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OpenMetadata

open-metadata.org

Free plan WebAPISelf-hosted
Visit open-metadata.org
Spec score 7.3 #7 of 14 in Machine Learning Data Catalog Software

What it is

OpenMetadata is an open-source platform for cataloging and governing data, bringing technical context, business meaning and organizational memory into a knowledge graph. Its capabilities include discovery, data quality, observability, lineage, semantics and memory. The graph connects schemas, tables, columns, dashboards, pipelines, ML models, owners and classifications. Glossary terms, metric definitions and relationships using RDF, OWL, DCAT and Schema.org help represent shared business meaning. For AI workflows, OpenMetadata provides an MCP server, an AI SDK and a Context Center for articles, documents and memories. Its ingestion framework has connectors for 130+ data services, including Airflow, BigQuery, Databricks, dbt, Kafka, MySQL, Snowflake and Tableau. The schema-first architecture includes 700+ open specifications in JSON Schema and RDF/JSON-LD. It can be deployed in an organization's own environment, explored in a live sandbox with demo data, or used through a free cloud service with the organization's data. The self-hosted plan is listed at free, with no usage limits stated. Security documentation describes stored-secret encryption, SSL/TLS connections and external secrets manager support.

Spec sheet

Purpose
OpenMetadata unifies technical context, business semantics, and organizational memory in a knowledge graph for people and AI agents.Read 7 Oct 2026 · open-metadata.org
Deployment
Users can deploy OpenMetadata in their own environment, try a live sandbox with demo data, or sign up for a free cloud service with their own data.Read 7 Oct 2026 · open-metadata.org
Integrations
Its ingestion framework supports connectors for 130+ data services, including Airflow, BigQuery, Databricks, dbt, Kafka, MySQL, Snowflake, and Tableau.Read 7 Oct 2026 · open-metadata.org
Security
The documentation describes Fernet encryption for stored passwords and connection secrets, SSL/TLS connections, and external secrets manager support.Read 7 Oct 2026 · docs.open-metadata.org
AI features
OpenMetadata offers a native MCP server, an AI SDK, and a Context Center for articles, documents, and memories.Read 7 Oct 2026 · open-metadata.org
Authentication
The deployment security guide lists Google, Okta, custom OIDC, Auth0, Azure, Amazon Cognito, and OneLogin identity providers, and says simultaneous use of multiple authentication mechanisms is unsupported.Read 7 Oct 2026 · docs.open-metadata.org
Business meaning
Glossary terms, metric definitions, and relationships using RDF, OWL, DCAT, and Schema.org provide shared business meaning.Read 7 Oct 2026 · open-metadata.org
Catalog and governance
The platform includes data cataloging, discovery, governance, data quality, observability, lineage, semantics, and memory.Read 7 Oct 2026 · open-metadata.org
Community
The site lists 14,000+ open-source members and 450+ code contributors.Read 7 Oct 2026 · open-metadata.org
Extensibility
The schema-first architecture includes 700+ open specifications in JSON Schema and RDF/JSON-LD.Read 7 Oct 2026 · open-metadata.org
Knowledge graph
Its graph captures schemas, tables, columns, dashboards, pipelines, ML models, owners, lineage, and classifications.Read 7 Oct 2026 · open-metadata.org
System architecture
The product site describes a streamlined architecture with four system components, designed for technical and non-technical users.Read 7 Oct 2026 · open-metadata.org

Plans and prices

OpenMetadata (self-hosted) Free Deploy in your own environment · no usage limits stated on the page Read 7 Oct 2026 · open-metadata.org

Every OpenMetadata plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Self-hosted plan is free.
  • Connectors support 130+ data services.
  • Graph connects data assets, owners and lineage.
  • Deployment can be self-hosted or cloud.

Limits

  • Simultaneous use of multiple authentication mechanisms is unsupported.
  • No usage limits are stated for the self-hosted plan.

Who it suits

It suits teams that want a data catalog and governance platform with lineage, shared business definitions and AI-oriented context tools. Organizations can choose self-hosting, a demo sandbox or a free cloud service.

Verdict

OpenMetadata combines cataloging, governance and lineage with business semantics and AI-oriented context. Its broad deployment choices and connector framework are useful to assess alongside the authentication constraint.

Where Specifiction places it

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