Best Semantic Layer Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Starburst Enterprise Context Layer is ranked #1 of 28 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of dbt Semantic Layer and Kyvos. The best-ranked option with a free plan is dbt Semantic Layer. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Kyvos at $0.41/mo.
A semantic layer gives teams a way to define business metrics and concepts for analytics use. Compared on certified models, governed metrics, dimensions and joins, and row-level security, these entries offer criteria for examining definitions and access. Deployment model and query API may help you assess fit with your data environment; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. Starburst Enterprise Context Layer, dbt Semantic Layer and Kyvos are among the software shown. Consider which capabilities matter for keeping metrics consistent and making them usable across the queries and reporting workflows your team relies on.
28 semantic layer software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
28ranked
7free plans on this page
$0.41/molowest paid tier
5 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Semantic Layer Software 25 channels on this page · 111 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromGoverned metricsDimensions and joinsRow-level securityCertified modelsQuery APIDeployment model Spec sheet Score
01 Starburst Enterprise Context Layer Free planYesPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelhybrid 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
02 dbt Semantic Layer Free planYesPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securitynot statedCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelcloud 5/8spec lines stated 7.1
03 Kyvos Free planNoPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelhybrid 6/8spec lines stated 7.1
04 Sema Free planYesPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelhybrid 6/8spec lines stated 7.1
05 Cube Free planYesPaid from$40/moGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelhybrid 7/8spec lines stated 7.0
06 Rill Metrics SQL Free planNoPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelhybrid 6/8spec lines stated 7.0
07 Strata Free planYesPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelhybrid 6/8spec lines stated 6.8
08 Definite Free planYesPaid from$250/moGoverned metricsnot statedDimensions and joinsnot statedRow-level securitynot statedCertified modelsnot statedQuery APInot statedDeployment modelnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.7
09 Kyligence Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelhybrid 5/8spec lines stated 6.6
10 Quaeris Semantic Layer Free planNoPaid from$1,000/moGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securityYesCertified modelsYesQuery APIYesDeployment modelhybrid 8/8spec lines stated 6.6
11 Honeydew Free planNoPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelhybrid 6/8spec lines stated 6.5
12 MetricFlow Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsnot statedDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securitynot statedCertified modelsnot statedQuery APInot statedDeployment modelself hosted 2/8spec lines stated 6.5
13 Tableau Free planYesPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsnot statedDimensions and joinsnot statedRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APInot statedDeployment modelnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.5
14 AtScale Free planYesPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelhybrid 6/8spec lines stated 6.2
15 Metriql Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securitynot statedCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelself hosted 4/8spec lines stated 6.2
16 Sidemantic Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securitynot statedCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelself hosted 4/8spec lines stated 6.2
17 Holistics Free planNoPaid from$800/moGoverned metricsnot statedDimensions and joinsnot statedRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APInot statedDeployment modelnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.1
18 Malloy Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securitynot statedCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelself hosted 4/8spec lines stated 6.1
19 CData Semantic Layer Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsnot statedRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APInot statedDeployment modelnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.0
20 GoodData Free planNoPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelhybrid 6/8spec lines stated 6.0
21 Looker Free planNoPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsnot statedDimensions and joinsnot statedRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APInot statedDeployment modelnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.0
22 Omni Analytics Free planNoPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsnot statedDimensions and joinsnot statedRow-level securityYesCertified modelsnot statedQuery APInot statedDeployment modelnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 5.8
23 Axiome Semantic Layer Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securitynot statedCertified modelsnot statedQuery APInot statedDeployment modelcloud 3/8spec lines stated 5.6
24 Synmetrix Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securitynot statedCertified modelsnot statedQuery APIYesDeployment modelself hosted 4/8spec lines stated 5.6
25 Synopsis Semantic Layer Free planNoPaid fromnot statedGoverned metricsYesDimensions and joinsYesRow-level securitynot statedCertified modelsnot statedQuery APInot statedDeployment modelcloud 4/8spec lines stated 5.6
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Governed metrics | Dimensions and joins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starburst Enterprise Context Layer | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | dbt Semantic Layer | 7.1 | Free plan | $100/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Kyvos | 7.1 | No | $0.41/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Sema | 7.1 | Free plan | $49/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | Cube | 7.0 | Free plan | $40/mo | Yes | 40 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Rill Metrics SQL | 7.0 | No | $20/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Strata | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Definite | 6.7 | Free plan | $250/mo | Yes | 250 /mo | — | — |
| 9 | Kyligence | 6.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | Quaeris Semantic Layer | 6.6 | No | $1,000/mo | No | 1,000 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | Honeydew | 6.5 | No | $20/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | MetricFlow | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | — | — | — | Yes |
| 13 | Tableau | 6.5 | No | $15/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | AtScale | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | Metriql | 6.2 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | Sidemantic | 6.2 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | Holistics | 6.1 | No | $960/mo | No | 800 /mo | — | — |
| 18 | Malloy | 6.1 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | CData Semantic Layer | 6.0 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 20 | GoodData | 6.0 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | Looker | 6.0 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 22 | Omni Analytics | 5.8 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 23 | Axiome Semantic Layer | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 24 | Synmetrix | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 25 | Synopsis Semantic Layer | 5.6 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which semantic layer software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Starburst Enterprise Context Layer is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 7.2. dbt Semantic Layer is second and Kyvos third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Kyvos has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.41/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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