Apache Superset is an open-source platform for exploring data and building visualizations. Users can create charts through a no-code builder or work in a SQL IDE, then assemble charts and tables into interactive dashboards with drag-and-drop tools. It includes more than 40 visualization types and supports custom ones through plug-ins. Dashboards can use filters, cross-filters, drill-to-detail, and drill-by features; other listed tools include caching, Jinja templating, CSS templates, and a semantic layer. Its database guide lists 81 supported databases, with a separate driver installation required for each engine. Superset is self-hosted and can be installed with Docker Compose, Kubernetes, or as a Python package from PyPI. Kubernetes is described as the production best-practice option, but it requires Kubernetes expertise. Security features include row-level security, with authentication and permissions managed through Flask AppBuilder. Superset also offers scheduled reports, embedded analytics, natural-language queries, and an OpenAPI-specification REST API. It is free under the Apache License 2.0.
Who it is for
Superset suits teams that want to explore data and publish interactive dashboards while managing their own installation. It may fit organizations with database and deployment expertise, particularly if they plan to use Kubernetes in production.
What is good
- No-code chart builder and SQL IDE
- More than 40 built-in visualization types
- Supports 81 databases
- Includes row-level security and scheduled reports
- Free and self-hosted
What to know first
- Each database engine needs a separately installed driver
- Kubernetes production deployment requires expertise
- Superset is not a database firewall
Verdict
Apache Superset combines visual chart building, SQL access, and interactive dashboards in a free, self-hosted platform. Plan for database drivers and deployment expertise, and retain robust database security beyond Superset’s safeguards.
Apache Superset plans and pricing
All plansCompared on data visualization software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- self-hosted
- Row-level security
- Yes
- Scheduled reports
- Yes
- Embedded analytics
- Yes
- Natural-language queries
- Yes
