Amplitude vs Metabase — Which One Wins?
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Amplitude and Metabase to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
Metabase takes the lead with a 4.4 rating and is best for teams wanting bi and dashboards without enterprise pricing. self-hosted for maximum value.. Amplitude (4.3) is the better pick if you need enterprise product teams needing sophisticated behavioral analytics and experimentation..
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Amplitude | Metabase |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★ 4.3(178) | ★★★★ 4.4(198) |
| Pricing Model | freemium | open_source |
| Starter Price | $49/mo (Growth) | $85/mo (Cloud Starter, 5 users) |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | web | web, linux |
| Learning Curve | hard | easy |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Enterprise product teams needing sophisticated behavioral analytics and experimentation. | Teams wanting BI and dashboards without enterprise pricing. Self-hosted for maximum value. |
| Verdict | situational | recommended |
Feature Checklist
| Feature | Amplitude | Metabase |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral cohort analysis | — | |
| Funnel and retention analysis | — | |
| Pathfinder (user journey mapping) | — | |
| Built-in A/B testing (Experiment) | — | |
| Customer data platform | — | |
| Predictive analytics | — | |
| Visual query builder (no SQL needed) | — | |
| Interactive dashboards | — | |
| Embeddable analytics | — | |
| SQL editor for advanced users | — | |
| Alerts and subscriptions | — | |
| Open source and self-hostable | — |
Amplitude
Pros
- ✓Most sophisticated behavioral analytics available
- ✓Integrated A/B testing connects experiment to analysis
- ✓50M events/month free tier is extremely generous
Cons
- ✕Enterprise pricing is significant
- ✕More complex than Mixpanel for standard analysis
- ✕Requires data engineering investment for full value
Metabase
Pros
- ✓Free self-hosted with no feature limitations
- ✓Visual query builder accessible to non-technical users
- ✓Embeddable analytics for building data products
Cons
- ✕Self-hosting requires DevOps resources
- ✕Cloud pricing jumps quickly above free tier
- ✕Less powerful than Tableau for complex enterprise analysis
The Bottom Line
Both Amplitude and Metabase are solid tools in the Analytics & Data space. Metabase edges ahead with a stronger overall rating (4.4 vs 4.3) and is the better choice for teams wanting bi and dashboards without enterprise pricing. self-hosted for maximum value.. However, if you prioritize enterprise product teams needing sophisticated behavioral analytics and experimentation., Amplitude is worth serious consideration. We recommend trying the free tier or trial of each before committing.