Evidence
Open-source BI framework that turns SQL queries and Markdown into polished data reports and dashboards - used by data teams replacing Looker.
Evidence is an open-source business intelligence framework that lets data analysts write SQL queries and Markdown in a code editor and publish the results as polished, interactive data reports. Instead of a drag-and-drop BI tool, Evidence uses a developer-friendly approach where SQL queries are embedded in Markdown files and the framework compiles them into static, fast-loading web pages with interactive charts and tables. The tool integrates with DuckDB, BigQuery, Snowflake, Postgres, and 20+ data sources. Evidence is widely used by data teams at startups that want version-controlled, code-based reporting without the cost and complexity of Looker or Tableau. Evidence Cloud offers a hosted deployment platform; the framework itself is MIT-licensed and free.
Key Features
- SQL-in-Markdown approach - embed queries directly in report files alongside narrative text
- Automatic chart and table rendering from query results with 20+ chart type options
- Version control friendly - reports are plain text files that work with Git and CI/CD pipelines
- Connectors for DuckDB, BigQuery, Snowflake, Postgres, MySQL, SQLite, and 20+ data sources
- Evidence Cloud for one-command deployment and automatic refresh on schedule
- Templated reports that parameterize queries for filtering by date, region, or product line
Use Cases
- Data analysts building internal dashboards that non-technical stakeholders can navigate without training
- Startups replacing expensive Looker or Tableau licenses with a free, code-based alternative
- Data engineering teams version-controlling reports alongside the dbt models they are built on
- Consultants delivering client-facing data reports as standalone web pages without BI tool access requirements
Pros
- Code-based approach enables version control, code review, and CI/CD for reports - impossible in most BI tools
- Outputs static web pages that load instantly - no slow BI dashboard query execution on every visit
- MIT-licensed and self-hostable - zero licensing cost regardless of query volume or user count
Cons
- Requires SQL proficiency - non-technical users cannot self-serve analysis without analyst support
- Evidence Cloud managed hosting starts at $500/month - expensive if Evidence itself is the only need
- No point-and-click chart editor - all customization requires editing Markdown and configuration files
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