Cloud vs self-hosting
Choosing between Metabase Cloud and self-hosting depends on your organization’s needs, resources, and constraints.Quick comparison
Both deployment options support all Metabase features. The difference is in who manages the infrastructure.
| Feature | Metabase Cloud | Self-hosted |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Up and running in minutes | Requires infrastructure setup |
| Upgrades | Automatic with each release | Manual |
| High availability | ✅ Included | You configure (~$48+/month) |
| Load balancer | ✅ Included | You configure (~$12+/month) |
| Application database | ✅ Managed | You configure (~$40-60+/month) |
| SMTP server | ✅ Included | You configure (~$12+/month) |
| SSL certificate | ✅ Included | You configure |
| Backups | ✅ Automatic | You configure |
| Monitoring | ✅ Included | You configure |
| Multi-zone availability | ✅ Included | You configure |
| SOC 2 Type 2 auditing | ✅ Included | You obtain certification |
| Support | Email with SLA | Forum (paid plans get support) |
| Custom drivers | ❌ Not supported | ✅ Supported |
| Fork the code | ❌ Not available | ✅ Available |
| Infrastructure cost | $0 (included in plan) | ~$112+ per month |
| Your money goes to | Improving Metabase | Third-party cloud providers |
Infrastructure costs for self-hosting are estimates for a production-grade setup with comparable features to Cloud. You can build cheaper setups, but they won’t include managed services, high availability, or support.
Metabase Cloud
Recommended for most organizations - Let us handle the infrastructure so you can focus on analyzing data.
What’s included
Instant setup
Sign up and start analyzing data in minutes. No servers to provision or databases to configure.
Automatic upgrades
Always on the latest version with new features, bug fixes, and security patches.
High availability
Multi-zone deployment ensures your Metabase stays online even if a zone fails.
Managed backups
Automatic daily backups of your application data with point-in-time recovery.
Built-in SMTP
Email and Slack notifications work immediately without configuration.
SSL certificate
Secure HTTPS with automatic certificate renewal.
Expert support
Email support with SLA from the team that builds Metabase.
SOC 2 Type 2
Enterprise-grade security compliance included.
Cloud benefits
- Zero maintenance
- Always up-to-date
- Built-in reliability
- Expert support
No infrastructure to manage:
- No servers to patch or update
- No databases to tune or backup
- No monitoring to configure
- No scaling to worry about
- No SSL certificates to renew
- Analyzing data
- Building dashboards
- Answering business questions
- Training users
Cloud pricing
Metabase Cloud plans include:- Starter - Free for small teams, includes core features
- Pro - Advanced features like SSO and permissions
- Enterprise - Full-featured with audit logging and serialization
All plans include hosting, upgrades, backups, monitoring, and support. No hidden infrastructure costs.View pricing →
When to choose Cloud
Metabase Cloud is ideal when:You need to move fastGet started in minutes instead of weeks setting up infrastructure.
You have a small teamDon’t spend engineering time on infrastructure management.
You want predictable costsOne monthly bill instead of multiple cloud services.
You want to focus on analyticsSpend time analyzing data, not managing servers.
You want the latest featuresGet new capabilities automatically without upgrade work.
You need complianceSOC 2 Type 2 certification included.
Self-hosting
Self-hosting gives you complete control over your Metabase deployment.What self-hosting requires
Infrastructure you need to provide:Application server(s)
Application server(s)
- Compute instances to run Metabase
- High availability configuration (multiple instances)
- Operating system maintenance and patching
- Java runtime management
Application database
Application database
- PostgreSQL or MySQL database
- Regular backups and recovery testing
- Performance tuning and monitoring
- Storage management
Load balancer
Load balancer
- Distribute traffic across instances
- Health checks and automatic failover
- SSL/TLS termination
SMTP server
SMTP server
- Email service for alerts and subscriptions
- Delivery monitoring
- Spam prevention configuration
SSL certificates
SSL certificates
- Certificate acquisition and renewal
- Security configuration
- Certificate management
Backups
Backups
- Automated backup system
- Backup verification and testing
- Off-site storage
- Recovery procedures
Monitoring
Monitoring
- Application and infrastructure monitoring
- Log aggregation and analysis
- Alert configuration
- On-call rotation
- Upgrades - Test and deploy new versions manually
- Security patches - Monitor and apply security updates
- Scaling - Add capacity as usage grows
- Troubleshooting - Diagnose and fix issues yourself
- Disaster recovery - Plan and test recovery procedures
Self-hosting benefits
- Complete control
- Customization
- Advanced use cases
Full infrastructure control:
- Choose your cloud provider or on-premises
- Configure every aspect of deployment
- Customize infrastructure to your needs
- Control upgrade timing and rollout
- Data stays in your infrastructure
- Choose exact data location
- Meet specific compliance requirements
When you should self-host
Regulatory requirementsHIPAA or other regulations require specific infrastructure controls.
