Data catalogs & discovery · Linux Foundation AI & Data (commercial: Acryl Data)

DataHub

Open-source metadata platform for search, lineage and governance, with a managed DataHub Cloud offered by Acryl Data.

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DataHub is an open-source metadata platform, originally built at LinkedIn and now hosted under the Linux Foundation AI & Data, that indexes tables, dashboards, pipelines and models for search, ownership tracking and column-level lineage. It is built on a real-time metadata graph with a GraphQL and REST API, so metadata can be pushed from ingestion connectors or pulled by other tools. Teams can self-host the full stack for free under its Apache-2.0 license, running their own Kafka, Elasticsearch and metadata service. Acryl Data, the company founded by DataHub's original authors, sells DataHub Cloud (formerly Acryl Cloud), a managed version that adds auto-classification, data quality agents and an AI/MCP layer for agentic tools, sold through a custom quote rather than published pricing.

At a glance

Vendor Linux Foundation AI & Data (commercial: Acryl Data)
Pricing model Open source + paid options
Free tier Yes
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted
Open source Yes (Apache-2.0)
Best for Engineering teams wanting a self-hosted, extensible open-source metadata platform.

Pricing

Core platform is free to self-host; DataHub Cloud (managed, by Acryl Data) is sold via custom quote with no public pricing page.

Pricing has not been verified yet — see the vendor's site.

Features

  • Metadata search and discovery
  • Column and table-level lineage
  • Business glossary and classification
  • Ownership and access tracking
  • Data quality integration
  • Slack and webhook alerting
  • GraphQL and REST APIs
  • AI/MCP layer for agent tools (Cloud)

Integrations

Profile last reviewed September 21, 2026

Head to head

Alternatives

OpenMetadata Open-source unified metadata platform covering catalog, lineage, data quality and observability in one schema. Atlan API-first, AI-assisted metadata catalog with automated lineage and Slack-style collaboration for data teams. Amundsen Open-source, search-first data discovery catalog originally built at Lyft; development has slowed significantly since 2024.

DataHub in the index now

Terms to know

Data catalog A searchable inventory of an organization's data assets, with descriptions, ownership and usage attached. Data lineage A traceable record of where data came from, how it was transformed, and where it is used downstream. Data governance The policies, roles and processes that determine how data is defined, owned, accessed and kept compliant. Business glossary A controlled list of business terms and their agreed definitions, kept separate from the technical fields that implement them. Data quality The degree to which data is accurate, complete, consistent and fit for the purpose it is being used for. Player tracking data High-frequency positional data recording where players and the ball move throughout play, not just discrete events.

Related guides

How to choose a data catalog Pick a data catalog by who has to document it, how lineage gets built, and whether your organization needs governed workflow or fast, automated discovery.