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12 Best Embedded Analytics Platforms (2024 Edition)

In this article, I will walk you through key embedded features, and the 12 best embedded analytics software solutions on the market.

12 Best Embedded Analytics Platforms (2024 Edition)

Your users want data, and they want it yesterday.

Whether you like it or not, everyone’s now accustomed to having instant access to insights. It’s impossible to imagine life without it. Think about Duolingo without progress tracking or Shopify without key metrics like sales, conversions, and customer retention.

Now, if you want to seriously annoy your engineers, go ahead and ask them to build a custom analytics module from scratch. They’re already stretched thin working on your core product. Adding a full-blown embedded analytics feature? No time or money for that!

This is where embedded analytics tools come in. In this article, we’ll guide you through the essential features to look for in embedded analytics tools and compare 12 of the top platforms that everyone’s talking about in 2024.

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Before you jump in...

Looking to easily embed interactive, pixel-perfect dashboards into your product, with just a few lines of code? Check out Holistics Embedding.

How To Evaluate Embedded Analytics Tools

From our experience, here are some key criteria data teams typically consider when choosing an embedded analytics platform.

These are a great starting point to help you understand what you need and what to look for.

  • Ease Of Setup: Choose a solution with minimal setup, allowing for quick deployment without sweating engineering effort. This allows you to meet customer demands faster. However, be mindful that simplicity shouldn’t come at the cost of scalability. Some tools may be too basic, lacking the customization and flexibility needed to grow with your product. Delays in deployment or the need to switch tools later can result in missed opportunities and put your product at a competitive disadvantage.
  • Scalability: A good embedded BI tool should be scalable. Scalable in this context refers to being easily deployable and platform-agnostic; whether on-premise with end-users, hosted in a cloud-based infrastructure, or at a data center, a good embedded BI tool should be able to integrate seamlessly.
  • Variety of data visualizations: Your users' data needs are diverse, and so should the data visualizations in your embedded analytics tool. The tool should offer a wide range of visualization types—charts, graphs, maps, heatmaps, and more—to make it easier for your users to interpret complex data. Without rich, interactive data visualizations, you risk reducing your embedded analytics solution to little more than static reporting.
  • Maintainability: Opt for a tool that allows the reuse of logic and supports version control, thus reducing the maintenance burden for developers and engineers. Without maintainability and reusability, data teams may struggle with inconsistent metrics, redundant efforts, and increased technical debt. Over time, this can lead to errors, slow down development, and make scaling the solution more challenging.
  • Security: You're handling the sensitive data of your customers, security is a no-brainer. Look for multi-tenant, row-level access control and SOC2 compliance to safeguard data and meet industry standards. Neglecting these security features can expose your application to risks, such as data breaches and non-compliance with regulatory standards, which can damage your reputation and result in legal repercussions.
  • Self-service Analytics Capabilities: Embedded bi tools should allow your consumers to drill down and filter within your delivered dashboards and reports.
  • Pricing: The tool should remain cost-effective at scale. If the solution becomes prohibitively expensive as your user base grows, it can strain your budget and limit your ability to scale, forcing you to reconsider your investment when it's least convenient.
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Bonus: Evaluation questions you might want to use when evaluating an embedded analytics software.
Dimension Question to ask your BI Vendor
Quick set up How quickly can I set up a dashboard and embed it into my platform/webapp quickly?
High level of security How can I make sure one client of mine can access only his data and not the others’?
Multi-tenancy Can I have a master dashboard that all end users access, and what they see is dependent on RLS on a user ID basis?
Customization and white-labeling Can I customize the dashboard so that it looks like my own branded product?
Non-tech users can explore data themselves Can my business users explore the data themselves at a sufficient level?
Scalability Can I easily set up a dashboard for a new client? Can I still assure the quality, control, and cost if my client base expands?
Affordability Is the cost-embedded analytics justified for its values and cheap enough to optimize my profit margin?

12 Best Embedded Analytics Tools For Modern Data Stack

Following the above use cases and criteria, we make a list of the 12 best embedded analytics tools. Let’s dive in.

01. Holistics

Holistics is a BI platform that helps data teams set up self-service BIs that are reliable and easy to maintain. It offers a code-based semantic layer for managing analytics logic and a robust self-service framework.

