DataHub vs OpenMetadata
DataHub and OpenMetadata are both strong open-source metadata platforms that cover data discovery, governance, lineage, and observability. DataHub leads in AI-powered features and offers a mature managed cloud product backed by high-profile enterprise adopters. OpenMetadata stands out with more data connectors, a simpler deployment architecture, and a fully open-source approach with free SaaS access through Collate. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize AI capabilities and managed infrastructure or connector breadth and operational simplicity.
DataHub4.5OpenMetadata4
Data Quality
Quick Comparison
| Feature | DataHub | OpenMetadata |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free Professional tier (up to 20 saved searches, daily email alerts), Enterprise tier contact sales, Open Source self-hosted free (Apache-2.0) | Free and open-source under Apache 2.0 license |
| Open Source License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Primary Language | Java | TypeScript |
| GitHub Stars | 11,800+ | 11,200+ |
| Data Connectors | 70+ native integrations | 100+ connectors |
| Latest Release | v1.5.0.2 (April 2026) | 1.12.5 (April 2026) |
DataHub
- Pricing Model:
- Free Professional tier (up to 20 saved searches, daily email alerts), Enterprise tier contact sales, Open Source self-hosted free (Apache-2.0)
- Open Source License:
- Apache-2.0
- Primary Language:
- Java
- GitHub Stars:
- 11,800+
- Data Connectors:
- 70+ native integrations
- Latest Release:
- v1.5.0.2 (April 2026)
OpenMetadata
- Pricing Model:
- Free and open-source under Apache 2.0 license
- Open Source License:
- Apache-2.0
- Primary Language:
- TypeScript
- GitHub Stars:
- 11,200+
- Data Connectors:
- 100+ connectors
- Latest Release:
- 1.12.5 (April 2026)
Community & Adoption Signals
| Metric | DataHub | OpenMetadata |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 12.0k | 14.0k |
| TrustRadius rating | 10.0/10 (2 reviews) | — |
| PyPI weekly downloads | 922.5k | 104.0k |
| Docker Hub pulls | 4.6M | 4.5M |
| Search interest | 0 | 1 |
| Product Hunt votes | 0 | — |
As of 2026-05-25 — updated weekly.
Interface Preview
DataHub
Feature Comparison
| Feature | DataHub | OpenMetadata |
|---|---|---|
| Data Discovery & Search | ||
| Full-text metadata search | Yes, AI-powered search with natural language queries | Yes, search across tables, topics, dashboards, pipelines, and services |
| Data asset previews and profiling | Yes, with business, operational, and technical context | Yes, built-in data profiling and preview capabilities |
| AI-powered discovery | Yes, AI chat agent and MCP integration for AI agents | Search and discovery with faceted navigation |
| Governance & Compliance | ||
| Automated data classification | Yes, GenAI documentation and AI-based classification | Yes, metadata versioning for governance and collaboration |
| Policy enforcement | Yes, continuous policy enforcement across all data assets | Yes, governance workflows with role-based access |
| Data contracts support | Supported through governance features | Yes, native data contracts support |
| Lineage & Observability | ||
| Column-level lineage | Yes, cross-platform and column-specific lineage tracking | Yes, in-depth column-level lineage and transformation tracking |
| Data quality monitoring | Yes, automated quality assessments with AI anomaly detection | Yes, native data quality checks and validation |
| Incident management | Yes, proactive monitoring with quality checks | Yes, observability features with alerts |
| Integration & Architecture | ||
| Number of connectors | 70+ native integrations | 100+ data service connectors |
| API-first architecture | REST and GraphQL APIs | Yes, API-first with standardized schemas and APIs |
| MCP (Model Context Protocol) support | Yes, connect AI agents via MCP | Yes, MCP server support |
| Deployment & Operations | ||
| Self-hosted deployment | Yes, open-source self-hosted (Apache-2.0) | Yes, open-source self-hosted (Apache-2.0) |
| Managed cloud offering | DataHub Cloud with tiered pricing | Free SaaS tier via Collate |
| Architecture complexity | Extensible metadata platform with multiple components | Streamlined architecture with only four system components |
Data Discovery & Search
Full-text metadata search
DataHubYes, AI-powered search with natural language queries
OpenMetadataYes, search across tables, topics, dashboards, pipelines, and services
Data asset previews and profiling
DataHubYes, with business, operational, and technical context
OpenMetadataYes, built-in data profiling and preview capabilities
AI-powered discovery
DataHubYes, AI chat agent and MCP integration for AI agents
OpenMetadataSearch and discovery with faceted navigation
