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Business Intelligence · head to head

Klipfolio vs Steampipe

Klipfolio logo

Klipfolio

Business Intelligence

Dashboard and reporting for teams

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit KlipfolioFull review
Steampipe logo

Steampipe

Developer Tools

Query cloud APIs, SaaS tools and code with SQL, with no extract or load step

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit SteampipeFull review

The short version

  • Klipfolio is a dashboard and reporting platform.
  • Free plans on both; paid from $19/mo and $49/mo.
  • Only Klipfolio lists pre-built Metrics; only Steampipe lists SQL over live APIs.
  • Where Klipfolio falls short: requires Formula knowledge for complex data transformations.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Klipfolio and Steampipe actually diverge.

Attributes where Klipfolio and Steampipe differ
AttributeKlipfolioSteampipe
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidmacOS, Linux, Windows, Self-hosted, Web
CategoryBusiness IntelligenceDeveloper Tools

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

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Klipfolio, founded for Steampipe.

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 Klipfolio

  • Pre-built Metrics
  • Real-time Data
  • Custom Visualizations
  • Data Modeling
  • TV Display
  • Google Analytics
  • HubSpot
  • Salesforce

Only in Steampipe

  • SQL over live APIs
  • Wide plugin set
  • Embedded Postgres
  • Compliance benchmarks
  • Joins across providers
  • Hosted option

What people use each for

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

Klipfolio

  • KPI monitoringnot Steampipe
  • Real-time dashboardsnot Steampipe
  • TV dashboardsnot Steampipe
  • Team metricsnot Steampipe
  • Client reportingnot Steampipe

Steampipe

  • Security teams answering posture questions against live cloud accounts rather than a nightly exportnot Klipfolio
  • Compliance evidence gathering where the answer must reflect the account at the moment it is askednot Klipfolio
  • Inventory and drift questions spanning several cloud providers in one querynot Klipfolio
  • Engineers who would rather write SQL than learn each provider command line toolnot Klipfolio

Where each one falls short

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

Klipfolio

  • Requires Formula knowledge for complex data transformations
  • Dashboard setup is time-consuming with each widget built individually
  • Performance slows with very large datasets or intricate dashboard complexity

Steampipe

  • AGPL-3.0 across all four engines is a procurement blocker at organisations that ban the licence outright, and the network clause reaches any internal portal or service that puts a web interface in front of it
  • Dashboards, benchmarks and mods were removed from Steampipe entirely at version 1.0 in October 2024 and now live in a separate product, so pre-2024 documentation and tutorials describe commands that no longer exist
  • Live querying is bound by cloud provider API rate limits and keeps no persistent store by default, which is why a separate DuckDB-backed product exists for log volumes and why large accounts return slowly
  • The company is fifteen people and bootstrapped, maintaining four command line tools plus a hosted service plus two further products, and the newer tools have thin community traction relative to that surface area
  • Hosted tiers include only three users regardless of tier, with additional Enterprise users charged separately, so a team of thirty costs an order of magnitude more than the headline figure before compute and storage are counted

Pricing, plan by plan

Klipfolio

Free
  • PowerMetrics FreeFree
    • 3 users
    • 250 metric instances
    • Limited data sources
  • Klips Starter$90/mo
    • 1-5 dashboards
    • Limited data sources
    • Basic customization
  • Klips Professional$350/mo
    • Unlimited dashboards
    • All data connectors
    • Advanced formulas

Steampipe

Free
  • Steampipe CLIFree
    • AGPL-3.0
    • All plugins
    • No user or query limits
  • Pipes DeveloperFree
    • One user
    • 400 compute minutes
    • 3GB storage
  • Pipes Team$49/mo
    • Three users
    • 2,000 compute minutes
    • 20GB storage
  • Pipes Enterprise$249/mo
    • Three users
    • 10,000 compute minutes
    • 100GB storage

Which should you pick?

Choose Klipfolio if

  • You need pre-built metrics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want real-time data.
Klipfolio review

Choose Steampipe if

  • You need sql over live apis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Linux, Windows, Self-hosted, Web.
  • You also want wide plugin set.
Steampipe review

Questions people ask

Is Klipfolio or Steampipe better?
Neither clearly leads. Klipfolio starts at Free and Steampipe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Klipfolio or Steampipe?
Klipfolio starts at Free and Steampipe at Free.
Does Klipfolio or Steampipe run on more platforms?
Klipfolio runs on Web, iOS, Android. Steampipe runs on macOS, Linux, Windows, Self-hosted, Web.
Can I use Klipfolio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Klipfolio best used for?
Klipfolio is most often used for kpi monitoring, real-time dashboards, tv dashboards, team metrics. Of those, kpi monitoring and real-time dashboards are not what Steampipe is typically brought in for.
What can Klipfolio do that Steampipe cannot?
Klipfolio covers Pre-built Metrics, Real-time Data, Custom Visualizations, Data Modeling. Steampipe covers SQL over live APIs, Wide plugin set, Embedded Postgres, Compliance benchmarks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Klipfolio: What is Klipfolio's pricing model?

Klipfolio offers two products: Klips (original dashboard builder) starting at $90/month, and PowerMetrics (metrics-focused) with a free plan for up to 3 users and 250 metrics. Both offer 14-day free trials.

Source
Steampipe: When did Steampipe become AGPL?

May 2021, about four months after the project went public. It is a settled licence rather than a recent change, and predates the Business Source Licence wave it is often confused with.

Klipfolio: How many data sources does Klipfolio support?

Klipfolio connects to over 140 data connectors including databases, APIs, spreadsheets, and SaaS applications for seamless data aggregation.

Source
Steampipe: Where did the dashboards and benchmarks go?

Into Powerpipe. They were deprecated in March 2024 and removed from Steampipe at version 1.0 in October 2024, so the check, dashboard, mod and variable commands are gone.

Klipfolio: Do I need technical skills to use Klipfolio?

Basic dashboard creation uses drag-and-drop interface, but advanced features require Excel-like formulas and some data transformation knowledge. Non-technical users often need developer help for complex visualizations.

Source
Steampipe: Is it fast on a large cloud estate?

Not always. Queries call provider APIs at request time, so rate limits rather than query planning set the pace, and there is no persistent store by default.

Klipfolio: Can Klipfolio replace Tableau?

Klipfolio works better for smaller teams and faster setup, while Tableau offers deeper analysis and visual sophistication. Klipfolio is more cost-effective; Tableau is more powerful for enterprise analytics.

Source
Steampipe: Does the AGPL affect internal use?

Running it internally for your own analysis is fine. Putting a web interface in front of it that other people use is where the network clause becomes a question for your legal team.

Klipfolio: Is there a free version of Klipfolio?

PowerMetrics has a free plan supporting 3 users and 250 metric instances. Klips (the dashboard builder) offers a 14-day free trial but no permanent free tier.

Source
Steampipe: Is a bootstrapped vendor a risk?

It cuts both ways. There is no investor pressure toward a licence change or an exit, and there are also fifteen people supporting a large product surface.

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