Holistics offers a robust embedded analytics platform, powered by the same intuitive report builder and code-based semantic layer. What makes Holistics different, compared to other embedded BI tools, is that it lets product engineers build a custom reporting experience, and integrate it without compromising development best practices.

Its key features include:

  • Easy Embedding: With just a few lines of code, you can embed Holistics dashboards into any tech stack, supporting all programming languages. This makes integration straightforward and hassle-free.
  • Robust Data Modeling and Semantic Layer: At the core of Holistics is a strong data modeling and semantic layer that ensures accurate and consistent metrics across your organization. This foundation is key to maintaining data integrity and trust.
  • Self-Service Data Exploration: Anyone on your team can build and edit dashboards using Holistics' drag-n-drop report builder. Then, it takes engineers less than 15 minutes (we tested it) to embed the dashboard into your product. Your dashboard viewers then can freely explore data, using filters, drill-through, drill down.
  • Customized Visualizations: Holistics excels in creating stunning, pixel-perfect dashboards tailored to your product’s design or specific client themes. Its unique canvas layout allows for fully customized data visualizations, bringing in a seamless and cohesive user experience.
  • Dashboard as Code: Every aspect of your analytics—data models, semantic definitions, and dashboards—can be defined as code and versioned in Git. This approach enables you to track changes, collaborate efficiently, and reuse logic across different customers, significantly reducing maintenance efforts.
  • Security: Holistics places a strong emphasis on security, with row-level access controls managed through secure server-side tokens (JWT). Each customer sees only their data, and the platform is compliant with SOC 2 and GDPR standards.

Pricing: Holistics’s embedded analytics solution starts at $800/month and comes with unlimited viewers, unlimited reports created, and all functionalities included.

Case study: See how ARD, the 2nd largest broadcaster in the world, used Holistics to deliver insights to over 2000 users.

02. Tableau

Tableau is well-known for its powerful visualization capabilities, and its embedded analytics platform offers the same high-quality visuals people expect. If you want your embedded dashboards to look impressive and polished, Tableau is a great choice

Tableau Embed Dashboard

Key Features:

  • Embedding API for integrating Tableau data visualizations into applications, a REST API for user and content management
  • External Authorization Servers for single sign-on, and support for SAML, OpenID, Active Directory, and Kerberos for additional authentication options.
  • Easy integration - You can rapidly and easily incorporate Tableau-embedded analytics into your products, applications, and online portals using Tableau APIs and Developer Tools.
  • Rich Visualization Options - if your business stakeholders are big on visualization and data storytelling then Tableau is the go-to choice.

Limitations:

  • Not Built Embedded-First: Tableau was primarily designed as a BI tool for on-premise and cloud analytics, not specifically as an embedded analytics platform. This can limit its customization and white-labeling capabilities compared to modern tools.
  • Non-Git-Based Version Control: Tableau relies on non-Git-based version control systems, which may lack the advanced features and flexibility provided by Git-based systems.

Pricing: Tableau has tiers of pricing available for embedded analytics, but this isn’t made public. You can schedule a time for an inquiry here with the team for a personalized quote.

03. Explo

Explo is a customer-facing analytics platform designed with a strong emphasis on customization and ease of use. 

Explo's sample embedded dashboard

Key Features:

  • No-Code Setup: Explo’s no-code setup allows for rapid deployment of embedded analytics solutions, minimizing the need for extensive developer involvement and enabling teams to get up and running quickly.
  • AI-Assisted Report Builder: The platform features an AI-assisted report builder that suggests relevant fields and data points, helping users create reports more efficiently and tailored to their needs.
  • Flexible Embedding Options: Explo offers versatile embedding methods, including iframe and web components, allowing for seamless integration with your tech stack and optimizing the user experience.
  • SOC 2 Compliance: The platform meets SOC 2 standards, ensuring it adheres to industry best practices for data protection and privacy.

Limitations:

  • Lack of Row-Level Access Control: Explo does not include row-level access control, which may be a drawback for businesses requiring granular data security and multi-tenant environments.
  • Non-Git-Based Version Control: While Explo supports version control for reports and dashboards, it is not Git-based. This may limit advanced version management capabilities compared to Git-based systems.

