Metabase vs Census Pricing (2026)

How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.

Metabase Census
Starts at $100/mo Custom
Number of plans 4 4
Free plan
Free trial
Pricing model hybrid usage-based

Price is one row. To weigh the features too, use our feature comparison template →

Open Source

$0/mo
  • Ask questions with AI
  • SQL generation
  • 20+ supported data sources
  • Unlimited questions & dashboards
  • Write SQL or explore just by clicking
  • Free unlimited users

Starter

$100/mo
  • Ask questions with AI
  • SQL generation
  • 20+ supported data sources
  • Unlimited questions & dashboards
  • Write SQL or explore just by clicking
  • 3-day support via email, support form, Slack, or Teams

Pro

$575/mo
  • Row and column level permissions
  • SSO
  • Caching controls
  • Usage analytics & auditing
  • Multi-tenant embedded analytics
  • Whitelabel ready
  • AI usage auditing and controls

Enterprise

Custom
  • Custom pricing aligned with your business model
  • Our help with procurement
  • Dedicated success engineer
  • Air gap available
  • 1-day support SLA

Free

$0/mo
  • 500,000 monthly active rows (MAR) for connections
  • 3,500 monthly active rows (MAR) for activations
  • 5,000 monthly model runs (MMR) for transformations

Standard

Popular
Custom
  • Unlimited users
  • 15-minute syncs
  • 700+ fully managed connectors
  • 200+ fully managed activation destinations
  • Integration for dbt Core
  • Role-based access control
  • Access to Fivetran REST API
  • Access to SSH tunnels for encryption

Enterprise

Custom
  • 1-minute syncs
  • Fivetran Activations' Audience Hub
  • Enterprise database connectors
  • Custom roles
  • VPN tunnels (annual contract only)
  • SCIM/user provisioning
  • Pick any cloud provider (GCP, AWS, Azure)
  • Hybrid deployment option

Business Critical

Custom
  • Customer-managed keys for encryption
  • PCI DSS Level 1 certification
  • Private networking options

Metabase vs Census FAQ

Which one is cheaper?
One or both use custom pricing, so it depends on your specific needs.
Can I use either one for free?
Both offer free plans, so you can try each without paying. Start with whichever fits your workflow better and upgrade when you hit the limits.
How do they charge?
Different approach here. Metabase uses hybrid pricing, while Census goes with usage-based. That changes the math depending on your team size and usage.
Which one is a better deal?
Depends on what you need. Metabase: Metabase sits mid-pack — cheaper and more transparent than Looker or Sigma, but pricier than just running an open-source BI tool yourself with zero support. They're clearly trying to win teams that outgrew spreadsheets or a DIY dashboard but aren't ready to pay enterprise-BI money yet. Census: Census plays in the middle-to-premium band of the reverse ETL space, priced to compete with Hightouch rather than DIY scripts or cheap connectors — they're betting on being the polished, enterprise-ready option rather than the budget pick. The custom-quote-everything approach signals they're chasing mid-market and enterprise data teams, not self-serve solo users.

Still deciding? See the best Metabase alternatives or the best Census alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.

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