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Comparison · Analytics
Hex vs Keboola
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Hex and Keboola — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Hex vs Keboola: at a glance
| Feature | Hex | Keboola |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Analytics | Analytics |
| Velocity score | 6.3 | 5.0 |
| Sparks · 30d | 0 | 0 |
| Top themes | data-workspace, agentic-analytics, generative-apps, cli | data-platform, mcp, bigquery, snowflake |
| Last editorial update | 5d ago | 3d ago |
| Website | — | Visit → |
What is Hex?
Hex pulled its agent out of the notebook and made it callable from anywhere.
Hex is a data workspace that has spent 2026 turning its agent into the primary interface. The agent is now reachable from the CLI and API as well as the notebook, reads whole Slack threads for context, picks between frontier models with the choice made visible, and can see the generative apps it builds. Around it sit the controls a finance team asks for: spend limits on auto top-ups, credit usage policy, admin-set default models.
What is Keboola?
Keboola is smoothing the seams — MCP login, direct workspace writes, and BigQuery catching up to Snowflake
Keboola's August work is concentrated on removing intermediate steps. The MCP server swapped pasted Storage API tokens for a one-time browser login that reaches every project on a stack, workspaces write straight into Storage without an output-mapping job, and branched storage arrives on BigQuery to match Snowflake. Alongside that sits a run of runtime and authentication deprecations with hard dates.
Hex vs Keboola: editorial side-by-side
Hex
6.3ANALYTICS
Hex pulled its agent out of the notebook and made it callable from anywhere.
◆ Current state
Hex is a data workspace that has spent 2026 turning its agent into the primary interface. The agent is now reachable from the CLI and API as well as the notebook, reads whole Slack threads for context, picks between frontier models with the choice made visible, and can see the generative apps it builds. Around it sit the controls a finance team asks for: spend limits on auto top-ups, credit usage policy, admin-set default models.
◆ Where it's heading
Two things are being built in parallel. The agent is escaping its container - first into Codex, then Slack threads, then the CLI and API - which turns Hex from a place you go into a service other tools call. Meanwhile the generative app is becoming a real artifact rather than a demo: its code is editable, it exports CSVs, it can be branded, and the agent can look at what it produced. The model layer underneath is treated as swappable, refreshed as new frontier models land.
◆ Prediction
Expect the credit controls to harden further as agent usage moves to CLI and API, where consumption is harder for an admin to see than in the notebook.
Keboola
5.0ANALYTICS
Keboola is smoothing the seams — MCP login, direct workspace writes, and BigQuery catching up to Snowflake
◆ Current state
Keboola's August work is concentrated on removing intermediate steps. The MCP server swapped pasted Storage API tokens for a one-time browser login that reaches every project on a stack, workspaces write straight into Storage without an output-mapping job, and branched storage arrives on BigQuery to match Snowflake. Alongside that sits a run of runtime and authentication deprecations with hard dates.
◆ Where it's heading
Two threads run in parallel: making the assistant and workspace surfaces less ceremonious, and dragging the BigQuery backend to parity with Snowflake ahead of Branches 2.0. The deprecation notices — Python 3.10, Snowflake password auth — suggest a platform clearing old ground before the next structural release.
◆ Prediction
Branches 2.0 with approval workflows and conflict resolution is the next substantial release, and it should land once BigQuery parity work is finished.
Alternatives to Hex and Keboola
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 Hex or Keboola.
Chord
Chord is turning its analytics assistant into something with memory, and now feeding it more sources
Datawrapper
Datawrapper ships one small fix at a time, each named for the chart it touches
Holistics
After a summer fencing in its AI layer, Holistics points it at the question analysts get asked most.
dbt Core
Fusion's 2.0 train has become adapter work: Exasol from scratch, ClickHouse toward parity.
AgencyAnalytics
Reporting tool turning itself into the place agencies prove AI visibility to clients
Recent activity from Hex and Keboola
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 6d agoHexChart controls and easier collaboration
- 8d agoKeboolaKeboola MCP: Log In Once, Work Across Every Project
- 13d agoKeboolaPython 3.10 Deprecation for Streamlit Data Apps
- 22d agoHexThe Hex Agent reads a whole Slack thread, then opens a notebook
- 23d agoKeboolaFlows: New Condition Operators and Run Selected Tasks
- 23d agoHexFast mode, GPT-5.6, and visible model attribution for Auto
- 26d agoKeboolaBranched Storage on BigQuery
- 27d agoKeboolaWorkspaces Now Write Directly to Storage Tables
- 28d agoKeboolaNew Python Versions Available for Transformations and Workspaces
- 1mo agoHexHex Agent becomes callable from the CLI and API ⚡
- 1mo agoHexEditable generative-app code, and an agent that sees what it builds
- 1mo agoHexMore control over credits, thread metadata, and role requests
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Hex and Keboola?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Hex is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), 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 Hex better than Keboola?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Hex is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), 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 Hex?
Top Hex alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Hex alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/hex for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to Keboola?
Top Keboola alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Keboola alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/keboola for the full list with editorial commentary on each.