Pricing: Starting at $1,995+: Explo’s pricing begins at $1,995+ for unlimited white-label embedded dashboards. This pricing model offers a clear and scalable solution for businesses needing extensive embedding capabilities.

04. Luzmo

Luzmo is a embedded analytics platform that puts a strong emphasis on elegant visualization and API-first embedding approach.

Pros:

  • AI-Powered Analytics: Luzmo leverages AI-driven tools to provide insightful recommendations, improving efficiency and enhancing the user experience by making it easier to extract valuable insights from data.
  • Elegant Visualization: The platform is designed with a focus on elegant and sophisticated visualizations, ensuring a high-quality and visually appealing analytics experience.
  • Flexible Embedding Options: Luzmo supports seamless integration via web components and a robust API, allowing for versatile embedding into your application. It also offers embedded analytics filters and drilldown capabilities for in-depth data exploration.
  • SOC 2 Compliance: Luzmo meets SOC 2 standards, ensuring it adheres to rigorous data protection and privacy practices.
  • Multi-tenancy support.

Cons:

  • No Row-Level Access Control: Luzmo does not include row-level access control, which might be a limitation for businesses requiring detailed data security and multi-tenant environments.
  • Non-Git-Based Version Control: The platform uses a non-Git-based version control system, known as Version History. While it allows tracking of changes and reverting to previous versions, it may lack the advanced features of Git-based systems.

Pricing:

  • Starting at $3,100+: Luzmo’s pricing begins at $3,100+ for unlimited white-label embedded dashboards. This model provides extensive embedding capabilities but may require consideration of the cost relative to your needs.

05. Looker

Similar to Holistics, Looker has a code-based modeling layer with self-service data exploration. With Looker, product teams can easily create and ship embedded dashboards to clients while ensuring metrics are managed centrally and accurately.

Image Source: https://docs.looker.com/dashboards/creating-lookml-dashboards

Looker's embedded platform offers all of its core features, including:

  • Data Models as Code: Looker allows data models to be defined as code and versioned via Git, facilitating reliable management, collaboration, and deployment of data models.
  • Customizable Dashboards: The platform provides highly customizable, interactive dashboards that can be deeply embedded into applications, offering extensive customization options.
  • Robust API Framework: Looker’s API framework enables seamless integration and embedding of analytics with minimal friction, enhancing flexibility for developers.
  • Comprehensive Access Controls: It includes detailed access controls and is SOC 2 compliant, ensuring strong data security and privacy. Additionally, its filter drill-down capabilities support in-depth data exploration and insight generation.

Limitations:

  • Steeper Learning Curve: Looker’s extensive features and customization options come with a steeper learning curve, which may be challenging for organizations without advanced data expertise.
  • Complexity for Smaller Needs: The platform's robust capabilities and advanced features might be more than necessary for organizations with simpler analytics requirements.
  • High upfront cost: Looker's high upfront cost might make it prohibitive for smaller organizations to scale their embedded analytics access.

Pricing: Looker’s seat-based model for embedded analytics might be off-putting for SMBs. Looker has tiers of subscriptions depending on the number of users involved in the plan. There are the Standard, Advanced, and Elite packages, ranging from $66000, $132000, and $198000 per annum, respectively.

06. Power BI Embedded

Power BI’s embedded analytics is rich in functionalities - often allowing customers to lodge dashboards and reports into their existing applications.

PowerBI is best embedded analytics solution for enterprise companies that are already hooked to the Microsoft ecosystem.

Example of PowerBI's embedded dashboard (source)

Key Features:

  • Seamless Microsoft Integration: Power BI Embedded Analytics is part of the Power BI suite and integrates smoothly with other Microsoft products, making it an excellent choice for organizations already using Microsoft tools.
  • Ease of Use: The platform is user-friendly and straightforward, especially for teams familiar with the Microsoft ecosystem.
  • Extensive APIs: Power BI Embedded offers a wide range of APIs for customization and integration, allowing for tailored analytics solutions.
  • Row-Level Access Control and Robust Security: The platform supports row-level access control and is SOC 2 compliant, ensuring data security and privacy with comprehensive protection features.

