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Business Intelligence · head to head

Fabi vs IBM Db2

Fabi logo

Fabi

Business Intelligence

AI notebooks combining SQL, Python and no-code for small data teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IBM Db2 logo

IBM Db2

Databases

The AI-powered database built for demanding enterprise workloads

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Fabi fabi is an early-stage company with a small team, so the durability risk is real and there is no obvious migration path for Smartbooks if it stops trading.; IBM Db2 cloud-based Db2 is newer than mainframe version; some legacy mainframe features not yet available in cloud
  • They diverge on capability: Fabi covers Smartbooks, IBM Db2 covers AI-powered Query Optimization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fabi and IBM Db2 actually diverge.

Attributes where Fabi and IBM Db2 differ
AttributeFabiIBM Db2
Pricing modelPer user per monthUnknown
PlatformsWebIBM Cloud, On-premises (mainframe), Linux, UNIX
CategoryBusiness IntelligenceDatabases
FoundedUnknown1983

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Fabi

  • Smartbooks
  • Smart Reports
  • AI analysis
  • Scheduled runs
  • Database connectors
  • Viewer seats

Only in IBM Db2

  • AI-powered Query Optimization
  • Data Virtualization
  • Advanced Compression
  • pureScale Clustering
  • BLU Acceleration
  • Workload Management
  • Federated Queries
  • IBM Cloud

What people use each for

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

Fabi

  • A single analyst at a startup fielding ad hoc questions faster than dashboards can be built for themnot IBM Db2
  • An operations team that needs Python for a one-off analysis but has to hand the result to non-technical colleaguesnot IBM Db2
  • Replacing a set of scheduled Jupyter notebooks that nobody outside the data team can read or rerunnot IBM Db2
  • Exploratory work against a warehouse where building a semantic model first would cost more than the answer is worthnot IBM Db2

IBM Db2

  • Transaction processingnot Fabi
  • Data storagenot Fabi
  • Application backendnot Fabi
  • Reportingnot Fabi
  • Data analyticsnot Fabi

Where each one falls short

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

Fabi

  • Fabi is an early-stage company with a small team, so the durability risk is real and there is no obvious migration path for Smartbooks if it stops trading.
  • There is no meaningful governance layer: no data catalogue, no certified metric definitions and limited lineage, so it does not scale to an organisation that needs a single agreed number.
  • The free and Builder tiers cap AI requests, and the daily cap on Starter is reached quickly during genuine exploratory work.
  • Connector counts are limited by tier, so the Builder plan at 39 dollars connects to exactly one data source, which is rarely enough in practice.
  • It overlaps heavily with what Snowflake, Databricks and Hex now ship natively, so a company already paying for one of those is buying a fourth notebook interface.

IBM Db2

  • Cloud-based Db2 is newer than mainframe version; some legacy mainframe features not yet available in cloud
  • Pricing complexity with hourly billing for compute and storage can result in unpredictable costs
  • Less community support and documentation compared to open-source alternatives like PostgreSQL
  • Requires IBM expertise and tools for optimal configuration and tuning
  • Migration from mainframe Db2 to cloud Db2 requires careful planning and testing

Pricing, plan by plan

Fabi

Free
  • StarterFree
    • One builder seat
    • Ten dashboard viewers
    • Five Smartbooks
  • Builder$39/month
    • Twenty-five Smart Report viewers
    • Ten Smartbooks with workflows
    • One data connector
  • Team$199/month
    • Four builder seats, extra seats at 39 USD
    • Fifty viewers
    • Premium connector
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Unlimited builder seats
    • Full connector access
    • Custom security review

IBM Db2

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • Entry-level exploration
    • Limited resources
  • Standard$99/month
    • Production-ready workloads
    • Shared computing resources
  • Enterprise$969/month
    • Dedicated computing resources
    • Enhanced capabilities

Which should you pick?

Choose Fabi if

  • You need smartbooks.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want smart reports.
Fabi review

Choose IBM Db2 if

  • You need ai-powered query optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on IBM Cloud, On-premises (mainframe), Linux, UNIX.
  • You also want data virtualization.
IBM Db2 review

Questions people ask

Is Fabi or IBM Db2 better?
Neither clearly leads. Fabi starts at Free and IBM Db2 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fabi or IBM Db2?
Fabi starts at Free and IBM Db2 at Free.
Does Fabi or IBM Db2 run on more platforms?
Fabi runs on Web. IBM Db2 runs on IBM Cloud, On-premises (mainframe), Linux, UNIX.
Can I use Fabi for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Fabi best used for?
Fabi is most often used for a single analyst at a startup fielding ad hoc questions faster than dashboards can be built for them, an operations team that needs python for a one-off analysis but has to hand the result to non-technical colleagues, replacing a set of scheduled jupyter notebooks that nobody outside the data team can read or rerun, exploratory work against a warehouse where building a semantic model first would cost more than the answer is worth. Of those, a single analyst at a startup fielding ad hoc questions faster than dashboards can be built for them and an operations team that needs python for a one-off analysis but has to hand the result to non-technical colleagues are not what IBM Db2 is typically brought in for.
What can Fabi do that IBM Db2 cannot?
Fabi covers Smartbooks, Smart Reports, AI analysis, Scheduled runs. IBM Db2 covers AI-powered Query Optimization, Data Virtualization, Advanced Compression, pureScale Clustering.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fabi: Is there a free plan?

Yes, a Starter tier with one builder, ten viewers, five Smartbooks and ten AI requests a day.

IBM Db2: What is IBM Db2?

IBM Db2 is a cloud-based relational database management system designed for enterprise data management. It evolved from IBM's research into relational databases in the 1970s and launched for mainframe systems in 1983.

Source
Fabi: Do viewers cost money?

Viewers are bundled by tier rather than charged individually; builders are the priced seat.

IBM Db2: What are the pricing tiers for IBM Db2 cloud database?

IBM Db2 offers a perpetually free tier for exploration, Standard tier starting at $99/month (billed hourly), and Enterprise tier starting at $969/month (billed hourly). Storage costs $0.000282 per GB per hour across tiers.

Source
Fabi: Can I run arbitrary Python?

Yes, Smartbooks include Python cells alongside SQL and no-code steps.

IBM Db2: Does Db2 support automatic failover and disaster recovery?

Yes. Db2 includes HADR (High Availability Disaster Recovery) with multizone region support, point-in-time recovery, built-in self-service snapshots, and geo-replicated data recovery backups.

Source
Fabi: How many data connectors does the entry paid plan include?

One. Additional and premium connectors come with the Team tier.

IBM Db2: Can Db2 scale horizontally?

Yes. Db2 supports both vertical and horizontal scaling through its pureScale architecture, allowing it to handle growing data volumes while maintaining performance for mission-critical applications.

Source
IBM Db2: How long has DB2 been in production?

DB2 launched in June 1983 on the MVS operating system and has operated for over 40 years. It remains the foundational database for the largest enterprises globally, managing data for financial, retail, healthcare, and insurance institutions.

Source
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