Build customer analytics in your app or embed Metabase: how to decide

Organizations should build analytics directly into their applications when customers need only a small set of fixed charts based on existing queries, but should consider embedding Metabase when users require filters, exports, drill-through, or the ability to create and save their own reports. Metabase can connect directly to an application’s PostgreSQL or MySQL database without requiring a warehouse or duplicate data pipeline, providing live query results while offering caching options for slower queries. Multi-tenant isolation can be maintained through signed guest-embed tokens with locked tenant parameters, while Pro and Enterprise SSO embedding adds self-service query building, saved collections, and row- and column-level security or database connection impersonation. Guest embeds are available free, including in the open-source edition, whereas advanced self-service capabilities require paid Pro or Enterprise plans. Metabase can be cloud-hosted or self-hosted, with deployment, privacy, compliance, branding, operating costs, and the engineering effort of maintaining custom analytics all affecting the decision between building charts internally and embedding a dedicated analytics platform.

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