Self-hosted vs. cloud analytics: what you're actually trading off

Quick answers

What's the difference between self-hosted and cloud analytics? Self-hosted means you run the software on your own infrastructure — you control where data lives, who can access the machine, and when you upgrade. Cloud means the vendor runs it for you: you get a URL, you log in, it works. You trade control for convenience.

Should I self-host Metabase or use Metabase Cloud? If you have data residency requirements, existing infrastructure, or compliance constraints — start self-hosted. If you want to move fast and don't want to manage ops — start with Metabase Cloud, which has a free 14-day trial. Both run the same codebase, so switching later is straightforward.

Do Metabase Cloud and self-hosted have the same features? Yes. Metabase Cloud and self-hosted run identical code. The query builder, SQL editor, dashboards, Data Studio, Metabot, and embedding SDK all work the same way on both. The deployment decision is operational, not functional.

What does self-hosting Metabase involve operationally? You're responsible for uptime, backups, and upgrades. The deployment itself is lightweight — Docker is the standard method, and Metabase also runs as a JAR or in Kubernetes. Most teams with existing infra find it low overhead to add.

What does the free open source edition include? The free Open Source edition is self-hosted and includes full core analytics — query builder, SQL editor, dashboards, charts, and basic permissions. Paid plans add SSO, advanced row-level permissions, the embedding SDK, and access to Metabase support engineers.

Can I migrate from Metabase Cloud to self-hosted later? Yes. Since both run the same codebase, migration is a supported path. Start wherever makes sense for your current situation — you're not locked in.

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When you're picking an analytics platform, deployment isn't an afterthought — it's a decision that affects your data residency, your costs, your security posture, and how much time your team spends on maintenance.

Here's what you're actually choosing between.

The core trade-off

Self-hosted: You run the software on your own infrastructure. You control everything — where data lives, who can access the machine, what version you're on. You're also responsible for uptime, backups, and upgrades.

Cloud: The vendor runs it for you. You get a URL, you log in, and it works. You trade control for convenience.

Neither is universally better. The right answer depends on your team, your compliance requirements, and your appetite for infrastructure work.

When self-hosting makes sense

You have data residency requirements. If your data can't leave a specific region or environment — GDPR, HIPAA, internal policy — self-hosting is often the only viable path. Your database stays on your infra, Metabase stays on your infra, nothing leaves.

You want full control over the upgrade cycle. On self-hosted, you upgrade when you decide to. You're not automatically moved to a new version on the vendor's schedule.

You already have the infrastructure. If you're running Kubernetes or have a VM fleet, adding Metabase is low overhead. The Docker image is the standard way to deploy.

When Metabase Cloud makes sense

You don't want to manage infrastructure. Metabase Cloud handles upgrades, backups, and uptime. You log in and use it.

You want to move faster. No setup, no ops overhead, up in minutes. Useful if analytics is important but not your team's core focus.

You need automatic upgrades. Cloud customers get new features as they ship. Self-hosted customers upgrade manually.

Your data residency requirements are met by the cloud region. Metabase Cloud runs on AWS. If that works for your compliance needs, cloud removes a lot of operational overhead.

What's the same either way

Importantly, Metabase Cloud and self-hosted run the same codebase. The features are identical. The query builder, SQL editor, dashboards, Data Studio, Metabot, embedding SDK — all of it works the same way on both.

The deployment decision is operational, not functional.

A note on the open source edition

The free Open Source edition is self-hosted by definition. It's a great starting point — full feature access for core analytics, no time limit, no credit card. When you need features like SSO, row-level permissions, or the embedding SDK in production, that's when a paid plan comes in.

The practical decision

If you're a small team evaluating Metabase: start with Cloud. Fourteen-day free trial, no setup, full features. If you decide to self-host later, the migration path is straightforward.

If you're a team with compliance requirements or existing infrastructure: start self-hosted. One Docker command, your data stays put, and you control everything from day one.

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Key takeaways

• Self-hosted = full control, your data never leaves your infra, you handle ops