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Comparison · Analytics
Keboola vs Dagster
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Keboola and Dagster — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Keboola vs Dagster: at a glance
What is Keboola?
Keboola moves transformations to DuckDB 2.0 and pushes its docs into Snowflake and BigQuery.
Keboola made DuckDB 2.0 the default for new DuckDB transformations, with the version selectable per transformation, and now writes table and column descriptions into Snowflake and BigQuery for new and existing tables. These follow a governance run: the GitHub App for private repos, Branched Storage on every stack, a read-only MCP query tool and idle workspace cleanup.
What is Dagster?
Dagster drops Python 3.10 and lets agents run schedules and sensors through MCP.
Dagster's 1.13 line ships weekly and follows two threads. dagster-dbt no longer installs dbt-core and gained a dbt v2 extra for the Fusion engine, while the UI keeps getting phone layouts and faster search and catalog pages. 1.13.30 on November 12 makes Python 3.11 the minimum and widens the Dagster+ MCP server to reading and toggling schedules and sensors and managing partitions.
Keboola vs Dagster: editorial side-by-side
Keboola
5.0ANALYTICS
Keboola moves transformations to DuckDB 2.0 and pushes its docs into Snowflake and BigQuery.
◆ Current state
Keboola made DuckDB 2.0 the default for new DuckDB transformations, with the version selectable per transformation, and now writes table and column descriptions into Snowflake and BigQuery for new and existing tables. These follow a governance run: the GitHub App for private repos, Branched Storage on every stack, a read-only MCP query tool and idle workspace cleanup.
◆ Where it's heading
Keboola is making the metadata and controls it holds useful outside its own UI, so warehouse users and AI tools see the same descriptions and rules. Engine choices such as DuckDB 2.0 keep transformation options current alongside that governance work.
◆ Prediction
Expect more Keboola metadata, such as lineage or ownership, to sync into the connected warehouses, and further runtime version bumps offered side by side.
Dagster
5.0ANALYTICS
Dagster drops Python 3.10 and lets agents run schedules and sensors through MCP.
◆ Current state
Dagster's 1.13 line ships weekly and follows two threads. dagster-dbt no longer installs dbt-core and gained a dbt v2 extra for the Fusion engine, while the UI keeps getting phone layouts and faster search and catalog pages. 1.13.30 on November 12 makes Python 3.11 the minimum and widens the Dagster+ MCP server to reading and toggling schedules and sensors and managing partitions.
◆ Where it's heading
The Dagster+ MCP server has grown release by release, from launching runs without a code location in September to controlling schedules, sensors and partitions now. Combined with the dbt split, Dagster is trimming legacy dependencies while making the orchestrator something an agent can operate, not just a person in the UI.
◆ Prediction
The MCP server still lacks write access to things like backfills and alert policies, so expanding it there is the most visible next step; further Python and dbt version floors are likely to follow the 3.10 cut.
Alternatives to Keboola and Dagster
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 Keboola or Dagster.
Dovetail
Dovetail lets admins choose which connectors members can plug into the workspace.
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 Keboola alternatives → · See all Dagster alternatives →
Recent activity from Keboola and Dagster
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 1d agoDagster1.13.30: Python 3.11 minimum, more Dagster+ MCP tools
- 4d agoKeboolaDuckDB 2.0 is now available in transformations
- 4d agoKeboolaTable and column descriptions now also in workspaces, Data Gateway and external buckets
- 4d agoKeboolaTable and column descriptions now appear in Snowflake and BigQuery
- 8d agoDagster1.13.29: more mobile layouts, faster search and catalog
- 11d agoKeboolaConnect GitHub repositories without personal tokens
- 14d agoDagster1.13.28: dbt v2 extra and retries for failed code locations
- 15d agoKeboolaSecurity Update for Python/JS and Streamlit Data Apps
- 15d agoKeboolaBranched Storage is being enabled on all projects
- 18d agoDagster1.13.27: mobile run details, bounded BigQuery Insights scans
- 1mo agoDagster1.13.26: dagster-dbt stops installing dbt-core
- 1mo agoDagster1.13.25: phone layout for the Dagster UI, ECS run resumes
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Keboola and Dagster?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Keboola and Dagster 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 Keboola better than Dagster?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Keboola and Dagster 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 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.
What are the best alternatives to Dagster?
Top Dagster alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Dagster alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/dagster for the full list with editorial commentary on each.