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Databases · head to head

dbt vs Helm

dbt logo

dbt

Databases

SQL transformation framework enabling analytics engineers to version, test and deploy models

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit dbtFull review
H

Helm

Developer Tools

The package manager for Kubernetes

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit HelmFull review

The short version

  • dbt is a transformation framework; Helm is a Kubernetes package manager, licensed Apache 2.
  • Helm is free; dbt starts at $100/user/mo.
  • Where dbt falls short: free tier severely limited: 3,000 models/month cap and single project maximum restricts team and production use.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which dbt and Helm actually diverge.

Attributes where dbt and Helm differ
AttributedbtHelm
Pricing modelSubscription|freeOpen-source
PlatformsWeb, Self-hosted, IDE integration (VS Code, Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf)Web
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

What people use each for

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

dbt

  • Data warehouse transformation and ELT pipelinesnot Helm
  • Analytics engineering for reporting and business intelligencenot Helm
  • Data quality testing and validation at scalenot Helm
  • Cross-functional data collaboration with version controlnot Helm
  • Cost optimisation of warehouse usage through intelligent schedulingnot Helm

Helm

  • Kubernetes package manager and deployment toolnot dbt

Where each one falls short

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

dbt

  • Free tier severely limited: 3,000 models/month cap and single project maximum restricts team and production use
  • Starter at $1,200/year per seat: minimum 5-seat team costs $6,000/year baseline; no single-seat or 2-seat paid option
  • Enterprise pricing opaque: 'custom pricing' with no budget range for startups vs. enterprises; requires sales consultation
  • Model volume metering unclear: 'successful models/month' as a limit is ambiguous; unclear if this counts transformation runs, test runs, or deployment attempts

Helm

  • Contributors must sign commits under the Developer Certificate of Origin to have them accepted, per helm.sh, a process requirement not all Kubernetes tools impose

Pricing, plan by plan

dbt

Free
  • DeveloperFree
    • Browser-based IDE
    • MFA
    • job scheduling
  • Starter$100/user/mo
    • dbt Wizard
    • basic Catalog
    • Semantic Layer
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • Advanced Catalog
    • Semantic Layer
    • dbt Copilot
  • Enterprise+On request
    • All Enterprise features
    • PrivateLink
    • IP restrictions

Helm

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Helm review.

Which should you pick?

Choose dbt if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted, IDE integration (VS Code, Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf).
dbt review

Choose Helm if

  • You want to start without paying.
Helm review

Questions people ask

Is dbt or Helm better?
Neither clearly leads. dbt starts at Free and Helm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, dbt or Helm?
dbt starts at Free and Helm at Free.
Does dbt or Helm run on more platforms?
dbt runs on Web, Self-hosted, IDE integration (VS Code, Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf). Helm runs on Web.
Can I use dbt for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is dbt best used for?
dbt is most often used for data warehouse transformation and elt pipelines, analytics engineering for reporting and business intelligence, data quality testing and validation at scale, cross-functional data collaboration with version control. Of those, data warehouse transformation and elt pipelines and analytics engineering for reporting and business intelligence are not what Helm is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

dbt: How much does dbt cost?

dbt Developer is free. dbt Starter is $100/seat/month with a 5-seat minimum (or custom annual billing). Enterprise and Enterprise+ have custom pricing and require contacting sales.

Source
Helm: How much does Helm cost?

Helm is free and open-source. It is a graduated project in the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) with no commercial pricing model.

Source
dbt: What is included in the free Developer plan?

The Developer plan is free and includes 1 developer seat, 3,000 successful models/month limit, 1 project, browser-based IDE, MFA, and job scheduling.

Source
dbt: What is the model limit on each plan?

Developer tier allows 3,000 successful models/month. Starter allows 15,000/month. Enterprise and Enterprise+ allow 100,000/month.

Source
dbt: Can I upgrade or downgrade my dbt plan?

Yes. dbt allows you to 'upgrade or downgrade at any time.' Starter plans bill monthly by credit card based on seat count; Enterprise plans are annual invoicing.

Source
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