superset vs grafana
Data exploration and dashboards compared
superset and grafana both help teams explore data and build dashboards. superset focuses on SQL-based business intelligence, while grafana centers on observability data such as metrics, logs, and traces, with querying and alerting tools.
superset: Explore Data and Build Business Intelligence Dashboards
Apache Superset is a web-based business intelligence platform for exploring SQL data, building visualizations, and creating dashboards. It suits analysts and organizations that want self-service analytics across supported data sources, with administrators managing deployment and access.
grafana: Explore and Visualize Observability Data
Grafana is a platform for querying, visualizing, and alerting on metrics, logs, and traces across data sources. It suits teams that need shared dashboards and a common way to explore operational data.
| superset | grafana | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Stars | 75k | 77.1k |
| Forks | 18.4k | 14.8k |
| Last analyzed | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 |
Key differences
- superset is designed for business intelligence workflows, including a SQL editor, a semantic layer, and chart building; grafana focuses on exploring and visualizing observability data.
- superset supports SQL data sources through Python DB-API drivers and SQLAlchemy dialects; grafana can combine queries from different data sources in one graph.
- grafana includes alert rules and notifications to external systems; superset's listed features focus on analytics, visualization, and dashboard creation.
- superset is written in Python and uses the Apache-2.0 license; grafana is written in TypeScript and uses AGPL-3.0-only with Apache-2.0 exceptions described in its licensing documentation.
- Both are applications to deploy and configure. superset requires administrators to handle deployment, security, scaling, and database drivers; grafana depends on teams connecting and configuring the data sources they need.
Choose superset if you…
- need a SQL editor and no-code chart building for business intelligence.
- want to define dimensions and metrics with a lightweight semantic layer.
- plan to share dashboards for recurring analytical or operational reporting across supported SQL sources.
Choose grafana if you…
- need to monitor metrics and logs and define alerts for selected signals.
- want to investigate incidents by comparing time ranges and following labels from metrics into logs.
- need reusable dashboards with template variables or graphs combining queries from different data sources.
Compare the numbers side by side, or add more projects
This comparison is generated with AI from the OSRepos analyses of both projects. Always check each project's repository and documentation before choosing.