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github.com
What it is
MetricFlow is a free, open-source tool from dbt Labs for defining metric logic and generating SQL across data dimensions. Metrics and semantic models are written in YAML within a dbt project, using simple, conversion, cumulative, derived and ratio types. Entity types and parameters construct joins while avoiding fan-out and chasm joins. MetricFlow works with dbt 1.6 and higher and lists Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks and Redshift, plus Postgres for dbt v1 only. A working dbt project and adapter are required. It is distributed under Apache 2.0 and installs from PyPI with `pip install dbt-metricflow`. The tool does not currently support dbt built-in functions or packages. Custom integrations can use JDBC, ADBC, GraphQL or the Python SDK. The dbt Semantic Layer, powered by MetricFlow, lists integrations including Power BI, Tableau, Google Sheets, Excel, Omni, Hex, Mode and Sigma. MetricFlow is self-hosted and costs nothing; hosted Semantic Layer Starter access is listed at $100 per user/month.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- MetricFlow is a semantic layer that defines metrics and compiles requests into reusable, warehouse-specific SQL.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Purpose
- MetricFlow defines and manages metric logic and generates SQL for querying metrics across data dimensions.Read 4 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- API
- The hosted Semantic Layer exposes GraphQL and JDBC interfaces for metric queries.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Integrations
- Official documentation lists downstream integrations including Tableau, Hex, Dot, Mode, and Google Sheets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Security
- dbt Labs reports ISO certifications, a SOC 2 Type II examination, and GDPR compliance for dbt.Read 4 Oct 2026 · getdbt.com
- Headquarters
- Oakland, California, USARead 28 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Founded
- 2016Read 28 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Maker
- MetricFlow is developed and maintained by dbt Labs.Read 4 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- AI integration
- Claude and ChatGPT can connect through the dbt MCP server to query governed metrics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- APIs
- Custom integrations can use JDBC, ADBC, GraphQL, and the Python SDK library.Read 4 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- CLI capabilities
- Commands can list metrics, dimensions, dimension values, entities, and saved queries, query metrics, validate configurations, and run exports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Configuration
- Metrics and semantic models are authored in YAML, with Ossie documents supported as an alternative from dbt 1.12.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- dbt compatibility
- MetricFlow is compatible with dbt version 1.6 and higher.Read 4 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Definitions
- Metrics and semantic models can be defined in YAML files in a dbt project.Read 4 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Documentation depth
- The developer documentation includes guides for joins, time spines, validations, semantic models, metrics, saved queries, advanced modeling, deployment, caching, exports, integrations, and APIs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Hosted access
- The dbt Semantic Layer is listed for dbt Starter, Enterprise, and Enterprise+ plans; the pricing page lists Starter at $100 per user/month.Read 4 Oct 2026 · getdbt.com
- Hosted execution
- On dbt Platform, MetricFlow commands run remotely through dbt sl and platform-managed versions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Installation
- Self-hosted installation uses pip with the dbt-metricflow package and optional adapter extras.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Joins
- MetricFlow uses entity types and parameters to construct joins and avoid fan-out and chasm joins.Read 4 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Licence
- MetricFlow versions 0.209.0 and newer use Apache 2.0; earlier releases used AGPL or BSL licensing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- License and installation
- MetricFlow is distributed under Apache 2.0 and can be installed from PyPI with `pip install dbt-metricflow`.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Limit: hosted dependency
- The independent review states that the managed semantic service and API require dbt Cloud; dbt Core can define metrics locally but lacks the hosted registry and API.Read 15 Oct 2026 · analyticsengineering.com
- Limit: modeling effort
- The independent review says teams must ensure correct keys and grains and that upfront semantic modeling is a tradeoff.Read 15 Oct 2026 · analyticsengineering.com
- Limit: performance
- The independent review warns that large windowed calculations can be expensive and still require warehouse partitioning, rollups, or pre-aggregation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · analyticsengineering.com
- Maker founded
- Crunchbase says dbt Labs was founded in 2016.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Maker headquarters
