isolation for different clients or business units, you need separate Metabase instances. Plotono provides hierarchical workspaces with hard tenant isolation at the database level.

Plotono = Metabase + dbt in One Tool

Many teams use Metabase alongside dbt: dbt transforms the data, Metabase visualizes it. Plotono combines both roles into a single platform with additional capabilities.

Visual Pipelines Replace dbt Models

Build data transformations with a drag-and-drop graph editor. Source, Filter, Join, Aggregate, Select, Extend, Order By, Limit, and SQL nodes cover the same transformation patterns you would write as dbt models, but with a visual interface that the whole team can understand and modify.

Custom SQL Compiler with Optimization

Plotono does not just pass your SQL to the database. Its custom compiler translates visual pipelines and pipe syntax through 12 optimization passes: constant folding, boolean simplification, predicate pushdown, projection pruning, limit pushdown, subquery unnesting, and more. The result is SQL that runs faster than hand-written queries in many cases.

20+ Chart Types with Advanced Layouts

Beyond Metabase's standard chart library, Plotono includes treemap, sankey, radar, geo, bullet, calendar, marimekko, and funnel charts. The dashboard builder provides drag-and-drop grid layout with global filters that bind to pipeline parameters, creating interactive analytics without custom code.

RBAC and Multi-Tenant Workspaces

Plotono's multi-tenant architecture provides hierarchical workspaces with hard isolation between tenants. Role-based access control assigns admin, editor, or guest roles per workspace. Tag-based policies add fine-grained control over which pipelines and dashboards each team member can access.

Macro Nodes for Common Tasks

Five built-in macro nodes handle the most common data preparation tasks: anonymize sensitive fields for compliance, deduplicate rows, rename columns for consistency, cast data types, and fill null values. These are one-click operations that would otherwise require writing SQL or creating separate dbt models.

Workflow Comparison

Metabase + dbt Stack

Write dbt model in SQL + Jinja
Run dbt to materialize table
Open Metabase, connect to table
Build question with visual builder or SQL
Add to dashboard
When data changes, re-run dbt first

Two tools, two contexts, manual sync between them.

Plotono

Connect data source in workspace
Build transformation pipeline visually
Map pipeline output to chart
Add chart to dashboard with global filters
Pipeline changes propagate automatically

One platform, continuous data flow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Plotono open source like Metabase?

Plotono offers a free tier for individuals and small teams. While Metabase has an open-source community edition, Plotono focuses on providing a complete platform that includes pipeline building and BI together, with transparent per-user pricing for teams.

Can Plotono handle the same queries as Metabase?

Yes. Plotono includes a full SQL editor alongside its visual pipeline builder. You can write standard SQL queries just as you would in Metabase, with the added benefit of the custom pipe syntax and 12 query optimizers that automatically improve performance.

Does Plotono support embedding like Metabase?

Plotono focuses on workspace-based analytics with multi-tenant isolation and RBAC. Its architecture supports embedding scenarios through its workspace and access control model, though Metabase has a more mature embedded analytics offering.

What if I already use Metabase?

Teams often adopt Plotono alongside Metabase when they need data pipeline capabilities. If you find yourself building separate ETL processes to prepare data before querying in Metabase, Plotono can consolidate that workflow into one platform.

Metabase querying plus pipeline power

Keep the simple querying experience you love and add visual pipeline building, 20+ chart types, multi-tenant workspaces, and a SQL compiler with 12 optimization passes.