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Comparison · Analytics
Apify vs OpenMetadata
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Apify and OpenMetadata — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Shared themes:mcp
Apify vs OpenMetadata: at a glance
| Feature | Apify | OpenMetadata |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Analytics | Analytics |
| Velocity score | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Sparks · 30d | 0 | 0 |
| Top themes | ai-agents, mcp, actor-marketplace, breaking-changes | data-catalog, lineage, connectors, data-quality |
| Last editorial update | 11d ago | 3h ago |
| Website | — | Visit → |
What is Apify?
Apify reshapes its Store API for agents, and it will break some integrations on Nov 15.
Apify's October work treats AI agents as the main Store client. On November 15, GET /v2/store moves to a relevance-ranked search backend: search returns a single page of at most 100 results, offset and sortBy are ignored, total and count change meaning, and noisy fields are dropped to save agent context. Earlier in October, the MCP server gained tools to build Actors, read build and run logs and read source files, and the Store was regrouped into use-case categories.
What is OpenMetadata?
OpenMetadata 2.0.8 widens Hex, Sigma and BigQuery coverage while 2.1 waits in release candidates.
OpenMetadata is still in 2.0.x maintenance mode, shipping a release every one to two weeks. 2.0.8 on November 13 is the broadest yet: Hex and Sigma ingestion now build data models and column lineage, BigQuery date-sharded tables can be grouped into one logical table, Power BI and Snowflake ingestion stop leaving stale or runaway jobs, and MCP authentication and access controls were tightened. The 2.1.0 line sits at rc2, whose only published change is a tag-resolution fix.
Apify vs OpenMetadata: editorial side-by-side
Apify
5.0ANALYTICS
Apify reshapes its Store API for agents, and it will break some integrations on Nov 15.
◆ Current state
Apify's October work treats AI agents as the main Store client. On November 15, GET /v2/store moves to a relevance-ranked search backend: search returns a single page of at most 100 results, offset and sortBy are ignored, total and count change meaning, and noisy fields are dropped to save agent context. Earlier in October, the MCP server gained tools to build Actors, read build and run logs and read source files, and the Store was regrouped into use-case categories.
◆ Where it's heading
The arc from June to now is consistent: MCP connectors, x402 payments for agents without accounts, Apify AI for plain-English runs, and now a Store API and MCP toolset tuned for agents over human paging. Apify is accepting breakage for existing integrations in exchange for better agent results.
◆ Prediction
Expect migration guidance and possibly a grace period around the November 15 cutover, followed by more MCP tools moving into the default set.
OpenMetadata
5.0ANALYTICS
OpenMetadata 2.0.8 widens Hex, Sigma and BigQuery coverage while 2.1 waits in release candidates.
◆ Current state
OpenMetadata is still in 2.0.x maintenance mode, shipping a release every one to two weeks. 2.0.8 on November 13 is the broadest yet: Hex and Sigma ingestion now build data models and column lineage, BigQuery date-sharded tables can be grouped into one logical table, Power BI and Snowflake ingestion stop leaving stale or runaway jobs, and MCP authentication and access controls were tightened. The 2.1.0 line sits at rc2, whose only published change is a tag-resolution fix.
◆ Where it's heading
Each 2.0.x release repairs connectors and lineage that 2.0 left incomplete, and the fixes increasingly touch accuracy (correct table identity, lineage that ends at the right model) rather than crashes. MCP keeps appearing in the security sections, which suggests OpenMetadata expects AI tools to read the catalog and is locking that path down before 2.1.
◆ Prediction
A 2.1.0 final is the next visible step, since two release candidates are out; the entries do not yet say what features 2.1 adds beyond the fixes backported to 2.0.x.
Alternatives to Apify and OpenMetadata
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 Apify or OpenMetadata.
Dagster
Dagster drops Python 3.10 and lets agents run schedules and sensors through MCP.
OpenHouse
OpenHouse adds time-zone-aware retention and per-database table caps.
Countly
Countly 25.03.59 defaults to Node 26, supports MongoDB 9 and tightens app scoping.
Kubecost
Kubecost cuts three 3.3.2 release candidates in two days, still without notes.
RStudio
RStudio opens the 2026.11 train with another NOTICE file update.
See all Apify alternatives → · See all OpenMetadata alternatives →
Recent activity from Apify and OpenMetadata
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 21h agoOpenMetadata2.0.8: Hex and Sigma lineage, BigQuery shard grouping, MCP auth
- 23h agoOpenMetadata2.1.0 rc2: fix for tags removed when resolving tag tasks
- 14d agoOpenMetadata2.1.0 rc1 appears, with notes covering only a UI fix
- 15d agoApifyApify Store API: new search backend and breaking changes
- 17d agoOpenMetadata2.0.7: Pub/Sub, SQL Server and Unity Catalog connector fixes
- 23d agoOpenMetadata2.0.6: ingestion accuracy, safer upgrades, multi-pod fixes
- 29d agoApifyBuild and debug Actors with new Apify MCP tools
- 1mo agoOpenMetadata2.0.5 restores metadata lost to 2.0 ingestion regressions
- 1mo agoApifyFind Actors by use case with new Store categories
- 2mo agoApifyCreate an Actor with a Git repo in a few clicks
- 3mo agoApifyApify AI (beta) is live. Describe what you need and get results ⚡
- 4mo agoApifyPay for Apify Actors with x402 ⚡
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Apify and OpenMetadata?
Both compete on the same themes — mcp — within Analytics. Apify and OpenMetadata are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Apify better than OpenMetadata?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Apify and OpenMetadata are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Analytics products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Apify?
Top Apify alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Apify alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/apify for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to OpenMetadata?
Top OpenMetadata alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "OpenMetadata alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/openmetadata for the full list with editorial commentary on each.