Grafana vs Redash: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Grafana and Redash is a common decision for analytics & bi buyers in 2026. Both Grafana and Redash are established players, founded in 2014 and 2013 respectively. Grafana serves 3M+ users while Redash has 50K+ users globally. Grafana differentiates with time-series dashboards and alerting, while Redash leads with sql editor and dashboards. In this head-to-head comparison, Grafana earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 92/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

📊
Grafana
Analytics & BI
92
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
📊
Redash
Analytics & BI
86
hiltonsoftware.co Score

Quick Comparison

Grafana
Redash
Starting Price
$8/user/mo (cloud)
Free (self-hosted)
Free Plan
Yes
Yes
Users
3M+
50K+
Founded
2014
2013
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...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

GrafanaRedash
94Ease of Use81
99Features86
95Value for Money87
92Customer Support83
89Integrations86
96Scalability87
90Learning Curve85

Pros & Cons at a Glance

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
AI Verdict

After comparing Grafana and Redash across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Grafana takes the lead with a score of 92/100 versus Redash's 86/100. Grafana's key advantages include "best open-source for devops metrics" and "huge plugin ecosystem". That said, Redash has its own strengths — particularly "free and open-source" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

Both Grafana and Redash offer free plans, lowering the barrier to entry. Grafana's paid plans start at $8/user/mo (cloud) while Redash begins at Free (self-hosted). Evaluate which paid features — Plugin ecosystem, Multi-datasource (Grafana) vs Scheduled queries, Alerts (Redash) — justify upgrading for your team.

Bottom line: Choose Grafana if you need devops and sre teams visualizing infrastructure and application metrics. Go with Redash if your priority is data teams wanting a free, sql-based dashboard tool they can self-host. Both are strong analytics & bi tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grafana better than Redash in 2026?
Grafana scores 92/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Redash's 86/100. Grafana stands out for "best open-source for devops metrics" and is best for DevOps and SRE teams visualizing infrastructure and application metrics. Redash is known for "free and open-source" and suits Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard tool they can self-host. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Grafana and Redash?
Both offer free plans. Grafana starts at $8/user/mo (cloud) and Redash at Free (self-hosted). When comparing value, consider that Grafana (founded 2014, 3M+ users) includes features like Time-series dashboards, Alerting, Plugin ecosystem. Redash (founded 2013, 50K+ users) offers SQL editor, Dashboards, Scheduled queries. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Grafana and Redash?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Grafana excels at Time-series dashboards, Alerting, Plugin ecosystem, while Redash focuses on SQL editor, Dashboards, Scheduled queries. Grafana's main advantage is "best open-source for devops metrics", though some users note "not for business analytics". Redash's strength is "free and open-source", but "requires sql knowledge" can be a drawback. Both serve the Analytics & BI market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Grafana to Redash?
Switching between Grafana and Redash is possible since both operate in the Analytics & BI space. Before migrating, export your data from Grafana and check Redash's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Time-series dashboards, Alerting, Plugin ecosystem (Grafana) vs SQL editor, Dashboards, Scheduled queries (Redash). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Grafana or Redash?
Both tools offer free plans, so evaluate based on features. Grafana is ideal for DevOps and SRE teams visualizing infrastructure and application metrics, while Redash fits Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard tool they can self-host. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

Explore More Comparisons & Tools