dbt
by dbt Labs
Open-source data transformation framework using SQL and Python for analytics engineering dbt (data build tool) is an open-source data transformation framework that enables analytics engineers and data teams to transform raw data inside cloud data warehouses using SQL and Python. Developed by dbt Labs (founded 2016 in Philadelphia), dbt follows the ELT pattern: data is first extracted and loaded into a warehouse, then transformed in place using dbt models.
Key Facts
| Attribute | Value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | Mar 2026 | dbt Labs |
| License | Apache 2.0 open-source core | Mar 2026 | GitHub |
| Community | 150,000+ members as of 2026 | Mar 2026 | dbt Labs |
| Companies Using dbt | 40,000+ companies | Mar 2026 | dbt Labs |
| GitHub Stars | 9,000+ stars | Mar 2026 | GitHub |
| Cloud Pricing | Developer free, Team $100/seat/mo, Enterprise custom | Mar 2026 | dbt Labs |
| Supported Warehouses | Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks, Redshift, Postgres, DuckDB | Mar 2026 | dbt Labs |
| Funding | $414M total, $222M Series D at $4.2B valuation (2022) | Mar 2026 | Crunchbase |
About dbt
dbt (data build tool) is an open-source data transformation framework that enables analytics engineers and data teams to transform raw data inside cloud data warehouses using SQL and Python. Developed by dbt Labs (founded 2016 in Philadelphia), dbt follows the ELT pattern: data is first extracted and loaded into a warehouse, then transformed in place using dbt models. Each model is a SQL SELECT statement that dbt materializes as a table or view.
As of 2026, over 40,000 companies use dbt, and the community includes more than 150,000 members. dbt supports major data warehouses and lakehouses including Snowflake, Google BigQuery, Databricks, Amazon Redshift, PostgreSQL, and DuckDB. The open-source core (dbt Core) is released under the Apache 2.0 license and can be installed via pip. dbt has accumulated over 9,000 GitHub stars.
dbt Cloud is the commercial managed service offering IDE, job scheduling, CI/CD, documentation hosting, and monitoring. Pricing starts with a free Developer tier (1 seat), a Team tier at $100 per seat per month, and custom Enterprise pricing. dbt competes with tools like Apache Airflow and Prefect for orchestration, and with Fivetran and Airbyte for the broader data pipeline stack.
Integrations (6)
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A ranked list of the best automation and data pipeline tools for data teams in 2026. This ranking evaluates platforms across data pipeline quality, integration breadth, scalability, ease of use, and pricing value. Tools are assessed based on their ability to handle ETL/ELT workflows, data transformation, orchestration, and integration tasks that data engineers and analysts rely on daily. The ranking includes both dedicated data tools (Apache Airflow, Fivetran, Prefect) and general-purpose automation platforms (n8n, Make) that have developed strong data pipeline capabilities. Each tool is scored on a 10-point scale across five weighted criteria.
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Questions About dbt
How much does Airbyte cost in 2026?
Airbyte Open Source is free (self-hosted on Docker/K8s, ~$400/mo infrastructure). Airbyte Cloud uses credits-based pricing starting with free credits. Enterprise: custom. Self-hosted is 30-80% cheaper than Fivetran for equivalent data volumes, but requires DevOps capacity.
Is dbt worth it in 2026?
dbt scores 8.0/10 in 2026. The open-source SQL/Python transformation framework is used by 40,000+ companies with a 150K+ member community. Free core (Apache 2.0), Cloud from $100/seat/mo. Best for analytics teams working with cloud data warehouses. Not a full pipeline tool — requires separate EL and orchestration.
Is Airbyte worth it in 2026?
Airbyte scores 7.5/10 in 2026. The open-source ELT platform offers 400+ connectors and free self-hosting via Docker/Kubernetes. 40K+ GitHub stars. Connector reliability varies (beta connectors need monitoring). Best for data teams with DevOps capacity wanting a Fivetran alternative.
How much does dbt cost in 2026?
dbt Core is free and open-source (Apache 2.0). dbt Cloud: Developer free (1 seat), Team $100/seat/month (scheduling, CI/CD, API), Enterprise custom (SSO, audit logs). A 5-person team on Cloud Team: $500/month. Self-hosted Core with Airflow: approximately $250/month.