Metabase vs Smartlook: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Metabase and Smartlook. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Metabase starts at $40/mo, making it $39/mo cheaper than Smartlook ($79/mo). Smartlook offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Metabase vs Smartlook: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Metabase | Smartlook |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $40/mo | $79/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 4 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | open-source | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Metabase is the more affordable option, starting at $40/mo compared to Smartlook's $79/mo. Both are Analytics tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 20 features compared.
Smartlook stands out with a free plan for getting started. Metabase uses open-source pricing while Smartlook uses usage-based pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Analytics needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Metabase Try it free |  Smartlook Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Metabot AI $100/month | |
| Tier 2 | Storage $40/monthCheapest | ProPopular $79/month $79 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Advanced transforms $250/month | Business $199/monthCheapest $199 / year Includes
|
| Tier 4 | — | Enterprise Custom pricing Includes
|
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Smartlook
Smartlook offers a free plan, offers 4 tiers vs 3.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Smartlook
Try Smartlook freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Metabase if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Metabase starts at $40/mo, saving $39/mo compared to Smartlook at $79/mo
- •Metabase's open-source pricing lets you match exact team size without tier gaps
- •Metabase's feature bundling aligns with how Analytics teams actually work day-to-day
Choose Smartlook if:
- •You need a free plan with Session recordings, Heatmaps—Smartlook offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •You want more features built-in—Smartlook offers 20 additional features across its plans
- •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Smartlook offers negotiated terms for large deployments
Smartlook offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Metabase requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Smartlook a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Smartlook's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $79/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Metabase's tiering starting at $40/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Smartlook's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Metabase's 3 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Smartlook is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Frequently Asked Questions: Metabase vs Smartlook
Which is cheaper, Metabase or Smartlook?
How many pricing plans does Metabase have vs Smartlook?
Does Metabase or Smartlook offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Metabase or Smartlook?
What is the most popular Smartlook plan?
Does Metabase or Smartlook offer custom enterprise pricing?
What pricing models do Metabase and Smartlook use?
Sources
- Metabase Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Smartlook Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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