Governance & Compliance
Automated data classification
DataHubYes, GenAI documentation and AI-based classification
OpenMetadataYes, metadata versioning for governance and collaboration
Policy enforcement
DataHubYes, continuous policy enforcement across all data assets
OpenMetadataYes, governance workflows with role-based access
Data contracts support
DataHubSupported through governance features
OpenMetadataYes, native data contracts support
Lineage & Observability
Column-level lineage
DataHubYes, cross-platform and column-specific lineage tracking
OpenMetadataYes, in-depth column-level lineage and transformation tracking
Data quality monitoring
DataHubYes, automated quality assessments with AI anomaly detection
OpenMetadataYes, native data quality checks and validation
Incident management
DataHubYes, proactive monitoring with quality checks
OpenMetadataYes, observability features with alerts
Integration & Architecture
Number of connectors
DataHub70+ native integrations
OpenMetadata100+ data service connectors
API-first architecture
DataHubREST and GraphQL APIs
OpenMetadataYes, API-first with standardized schemas and APIs
MCP (Model Context Protocol) support
DataHubYes, connect AI agents via MCP
OpenMetadataYes, MCP server support
Deployment & Operations
Self-hosted deployment
DataHubYes, open-source self-hosted (Apache-2.0)
OpenMetadataYes, open-source self-hosted (Apache-2.0)
Managed cloud offering
DataHubDataHub Cloud with tiered pricing
OpenMetadataFree SaaS tier via Collate
Architecture complexity
DataHubExtensible metadata platform with multiple components
OpenMetadataStreamlined architecture with only four system components
Our Verdict
DataHub and OpenMetadata are both strong open-source metadata platforms that cover data discovery, governance, lineage, and observability. DataHub leads in AI-powered features and offers a mature managed cloud product backed by high-profile enterprise adopters. OpenMetadata stands out with more data connectors, a simpler deployment architecture, and a fully open-source approach with free SaaS access through Collate. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize AI capabilities and managed infrastructure or connector breadth and operational simplicity.
When to Choose Each
Choose DataHub if:
Choose OpenMetadata if:
This verdict is based on general use cases. Your specific requirements, existing tech stack, and team expertise should guide your final decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DataHub or OpenMetadata better for large enterprise deployments?
Both platforms serve large enterprises effectively. DataHub highlights adoption by Netflix, Visa, Slack, and Deutsche Telekom, and offers a fully managed cloud tier with enterprise-grade support. OpenMetadata reports 3,000+ enterprise deployments and emphasizes its streamlined four-component architecture for easier operations at scale. Organizations prioritizing managed infrastructure and AI-powered features may lean toward DataHub Cloud, while those preferring simpler self-hosted operations may favor OpenMetadata.
Can I use DataHub or OpenMetadata for free?
Yes, both platforms are open-source under the Apache-2.0 license and can be self-hosted at no licensing cost. DataHub also offers a managed cloud product with a free Professional tier (up to 20 saved searches and daily email alerts), with Enterprise pricing available upon request. OpenMetadata provides a free SaaS tier through Collate, along with a live sandbox for testing.
Which platform has more data source connectors?
OpenMetadata currently offers 100+ connectors for data services including databases, dashboards, pipelines, messaging systems, and ML models. DataHub provides 70+ native integrations. Both platforms continue to add new connectors with each release, and their open-source nature means community-contributed connectors are also available.
How do DataHub and OpenMetadata handle AI and automation?
DataHub positions itself as an AI data catalog with features like natural language querying, AI chat agents for debugging quality issues, GenAI documentation, and AI-based classification. It supports connecting AI agents via Model Context Protocol (MCP). OpenMetadata also supports MCP and focuses on automated data quality checks, data profiling, and metadata-driven workflows, though its AI feature set is more focused on observability and quality automation.
What programming languages are DataHub and OpenMetadata built with?
DataHub's backend is primarily built with Java, while OpenMetadata uses TypeScript as its primary language. Both projects are open-source on GitHub with active contributor communities (DataHub has 11,800+ stars; OpenMetadata has 11,200+ stars as of April 2026).