Limitations:

  • Dependency on Microsoft Ecosystem: While it integrates well with Microsoft products, its value may be diminished for organizations using non-Microsoft technologies or requiring more advanced customization options.
  • Licensing Requirements: To add reports and access the API, a Power BI Pro or Premium Per User (PPU) license or service principal is required, which may add to the overall cost and complexity.

Case Study: Here’s how Edsby uses embedded analytics to deliver full-spectrum learning and unlock new opportunities.

Pricing: $109.89 per month, which means $9.99 for publishers, and each viewer gets to pay $9.99 with a maximum of 10. The more viewers you have, the more you pay.

07. Sigma Computing

Sigma Computing is a data analytics platform with a spreadsheet-like interface, offering embedded analytics solution beside its core BI functionalities.

Key Features:

  • Easy embedding: Product team can easily embed Sigma dashboards into your product using an iFrame or via a backend API.
  • Spreadsheet-Like Interface: Sigma Computing features an intuitive, spreadsheet-like interface, making it accessible for users familiar with spreadsheet applications and easing the transition to advanced analytics.
  • Embedded Data Exploration: The platform allows users to explore data dynamically, perform ad-hoc analyses, and drill down into metrics directly within the embedded environment.
  • Granular Role-Based Access Controls: Sigma provides detailed user permissions with role-based access controls, supporting both single and multi-tenant environments. This ensures precise management of user access and dynamic role switching.
  • Easy Data Import and Collaboration: Importing data from various warehouses is straightforward, and Sigma excels in collaboration with secure, role-based workbook sharing, making it ideal for team-based analytics projects.

Limitations:

  • Customization Complexity: While Sigma allows for customization of the user interface and theme, advanced customization may require additional effort compared to other platforms with built-in features.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features: Users accustomed only to basic spreadsheet functions might face a learning curve when utilizing more advanced analytics capabilities.

Pricing: It's reported that Sigma Computing's pricing starts with a base fee of $30k for the platform, which comes with "unlimited" Viewer licenses, and an additional $1k for each Developer/Explorer type role.

For accurate pricing information, including any potential additional costs, it is advisable to contact Sigma directly.

08. Sisense

Sisense provides a flexible, code-based approach to embedded analytics.

If you've been on the lookout for embedded analytics platforms, Sisense is a name you’ve probably come across. This is well-deserved as they've put a lot of thought into multi-tenancy and slicing data on different levels for access control.

Sisense's APIs and level of extensibility are some of the best in the embedded game. This also means Sisense's pricing for embedded analytics is also prohibitively expensive, as many have pointed out.

Key Features:

  • AI-Powered Analytics: The platform includes AI and machine learning features that provide predictive analytics and uncover hidden trends, enhancing decision-making.
  • Efficient Data Processing: Sisense’s Elastic Data Engine excels at handling large, complex datasets from multiple sources, making it ideal for organizations with significant data processing needs.
  • Customizable Embedding: Sisense offers robust embedding options with a fully customizable API and Compose SDK, allowing developers to tailor the look and feel of dashboards to match their in-app branding and user experience.
  • Custom Visualization: Supports creating custom visualizations, providing flexibility to meet specific business requirements.

Cons:

  • Higher Cost: Sisense’s pricing model can be expensive, particularly for larger deployments or highly customized solutions. Sisense pricing starts from $21K per year.

Pricing:

  • Custom Pricing: Costs vary depending on deployment size, number of users, and specific features required; may be on the higher side for large-scale implementations.

09. Metabase

Metabase is an open-source BI tools, suitable for SMEs who want to quickly build embedded analytics or customer-facing data products into their applications.

Example of Metabase's embedded dashboard

Key Features:

  • User-Friendly Interface: Metabase is known for its intuitive, easy-to-use interface, making it accessible for non-technical viewers to create and explore dashboards.
  • Quick Setup: Metabase is straightforward to embed, and supports both iframe and API embedding.
  • Powerful Query Builder: The platform includes a robust query builder that simplifies data exploration.