Custom buildsYou need to fork Metabase and add custom features.
Community driversYou need databases not officially supported on Cloud.
Air-gapped environmentYou need to run without internet access for security/compliance.
On-premises requirementYour organization prohibits cloud services.
Deep customizationYou need source-level modifications to Metabase.
If you need an air-gapped environment, check out our air-gap offering.
Self-hosting cost breakdown
Minimum production infrastructure:| Component | Monthly Cost (estimate) |
|---|---|
| Application servers (HA) | $48+ |
| Managed database | $40-60 |
| Load balancer | $12 |
| SMTP service | $12 |
| Total infrastructure | ~$112-132/month |
- Setup time - 1-2 weeks of engineering time
- Ongoing maintenance - 4-8 hours per month
- Upgrade testing - 2-4 hours per upgrade
- Incident response - Variable
- Monitoring and alerting - Additional tools and time
Making the decision
Assess your requirements
Do you have any of these requirements?
If no, Cloud is likely the better choice.
- Regulatory requirements for specific infrastructure
- Need for custom code modifications
- Community database drivers
- Air-gapped environment
- On-premises-only policy
If no, Cloud is likely the better choice.
Evaluate your resources
Can your team handle:
If yes, you have the option to self-host.
- Setting up and configuring infrastructure
- Managing databases, backups, and monitoring
- Upgrading Metabase regularly
- Troubleshooting issues
- On-call responsibilities
If yes, you have the option to self-host.
Calculate total cost
Cloud: Plan price (includes everything)Self-hosting:
- Infrastructure costs (~$112+/month)
- Engineering time (setup + ongoing)
- Opportunity cost (time not spent on analytics)
Switching between deployments
You’re not locked into your choice. You can migrate between Cloud and self-hosting whenever your needs change.
Cloud to self-hosted
Migrate your Metabase from Cloud to your own infrastructure:- Export your application data
- Set up self-hosted infrastructure
- Import your questions, dashboards, and settings
Self-hosted to Cloud
Move from self-hosting to Cloud:- Back up your application database
- Contact Metabase support to initiate migration
- We’ll help import your content to Cloud
Pro and Enterprise features
Pro and Enterprise features are available on both Cloud and self-hosted deployments.
- SSO - SAML, JWT, and LDAP authentication
- Advanced permissions - Row-level and column-level security
- Audit logging - Track all user activity
- Serialization - Version control for content
- White-labeling - Customize branding
- And much more
Both hosting options support all Pro and Enterprise features. The difference is only in who manages the infrastructure.Compare plans →
Frequently asked questions
Can I start with Cloud and switch to self-hosting later?
Can I start with Cloud and switch to self-hosting later?
Yes! You can migrate your content from Cloud to self-hosted anytime.This is a common path for organizations that:
- Start with Cloud to move quickly
- Develop custom requirements over time
- Want to evaluate Metabase before investing in infrastructure
Is my data stored on Metabase Cloud servers?
Is my data stored on Metabase Cloud servers?
No, your data stays in your databases. Metabase Cloud only stores:
- Questions and dashboard definitions
- User accounts and permissions
- Cached query results (if caching is enabled)
Does self-hosting cost less than Cloud?
Does self-hosting cost less than Cloud?
Usually no, when you factor in:
- Infrastructure costs (~$112+/month)
- Engineering time for setup and maintenance
- Opportunity cost (time not spent on analytics)
- Risk of downtime without HA setup
Can I use custom database drivers on Cloud?
Can I use custom database drivers on Cloud?
No, Metabase Cloud only supports officially maintained drivers. This ensures:
- Quality and reliability
- Support for troubleshooting
- Security vetting
- Consistent performance
Can I control when Cloud upgrades happen?
Can I control when Cloud upgrades happen?
By default, Cloud upgrades automatically with each release.If you’re using the Embedded SDK, you can request to pin your version so you can control upgrade timing. Contact support to set this up.
What level of access does Metabase have to Cloud instances?
What level of access does Metabase have to Cloud instances?
The Metabase team can:
- Access logs for troubleshooting
- View instance health metrics
- Apply configuration changes you request
- Perform emergency maintenance
- See your data in connected databases
- View your question results
- Access without logging and alerting
Get started
Try Metabase Cloud
Start your free trial - no credit card required
Install self-hosted
Download and install Metabase on your infrastructure
Talk to an expert
Get help from a Metabase Expert
Compare pricing
See all plan options and features