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Business Intelligence · head to head

Chartio vs Helix

Chartio logo

Chartio

Business Intelligence

Cloud-based data exploration (discontinued)

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit ChartioFull review
Helix logo

Helix

Developer Tools

Post-modern modal text editor for the terminal, written in Rust

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit HelixFull review

The short version

  • Helix is an open-source, terminal-based modal text editor.
  • Both are free.
  • Only Chartio lists visual Query Builder; only Helix lists multiple Selections.
  • Where Chartio falls short: product was discontinued and sunset on March 1, 2022 after company acquisition by Atlassian.
  • Where Helix falls short: no official GUI application yet, so it requires comfort with terminal workflows.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chartio and Helix actually diverge.

Attributes where Chartio and Helix differ
AttributeChartioHelix
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebLinux, macOS, Windows
CategoryBusiness IntelligenceDeveloper Tools

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Chartio, founded for Helix.

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Chartio

  • Visual Query Builder
  • Interactive Dashboards
  • Data Blending
  • Collaboration
  • Embedding
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • Redshift

Only in Helix

  • Multiple Selections
  • Tree-sitter Syntax Trees
  • Built-in LSP Support
  • Fuzzy File Finder
  • Project-wide Search

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Chartio

  • Drag and drop chart building over SQL databasesnot Helix
  • Shared business dashboards for non-technical teamsnot Helix
  • Exploring warehouse data without writing SQLnot Helix

Helix

  • Editing code over SSH or in tmux sessionsnot Chartio
  • Working with syntax-aware selection and navigationnot Chartio
  • Getting IDE-like completion and diagnostics without plugin setupnot Chartio
  • Lightweight, low-resource code editing on laptopsnot Chartio

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Chartio

  • Product was discontinued and sunset on March 1, 2022 after company acquisition by Atlassian
  • No current pricing available as service no longer operates
  • Users were migrated to alternative Atlassian solutions

Helix

  • No official GUI application yet, so it requires comfort with terminal workflows
  • Plugin ecosystem is far smaller than Vim's or Neovim's, limiting customization
  • Keybindings differ from both Vim and Kakoune, adding a learning curve for users of either
  • Configuration is more limited than Neovim's Lua-based extensibility

Pricing, plan by plan

Chartio

On request
  • DiscontinuedFree
    • Service ended March 2022

Helix

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor, no paid tiers

Which should you pick?

Choose Chartio if

  • You need visual query builder.
  • You also want interactive dashboards.
Chartio review

Choose Helix if

  • You need multiple selections.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want tree-sitter syntax trees.
Helix review

Questions people ask

Is Chartio or Helix better?
Neither clearly leads. Chartio starts at On request and Helix at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chartio or Helix?
Helix has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Chartio and Free for Helix.
Does Chartio or Helix run on more platforms?
Chartio runs on Web. Helix runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Helix for free?
Yes. Helix has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Chartio starts at On request.
What is Chartio best used for?
Chartio is most often used for drag and drop chart building over sql databases, shared business dashboards for non-technical teams, exploring warehouse data without writing sql. Of those, drag and drop chart building over sql databases and shared business dashboards for non-technical teams are not what Helix is typically brought in for.
What can Chartio do that Helix cannot?
Chartio covers Visual Query Builder, Interactive Dashboards, Data Blending, Collaboration. Helix covers Multiple Selections, Tree-sitter Syntax Trees, Built-in LSP Support, Fuzzy File Finder.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Chartio: Is Chartio still available?

No, Chartio was discontinued on March 1, 2022. The product was acquired by Atlassian and the service was shut down. Users were offered migration to alternative solutions.

Source
Helix: Is Helix free to use?

Yes, Helix is free and open source, licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0), with no paid tiers or subscriptions.

Source
Chartio: What should I use instead of Chartio after its discontinuation?

Atlassian, which acquired Chartio, recommends users migrate to other data visualization and business intelligence tools within the Atlassian ecosystem or compatible alternatives.

Source
Helix: How do I install Helix?

Install via your operating system's package manager, or download pre-built binaries from GitHub Releases; the nightly version requires building from source.

Source
Chartio: Can I still access Chartio's pricing information?

No, historical pricing is not relevant as Chartio ceased operations in March 2022. Any archived pricing information would not reflect current market options.

Source
Helix: Does Helix support plugins?

Not yet. Helix currently has no plugin system, though the project intends to add one eventually; it instead ships with built-in LSP and tree-sitter support out of the box.

Source
Helix: How do I configure Helix?

Helix ships with sane modern defaults requiring much less config-file fiddling than Vim, though settings can still be customized in a config.toml file.

Source
Helix: Where can I get help or support?

Support is community-driven via GitHub for code and issues, the Matrix chat for discussion, and OpenCollective for funding ongoing development.

Source
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