Best Metadata Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Alation Data Intelligence Platform is ranked #1 of 13 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of DataHub and Collibra. The best-ranked option with a free plan is DataHub. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Aristotle Metadata Registry at $3/mo.
Metadata management software helps teams organize and understand information about data assets. Compared on metadata discovery, lineage analysis, and listed connectors, these options can also be assessed for business glossary features, API availability, and deployment options. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing offer additional points to weigh. Alation Data Intelligence Platform, DataHub, and Collibra are among the named entries, with MetaKarta, Atlan Lakehouse, OpenMetadata, Aurelius Atlas, and Dawiso also shown. Match the listed capabilities to how you need to discover and trace metadata, then check connector coverage and deployment details against your environment.
13 metadata management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Alation Data Intelligence Platform No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6 Metadata discovery: YesBusiness glossary: YesLineage analysis: Yes
- 2 DataHub No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4Free Metadata discovery: YesBusiness glossary: YesLineage analysis: Yes
- 3 Collibra No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3
- 4 MetaKarta No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$4.17/mo Metadata discovery: YesBusiness glossary: YesLineage analysis: Yes
- 5 Atlan Lakehouse No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3
- 6 OpenMetadata No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2
- 7 Aurelius Atlas No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Metadata discovery: YesBusiness glossary: YesLineage analysis: Yes
- 8 Dawiso No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.0€445/mo Metadata discovery: YesBusiness glossary: YesLineage analysis: Yes
- 9 Alex Solutions No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9
- 10 Progress Semaphore No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7
- 11 Aristotle Metadata Registry No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7$3/mo Business glossary: YesLineage analysis: Yes
- 12 Apache Atlas No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5
- 13 SemanticWorx Affirma No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Metadata discovery: YesBusiness glossary: YesLineage analysis: Yes
Compare all 13 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Metadata discovery | Business glossary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alation Data Intelligence Platform | 7.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | DataHub | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Collibra | 7.3 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | MetaKarta | 6.4 | No | $4.17/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | Atlan Lakehouse | 6.3 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | OpenMetadata | 6.2 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Aurelius Atlas | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Dawiso | 6.0 | No | €445/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Alex Solutions | 5.9 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 10 | Progress Semaphore | 5.7 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 11 | Aristotle Metadata Registry | 5.7 | No | $3/mo | No | — | — | Yes |
| 12 | Apache Atlas | 5.5 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | SemanticWorx Affirma | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which metadata management software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Alation Data Intelligence Platform is ranked #1 of 13 with a score of 7.6. DataHub is second and Collibra third.
How many of these have a free plan?
2 of the 13 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Aristotle Metadata Registry has the lowest first paid tier we found: $3/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.