- Crunchbase lists Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as dbt Labs' headquarters.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Maker legal name
- Crunchbase lists the maker's legal name as dbt Labs, Inc.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Maker size
- Crunchbase lists dbt Labs in the 1,001–5,000 employee range.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Metric types
- Supported metric types include simple, conversion, cumulative, derived, and ratio metrics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Missing feature
- MetricFlow documentation says dbt built-in functions and packages are not supported yet, although support is planned.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Multi-hop joins
- MetricFlow supports joins across multiple fact and dimension sources.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Notable limitation
- MetricFlow does not currently support dbt built-in functions or packages.Read 4 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Notable news
- Transform, MetricFlow's original creator, was acquired by dbt Labs in February 2023.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Open-source announcement
- dbt Labs announced the Apache 2.0 open-source release at Coalesce 2025, in a post last edited December 18, 2025.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getdbt.com
- Ownership
- Crunchbase identifies dbt Labs as acquired by Fivetran and a sub-organization of Fivetran.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Praise: consistency
- An independent technical review praises centralized definitions for producing consistent answers across BI, notebooks, and AI consumers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · analyticsengineering.com
- Praise: governance
- The same review highlights warehouse-enforced permissions and centralized metric governance as core strengths.Read 15 Oct 2026 · analyticsengineering.com
- Python compatibility
- The command documentation lists Python 3.8 through 3.12 as compatible versions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Query planning
- The engine builds a dataflow query plan, optimizes it, and renders SQL for supported warehouse dialects.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Release news
- The changelog records MetricFlow 0.213.0 on September 10, 2026 with Vertica support and datatype preservation for semantic interfaces.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Requirements
- Using MetricFlow requires a working dbt project and a dbt adapter.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Self-hosting
- MetricFlow can run locally with self-hosted dbt using the mf command prefix.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Semantic graph
- Semantic models define entities, dimensions, and measures that form a graph used to navigate metric relationships.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Supported data platforms
- The documentation lists Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks, Postgres for dbt v1 only, and Redshift.Read 4 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Tableau limit
- The Tableau connector does not support extracts, custom SQL, cross-database joins, or several Tableau calculated-field functions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
- Time aggregation
- Metrics can be aggregated at different time granularities and grouped by time dimensions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Warehouse support
- Official documentation lists Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks, Postgres for dbt v1, and Redshift as supported engines.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.getdbt.com
Plans and prices
Developer Free 1 developer seat · 1 project · 3,000 successful models/month Read 15 Oct 2026 · getdbt.com
MetricFlow Free Apache 2.0 licensed · requires a working dbt project and dbt adapter Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Starter $100 a month per user/month 5 developer seats · 1 project · 15,000 successful models/month · 5,000 queried metrics/month Read 15 Oct 2026 · getdbt.com
Enterprise Priced on request Custom seats · 30 projects · 100,000 successful models/month · 20,000 queried metrics/month Read 15 Oct 2026 · getdbt.com
Enterprise+ Priced on request Custom seats and projects · 100,000 successful models/month · 20,000 queried metrics/month Read 15 Oct 2026 · getdbt.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free Apache 2.0 open-source tool
- YAML metric and semantic-model definitions
- Supports multiple metric types
- Join logic addresses fan-out and chasm joins
- Self-hosted deployment
Limits
- Requires a working dbt project and adapter
- No dbt built-in functions or packages
- Postgres support is limited to dbt v1
Who it suits
MetricFlow suits dbt teams that want centrally defined metrics and generated SQL across supported warehouses. It requires a working dbt project and adapter, and can serve custom integrations through several APIs.
Verdict
MetricFlow provides a structured semantic layer for dbt projects, with explicit metric types and warehouse support. Teams should account for its dbt prerequisites and current function and package limitation.
Where Specifiction places it
- Semantic Layer Software#3 of 289.1
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