Limitations:

  • Limited Visualization Features: The platform struggles with displaying charts that have a lot of series, making it less suitable for visualizing complex or high-dimensional data.
  • No Code Version Control: As your team grows and more people start using Metabase, tracking who's changing what can quickly become a real headache. Metabase didn’t design its product with version control in mind, and without it, it’s easy for teams to lose track of updates or changes to queries, which makes it hard to keep reports consistent. 

Pricing: Metabase’s cloud licenses start from $85/month.

10. GoodData

GoodData is an AI-powered data analytics platform, best for creating customized data products with interactive analytics capabilities. It also offers a robust embedded analytics solution with extensive embedding options.

GoodData's Embedded Dashboard

Key Features:

  • Comprehensive embedding options: You can either add GoodData dashboards to your website using iframes, or use GoodData.UI library - which is a Typescript framework best for building analytical web applications on top of GoodData Cloud and GoodData Platform, offering Web components, React components, and Rest API clients.
  • Comprehensive Security: Offers row-level security, multi-tenant support, and SOC 2 compliance, ensuring robust data governance for enterprises.
  • API-Driven: GoodData provides strong API capabilities, allowing developers to customize and automate analytics workflows.

Limitations:

  • Limited Visualization Options: While functional, GoodData's visualizations may feel basic compared to more visually rich platforms like Tableau or Domo.
  • Pricing: GoodData’s enterprise-level features come at a higher cost, which may be restrictive for smaller organizations or teams.

Pricing: Embedded pricing starts from $1500/month, with unlimited users and data. You’ll be charged by platform fee and the number of workspaces.

11. Preset

Preset is a cloud-hosted data exploration and visualization platform built on top of the popular open-source project Apache Superset. You can embed Preset dashboard via iFrame.

Preset's Embed Dashboard Example

Key Features:

  • Open-Source Flexibility: Built on Apache Superset, Preset allows customization and benefits from community-driven updates and plugins.
  • Cost-Effective: Preset’s pricing is attractive to small teams and startups, offering a low-cost entry point to embedded analytics.
  • Strong Data Exploration: Supports advanced filtering, drilldowns, and SQL queries for in-depth data exploration.

Limitations:

  • Limited Advanced Customization: While Preset is highly customizable, its flexibility may not match more sophisticated platforms in this list.
  • Learning Curve for SQL-Based Queries: Non-technical users may face challenges with SQL-based querying, requiring additional training or relying on technical teams to build advanced reports and dashboards.
  • Limited Advanced Features: It lacks some enterprise-grade features like "analytics as code" and built-in AI found in larger platforms.

Pricing: Preset’s dashboard embedding is only available to Pro and Enterprise plans, which start from $25/month/user.

12. Domo

Key Features:

  • Comprehensive Data Integration: Domo stands out for its ability to easily connect with over 1,000 data sources, ranging from cloud-based applications to on-premise systems.
  • Collaboration Features: With built-in collaboration tools, Domo makes it easy for teams to share insights, comment on dashboards, and work together in real-time.
  • Mobile-First Analytics: Strong support for mobile analytics, enabling users to access dashboards, reports, and insights on the go through its mobile app.

Limitations:

  • High Cost: While Domo offers extensive features and ease of use, it comes at a higher price point compared to other tools. The pricing structure can also become complex as your needs grow, especially with additional users or data sources.
  • Limited Customization for Developers: Developers might find its customization options more restrictive compared to more developer-friendly platforms like Looker or Holistics, which offer analytics as code capabilities. This can limit the flexibility needed for advanced custom analytics solutions.

Pricing: Domo pricing is not publicly available, and you need to reach out to their sales team for a personalized quote. However, it's been reported that Domo pricing is around $134,000 annually.


