head to head · open source
Mermaid vs Apache Superset
Mermaid has 90,293 GitHub stars, 9,266 forks, 1,781 open issues and last shipped 3 days ago. Apache Superset has 74,816 stars, 18,314 forks, 588 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Mermaid leads on adoption by 21% (90,293 vs 74,816 stars). Mermaid is written in TypeScript under MIT; Apache Superset is written in Python under Apache-2.0. Mermaid has attracted 10% as many forks as stars, Apache Superset 24%. Apache Superset was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Mermaid | Apache Superset | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 90K | ★ 75K |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Python |
| Last push | 2026-09-15 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 9.3K | ⑂ 18K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Mermaid if
- You weight community size — 90K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Apache Superset if
- You want the Apache Superset feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and Apache Superset fits your workflow better
About Mermaid
Mermaid is a JavaScript based diagramming tool that renders diagrams from Markdown like text definitions. It lives in the JavaScript/TypeScript ecosystem and operates both in the browser and in Node.js environments. The project’s core purpose is to eliminate the gap between software development and documentation by letting developers write diagrams alongside code, avoiding the rot and overhead of manual diagram maintenance.
read the full Mermaid overview →
About Apache Superset
Apache Superset is an open source business intelligence platform that enables self serve data exploration and dashboard creation. It runs as a web application and provides tools for analysts and business users to visualize and analyze data without writing complex code, while also offering advanced capabilities for data engineers and developers. Superset lives in the Apache Software Foundation ecosystem and is licensed under Apache 2.0.
read the full Apache Superset overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Mermaid or Apache Superset more popular?
Mermaid has 90,293 GitHub stars and Apache Superset has 74,816. Mermaid has the larger community by that measure.
Are Mermaid and Apache Superset free?
Both are open source. Mermaid is licensed under MIT and Apache Superset under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Mermaid and Apache Superset?
Mermaid is written in TypeScript and Apache Superset in Python. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Mermaid or Apache Superset?
Choose Mermaid if you want the larger community (90,293 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose Apache Superset if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.