> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sourcemedium.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Which Metabase should I use?

> Compare SourceMedium Dashboards, a Metabase SourceMedium hosts for you, with running your own Metabase on your SourceMedium warehouse.

You can use Metabase on your SourceMedium data in two ways. Both are supported, and you can use either one alongside any [other BI tool](https://docs.sourcemedium.com/docs/onboarding/analytics-tools/connect-to-other-bi-tools.md).

* **Both install the same foundation**: the [foundation dashboards](https://docs.sourcemedium.com/docs/onboarding/analytics-tools/metabase-foundation-dashboard.md), models, metrics and SQL snippets, with SourceMedium's published metric definitions.
* **SourceMedium Dashboards** is managed for you and has [limits](https://docs.sourcemedium.com/docs/onboarding/analytics-tools/metabase-hosted-by-sourcemedium.md#what-is-not-included). It is built on open-source Metabase.
* **Your own Metabase** gives you full control.
* **You can move from SourceMedium Dashboards to your own Metabase later** with an [export](https://docs.sourcemedium.com/docs/onboarding/analytics-tools/metabase-hosted-by-sourcemedium.md#move-to-your-own-metabase) of your content. A workspace can also use both.

> [!NOTE]
>
> SourceMedium Dashboards is rolling out to selected workspaces. If your workspace does not offer it yet, your own Metabase is available today.

| | SourceMedium Dashboards | Your own Metabase |
| - | - | - |
| Best for | Most teams: ready out of the box | Technical teams who run their own BI |
| Availability | Rolling out to selected workspaces | Available today |
| Hosting | SourceMedium, one Metabase per workspace | You: on your own server, or Metabase Cloud |
| Sign-in | Your SourceMedium account, no second login | Your own Metabase users |
| Who can open it | Workspace Admins, Editors and Viewers, and agency partners whose grant covers the whole workspace. Access limited to brands or stores cannot open it. | Whoever you add in Metabase |
| Foundation dashboards | Installed and kept current by SourceMedium | You install and refresh them with the [Metabase template](https://github.com/source-medium/sm-metabase-template) |
| Editing | Questions (query builder and SQL), dashboards and collections, by Admins and Editors | Whatever your Metabase edition allows |
| Metabase administration, subscriptions, public links and embedding | Not included | Yours to configure |
| Warehouse credential | Held by SourceMedium, never downloadable | The app key file you download from **Dashboards & Apps** |
| Query cost | Runs in your warehouse's query project; SourceMedium sets no spending cap | Runs in your warehouse's query project; SourceMedium sets no spending cap |

## Choose SourceMedium Dashboards if

* You want the foundation dashboards without running a server or installing anything.
* Your team should open them with their SourceMedium accounts.
* Workspace roles (Admin, Editor, Viewer) are the access control you need.

Start with [SourceMedium Dashboards](https://docs.sourcemedium.com/docs/onboarding/analytics-tools/metabase-hosted-by-sourcemedium.md).

## Choose your own Metabase if

* You need Metabase administration: your own users and groups, settings, API keys, plugins or other database connections.
* You need email or Slack subscriptions, public links or embedding.
* You want features of Metabase's paid plans, such as row and column security.
* Some people should see only certain brands or stores. That needs your own Metabase permissions, and the limits in [Who can see what](https://docs.sourcemedium.com/docs/onboarding/analytics-tools/connect-metabase.md#who-can-see-what) still apply.

Start with [Connect Metabase](https://docs.sourcemedium.com/docs/onboarding/analytics-tools/connect-metabase.md).

SourceMedium is not affiliated with or endorsed by Metabase, Inc. SourceMedium Dashboards runs the unmodified open-source edition of [Metabase](https://github.com/metabase/metabase) under its [license](https://github.com/metabase/metabase/blob/master/LICENSE.txt).


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