Embedded Analytics Tools: A Comparison Table

Holistics

Explo

Luzmo

Tableau Embedded

PowerBI Embedded

Sigma Computing

Looker

Sisense

Metabase

Capabilities

Features

Maintainability & Time to Market

Data Modeling Layer

Beta

Dashboard as Code

Not available

Not available

Not available

Not available

Data Model Version Control

Git based

Non-Git based

Non-Git based

Proprietary

Git based

Git supported

Proprietary

Dash board Version Control

Git based

Proprietary

Proprietary

Proprietary

Proprietary

Proprietary

Proprietary

Git supported (JSON)

Proprietary

Usability

Self-serve Exploration

Embedding Options

iframe

iframe, web component

web component

web component

web component, REST API

iframe

iframe, web component, SDK

iframe, SDK, JS library

iframe

Custom Visualization

Supported (VegaLite)

Not supported

Not supported

Supported with Extensions API

Supported with Power BI visuals SDK

Supported with Plugins

Supported

Not supported

Public Embedding

Alert & Scheduling

Security & Governance

Embedded Row-Level Access Control

Multi-Tenancy 

Pricing

Price

From $200+

$1,995+

$3,100+

Not specified

$735 + Licenses

Not specified

Not specified

$500+

Pricing Scalability

Unlimited dashboard viewers

Customer Group Based

Number of Active Viewers

Usage Based

Node Type & Node Instances

Number of instances

Customized based on use case

User-based

Benefits of Embedded Analytics Platforms

👉🏾 Need to win over your CFO on why you absolutely need an embedded analytics platform? No worries, here’s a quick slide-worthy list of benefits. 🙂

Embedded analytics brings a ton of perks to your SaaS product. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Contextualized Analytics: Users get real-time insights right within their workflow. No need to bounce between different tools to find the data they need. Everything’s built into the app, making it easier to understand and act on information instantly.
  • Boosted Productivity: With analytics embedded directly in the application, users stay focused on their work. No more switching tabs or waiting for reports to come in. Workflows are streamlined, which means more gets done faster.
  • Smarter Decisions: When users have access to timely, relevant insights, they make better decisions, faster. Embedded analytics encourages a data-driven culture where decisions are backed by real-time data—not guesswork.
  • Competitive Edge: Embedded analytics can be a key differentiator in a crowded market. It gives your SaaS product that extra something that sets it apart from the competition and attracts more customers.
  • New Revenue Streams: Advanced analytics can be offered as a premium feature, opening up fresh revenue opportunities. Customers love paying for deeper insights and better decision-making tools (your CFO will love this part!).

For an express guide for SaaS embedded analytics, check out this post.

FAQ: Embedded Business Intelligence

What Are Embedded Analytics, Anyway?


Simply put, embedded analytics platforms (or customer-facing analytics, as some call it) let you integrate data visualization and reporting directly into your application. Imagine having all your important data insights right where you and your users need them, without switching between platforms.

Do I Need An Embedded Analytics Platform?

Well, it depends.

If you’re just starting out, you probably don’t need it yet. But as your business grows and your customer base expands, there will come a point where your users will get frustrated that they can’t access the data they need directly in your product. That’s where embedded analytics comes in—it delivers real-time insights right in the workflow, saving you the headache of building and maintaining a separate analytics platform from scratch.

Is it complicated to set up?


Not necessarily. The complexity depends on the tool you choose. Some solutions are plug-and-play, getting you up and running in no time, while others might require a bit more elbow grease.

Shameless plug here: Holistics allows you to embed dashboards in your application in less than 15 minutes using Iframe. You can also embed Holistics dashboards everywhere - be it Notion, Figma, or Coda.

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Do I Need A Data Team To Manage Embedded Analytics Platform?


Not necessarily. While having a data team is always a plus - especially if you want to serve embedded dashboards to a lot of clients, many embedded analytics tools are designed with user-friendliness in mind. They offer intuitive interfaces and guided setups, so even if you’re not a data expert, you can still get things up and running.

Plus, you’ll find plenty of support resources to help along the way.

Related reading: Community Crowd-Sourced BI Tools Comparison Matrix: Feature-to-Feature Comparison

Final Words

Embedded analytics tools present an opportunity for a fresh data-driven culture, one that can help companies yield a higher ROI by saving time and allowing business stakeholders to interpret data according to their needs contextually.

Thinking of where to start?

Reach out to sales to discuss the future of a tailored Holistics embedded analytics solution or explore a free trial here.



Fidocia Wima Adityawarman

Fidocia Wima Adityawarman

Analytics professional in the context of Modern Data Stack, working primarily in startups during their early and growth stages. Writing DuckDB Ducklicious Cookbook @sekueldata.

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