← Back to home
Comparison · Analytics

Apache Superset vs iris

A side-by-side editorial comparison of Apache Superset and iris — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Apache Superset vs iris: at a glance

FeatureApache Supersetiris
SectorAnalyticsAnalytics
Velocity score5.02.5
Sparks · 30d00
Top themeshelm-chart, packaging, deployment, open-source-biearth science, release cadence, python, release candidates
Last editorial update1d ago1h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is Apache Superset?

Superset's feed tracks Helm chart tags, so the BI product itself stays invisible here.

Every entry in this feed is a Helm chart tag from the apache/superset repository, carrying no notes beyond a one-line project blurb. The chart has moved from 0.19.0 to 0.22.5 in about six weeks, a packaging cadence rather than an application one. Nothing here describes a change to Superset's dashboards, SQL Lab, or semantic layer.

Read the full Apache Superset trajectory →

What is iris?

Iris ships steadily on a two-a-year cadence, but its feed publishes only pointers.

Iris tags a release candidate roughly every four to five months — 3.13 through 3.16 over the past year — and the cadence is the only thing the feed actually reports. Every entry is the same seven-line template: a line saying this is a release candidate, conda-forge and PyPI install commands, and a link to a 'What's New' page held elsewhere. No release notes reach the feed at all.

Read the full iris trajectory →

Apache Superset vs iris: editorial side-by-side

Apache Superset logo5.0

Superset's feed tracks Helm chart tags, so the BI product itself stays invisible here.

◆ Current state

Every entry in this feed is a Helm chart tag from the apache/superset repository, carrying no notes beyond a one-line project blurb. The chart has moved from 0.19.0 to 0.22.5 in about six weeks, a packaging cadence rather than an application one. Nothing here describes a change to Superset's dashboards, SQL Lab, or semantic layer.

◆ Where it's heading

The chart is being cut on a fast, small-increment schedule — five patches inside 0.22.x in under three weeks. That pattern usually reflects deployment plumbing being tuned against a moving upstream image rather than any single problem being chased. Until the crawl points at the release notes for Superset itself, this feed will keep reporting packaging motion and nothing about the product.

◆ Prediction

Expect continued 0.22.x patch tags at a similar pace, with a 0.23.0 chart bump likely when the next Superset application release lands. The entries themselves will stay note-free unless the project starts populating chart release bodies.

I
iris
ANALYTICS
2.5

Iris ships steadily on a two-a-year cadence, but its feed publishes only pointers.

◆ Current state

Iris tags a release candidate roughly every four to five months — 3.13 through 3.16 over the past year — and the cadence is the only thing the feed actually reports. Every entry is the same seven-line template: a line saying this is a release candidate, conda-forge and PyPI install commands, and a link to a 'What's New' page held elsewhere. No release notes reach the feed at all.

◆ Where it's heading

The version numbers say a mature Met Office library is being maintained on a predictable schedule; nothing in the published entries says what is being maintained. Until the project puts release content in the tag body, its public trail will read as cadence without substance, and readers have to leave the feed to learn anything. The pattern has been identical across four consecutive releases, so it is a deliberate publishing choice rather than an oversight.

◆ Prediction

Expect v3.17.0rc0 around late 2026 on the same schedule, carrying the same boilerplate — the notes will again live on the documentation site rather than in the release entry.

Alternatives to Apache Superset and iris

Other Analytics products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Apache Superset or iris.

See all Apache Superset alternatives → · See all iris alternatives →

Recent activity from Apache Superset and iris

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 2d agoApache Supersetsuperset-helm-chart-0.22.5
  2. 13d agoirisv3.16.0rc0
  3. 15d agoApache Supersetsuperset-helm-chart-0.22.4
  4. 18d agoApache Supersetsuperset-helm-chart-0.22.3
  5. 20d agoApache Supersetsuperset-helm-chart-0.22.2
  6. 21d agoApache Supersetsuperset-helm-chart-0.22.1
  7. 24d agoApache Supersetsuperset-helm-chart-0.22.0
  8. 4mo agoirisv3.15.0rc0
  9. 9mo agoirisv3.14.0rc0
  10. 1y agoirisv3.13.0rc0

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Apache Superset and iris?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Apache Superset is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 2.5), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is Apache Superset better than iris?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Apache Superset is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 2.5), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Analytics products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to Apache Superset?

Top Apache Superset alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Apache Superset alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/apache-superset for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to iris?

Top iris alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "iris alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/scitools-iris for the full list with editorial commentary on each.