December 1st, 2025
Redash pricing and plans: Can you still use Redash in 2025?
By Simon Avila · 11 min read
I reviewed Redash pricing after the recent changes and looked at how self-hosting compares to using a third-party service. Here’s what you need to know if you’re weighing those options in 2025.
Redash pricing: At a glance
Redash pricing changed when the hosted product shut down. Now, you have to choose between running it yourself or using a managed provider. Here’s how each option works today:
Open source Redash: Redash’s open-source version is free to download and run. Costs come from your cloud instance, storage, and the setup work your team handles. When I tested it on a small EC2 instance, the monthly spend often sat in the $25 to $40 range. Those costs shifted with storage needs, instance size, and traffic.
Third-party Redash hosting: Some providers like Render offer managed Redash built on the open-source project. You pay a subscription instead of running your own server. Pricing varies based on users, compute, and support. For example, Render starts at $19/user/month billed monthly, plus compute costs.
Which Redash hosting option should you choose?
When I compared the two remaining ways to run Redash, the difference between self-hosting and managed hosting became obvious. Each option asks for a different level of technical work, time, and control. Here’s how to choose:
Open-source
To run your own instance of Redash, you need someone who can install it, manage updates, watch server load, and fix issues when containers stop working.
Most teams run it on AWS or GCP, so whoever owns it should know how to size instances, manage storage, and keep access secure. In my experience, this route fits teams that already maintain internal tools and don’t mind hands-on work.
Third-party hosting
With this option, the provider handles setup, scaling, backups, and updates while you focus on the dashboards. You still get the same core features, but you give up some control over the environment.
I’ve seen this help teams that want a simple SQL and dashboard layer without dealing with servers or unexpected downtime.
Is Redash still worth the cost?
I’ve gone back to Redash several times since the shutdown to see whether it still makes sense for teams in 2025. Here’s what to expect now that the hosted product is gone:
When Redash is worth it: Redash works well when you have engineering support to run the open-source version and keep the instance stable. It also makes sense if you want full control over your environment and prefer handling updates, security, and storage in-house.
When to avoid Redash: Redash becomes harder to justify when you don’t have technical help, since most of your time goes into upkeep instead of analysis. Third-party hosting removes the server work, but the subscription costs often end up approaching those of tools that include active support and smoother onboarding.
If running your own instance doesn’t make sense, you have better options. I’d look at AI data visualization tools that handle connections, charts, and sharing without any server work.
You can also explore other open-source data visualization tools with active communities if you still want control without carrying the full maintenance burden.
Redash alternatives and pricing comparison
Redash isn’t the only tool teams turn to when they need quick querying or simple dashboards. I took a closer look at platforms that remove the setup work and give you reliable hosting out of the box. Each one fits a different type of team, depending on how much support and flexibility you need.
Let’s compare them side by side:
Tool | Starting price (billed annually) | Best for | Key advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
Business users, marketers, and analysts | AI-assisted analysis with charts, connectors, and scheduled reports | ||
$100/month for 5 users, then $6/user/month | Small teams that want easy dashboards | Clean interface with simple question-based querying | |
$19/month billed monthly, plus usage | Teams that need analytics and monitoring | Flexible dashboards with broad data-source support |
Julius
We designed Julius to help teams analyze connected data without writing SQL or managing their own analytics setup. You can connect sources like Postgres, BigQuery, Google Ads, and Sheets, then ask questions in natural language to get charts, summaries, and repeatable Notebook reports.
Julius works well for teams that want quick insights, simple chart creation, and scheduled reports without handling server maintenance. Pricing follows a monthly subscription starting at $16 per month, and there’s a free plan for lighter use.
Metabase
Metabase works well for teams that want quick dashboards, light querying, and a clean interface. You can run it as open source or choose the hosted plan if you don’t want to manage setup, upgrades, or environment issues. The workflow stays simple, which helps teams move from questions to visuals without much ramp-up time.
The open source version is free to install on your own infrastructure, while paid plans start at $100 per month for 5 users. It fits small teams that want easy charting and sharing without dedicating engineering time to maintenance. It also scales enough for groups that need basic reporting without shifting to a heavier tool for BI dashboards.
Grafana Cloud
Grafana Cloud supports SQL sources, logs, metrics, and time-series data, giving teams one place for monitoring and analytics. I’ve used it when I needed dashboards that blend multiple data types, and the hosted setup removed the need to manage scaling or updates. It’s more flexible than Redash and works for teams that want deeper control over visuals.
There’s a free tier for light workloads, with paid plans starting at $19 per month, plus usage and data volume. It’s a good fit for teams that want customizable dashboards and alerts without running their own infrastructure. The integrations also help teams grow into more advanced monitoring.Julius vs Redash: Which should you choose?
When you compare Julius and Redash, the biggest difference comes down to how each tool handles setup and cost. Redash pricing often reflects the hidden work around it, including upgrades, storage, monitoring, and the extra time spent fixing container issues. That overhead is what separates it from tools built to stay stable without hands-on upkeep.
Use this breakdown to see which one makes sense for your setup:
Julius is better for: Teams that want natural-language analysis, chart creation, and scheduled reports without managing their own servers. It’s practical if you need quick insights and want to avoid the work that comes with hosting Redash.
Redash is better for: Teams that want a familiar SQL and dashboard workflow and have the support to run their own instance or pay a provider to host it. It works when you need full control and don’t mind the ongoing upkeep.
Ready to see how Julius can help you visualize your data? Try Julius for free today.
My bottom line on Redash pricing
Redash still works for teams that want a basic SQL layer, but the cost makes more sense when you already have the engineering support to run it. Once you factor in hosting, updates, and the time spent keeping the instance stable, the “free” option doesn’t stay free for long. Third-party hosting helps, though the monthly spend often gets close to tools that offer more features and active support.
If you want analysis without dealing with servers, I’d recommend Julius. You can connect your data, ask questions in natural language, and get charts and scheduled reports without maintaining an environment. It’s a better fit for teams that want predictable pricing and faster access to insights.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Redash for quick analysis?
The best alternative to Redash for quick analysis is Julius because it turns questions into charts and summaries without any hosting work. You get faster insights and can still use data visualization tools and techniques like bar charts and line charts to review performance.
How do open-source Redash setups compare to hosted analytics tools?
Open-source Redash setups require engineering time, while hosted tools give you faster onboarding with no server work. Hosted platforms help you focus on insights immediately and avoid the extra maintenance that comes with running your own instance.
Is Redash still good for SQL reporting?
Yes, Redash is still good for SQL reporting because it handles straightforward queries and dashboards in one place. You can create clear visuals, but you’ll need to manage hosting or pay a provider since the hosted product shut down.
