Grafana vs Redash: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Marcus Johnson, Marketing & Growth Specialistยท7 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Grafana and Redash in 2026, Grafana is the stronger choice for devops and sre teams visualizing infrastructure and application metrics due to best open-source for devops metrics. Redash excels for data teams wanting a free, sql-based dashboard tool they can self-host with free and open-source. Grafana offers Time-series dashboards, Alerting, Plugin ecosystem starting at $8/user/mo (cloud) with a free plan. Redash provides SQL editor, Dashboards, Scheduled queries from Free (self-hosted) with a free tier. For teams prioritizing value, Grafana delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 81/100. Grafana and Redash compete in the analytics & bi segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading analytics & bi tools include Google Analytics, Tableau, Power BI. Grafana serves 3M+ users globally (founded 2014) while Redash reports 50K+ active users (founded 2013).

Grafana vs Redash at a Glance

Grafana
Redash
Starting Price
$8/user/mo (cloud)
Free (self-hosted)
Free Plan
Yes
Yes
User Rating
4.6/5
4.3/5
Best For
DevOps and SRE teams visualizing infrastructure an...
Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard too...
Users
3M+
50K+
Founded
2014
2013
hiltonsoftware Score
81/100
69/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐Ÿ“Š
Grafana
Analytics & BI
81
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
๐Ÿ“Š
Redash
Analytics & BI
69
hiltonsoftware.co Score

What are the main differences between Grafana and Redash?

Grafana and Redash differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Grafana leads in 7 of 7 categories.

GrafanaRedash
89Ease of Use79
77Features74
73Value for Money70
71Customer Support67
71Integrations62
70Scalability58
74Learning Curve70

What are the pros and cons of Grafana vs Redash?

Grafana
+Best open-source for DevOps metrics
+Huge plugin ecosystem
-Not for business analytics
-Requires technical setup
Redash
+Free and open-source
+Supports many data sources
-Requires SQL knowledge
-Self-hosted maintenance

Which is better, Grafana or Redash?

After evaluating Grafana and Redash across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Grafana earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 81/100 versus Redash at 69/100. Grafana stands out for "best open-source for devops metrics" and "huge plugin ecosystem". Redash delivers competitive advantages in "free and open-source", making Redash a viable alternative.

Both Grafana and Redash offer free plans. Grafana paid plans start at $8/user/mo (cloud) while Redash begins at Free (self-hosted). ROI depends on which features justify upgrading.

Bottom line: Choose Grafana for devops and sre teams visualizing infrastructure and application metrics. Choose Redash for data teams wanting a free, sql-based dashboard tool they can self-host. Both Grafana and Redash are established analytics & bi platforms.

CHOOSE GRAFANA IF:

DevOps and SRE teams visualizing infrastructure and application metrics.

CHOOSE REDASH IF:

Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard tool they can self-host.

Grafana vs Redash: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grafana better than Redash in 2026?
Grafana outperforms Redash in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 81/100 compared to 69/100. Grafana excels in Time-series dashboards, Alerting, Plugin ecosystem, making Grafana the better choice for DevOps and SRE teams visualizing infrastructure and application metrics. Redash is the stronger option for Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard tool they can self-host due to free and open-source. For teams needing time-series dashboards, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Grafana.
How does Grafana pricing compare to Redash in 2026?
Grafana starts at $8/user/mo (cloud) and includes a free plan. Redash starts at Free (self-hosted) and offers a free plan. Grafana includes features like Time-series dashboards, Alerting, Plugin ecosystem. Redash provides SQL editor, Dashboards, Scheduled queries. Grafana serves 3M+ users while Redash serves 50K+ users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Grafana and Redash?
Grafana specializes in Time-series dashboards, Alerting, Plugin ecosystem, earning a 81/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Redash focuses on SQL editor, Dashboards, Scheduled queries, scoring 69/100. Grafana is best for DevOps and SRE teams visualizing infrastructure and application metrics. Redash is best for Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard tool they can self-host. Both Grafana and Redash serve the Analytics & BI market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Grafana to Redash?
Migrating from Grafana to Redash is possible since both operate in the Analytics & BI space. Export data from Grafana and verify Redash import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Time-series dashboards, Alerting, Plugin ecosystem (Grafana) versus SQL editor, Dashboards, Scheduled queries (Redash). Running both Grafana and Redash in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Grafana or Redash better for small business?
Both Grafana and Redash offer free plans. Grafana (81/100) is ideal for DevOps and SRE teams visualizing infrastructure and application metrics. Redash (69/100) fits Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard tool they can self-host. Evaluate both during trial periods.

Reviewed by Marcus Johnson, Marketing & Growth Specialist. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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