Business Intelligence Software · Self-service analytics
Sigma
by Sigma Computing
A cloud analytics tool presenting warehouse data through a spreadsheet interface, so analysts work in familiar grid semantics.
What it is
Sigma's insight is that the people who actually analyse business data are fluent in spreadsheets, not SQL. It puts a spreadsheet interface directly over a cloud warehouse, so a finance analyst can work in rows, columns and formulas while every operation is pushed down as SQL against the live warehouse.
Nothing is extracted. There is no copy to refresh or secure, and the row limits that make spreadsheet work painful do not apply, because the warehouse is doing the computation.
It is firmly cloud-warehouse-only. Without Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks or Redshift there is no product, and warehouse compute cost becomes a line item to watch.
Capabilities
Each capability carries its own verification status. “Not verified” means exactly that: it has not been checked, and must not be read as absent.
| Capability | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive dashboards Dashboards users can filter and drill into rather than static images. | Yes | source |
| Data visualisation The chart library and formatting control available to authors. | Yes | source |
| Self-service analytics Business users building their own analysis without a developer. | Yes | source |
| Scheduled reporting Reports generated and distributed on a timetable. | Yes | source |
| Embedded analytics Charts and dashboards surfaced inside another application. | Yes | source |
| Data modelling A governed semantic layer defining measures and relationships. | Yes | source |
| Data connectivity Breadth of native connectors to databases and services. | Yes | source |
| Role-based access control Permissions by role, including row-level restriction. | Yes | source |
| Vendor-managed cloud A hosted service operated by the vendor, so you do not run it yourself. | Yes | source |
| Free self-hosted edition A no-licence-cost edition you can run on your own infrastructure. | No | source |
| Paginated and pixel-perfect reporting Fixed-layout output for statutory, regulatory or print reporting. | No | source |
| Planning and budgeting Forecasting and budget entry in the same product as the reporting. | No | source |
| Native dbt metric integration Reads models and metrics directly from a dbt project rather than a separate modelling layer. | No | source |
| Associative exploration engine Selections re-evaluate the whole dataset and reveal excluded, unrelated values. | No | source |
| AI-assisted analytics Natural-language query or generated insight features. | Not verified | |
| Mobile access A supported mobile app or responsive consumption experience. | Not verified | |
| Usage or session-based reader licensing Readers charged by use rather than per seat, which changes the cost of a large occasional audience. | Not verified |
Deployment
| Model | Supported |
|---|---|
| Cloud (vendor hosted) | Yes |
| On-premises / self-hosted | No |
| Hybrid | No |
Integrations
Databases
- PostgreSQL source
Data warehouses
APIs
- REST API source
Licensing and pricing
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Licensing model | Commercial |
| Free version | No |
| Trial available | Yes |
| Published price | Contact vendor for pricing |
| Note | Contact Sigma for current pricing; published tiers are indicative. |
| Official pricing page | Vendor pricing |
| Pricing last checked | 7 November 2026 |
Prices move and discounting is common. Treat anything here as a starting point and confirm with the vendor before budgeting.
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- A spreadsheet interface that non-technical analysts already understand. editorial
- No data extract: queries run live against the warehouse. editorial
- Avoids the row limits that constrain spreadsheet analysis. editorial
Limitations
- Requires a supported cloud warehouse; there is no standalone mode. editorial
- No on-premises deployment. verified source
- Warehouse compute cost rises with interactive use. editorial
Who it suits
Organisation sizes: Medium, Enterprise
Organisations with a cloud warehouse and a spreadsheet-literate analyst population, particularly in finance and operations. A strong route to retiring unmanaged spreadsheet reporting.
Not applicable without a supported cloud warehouse.
Alternatives
Compared with other products
Frequently asked questions
No, it depends on one. Sigma is an interface and compute pass-through: it translates spreadsheet operations into SQL that your warehouse executes. You need Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks or Redshift underneath it.
Sources and review basis
- Evaluation basis: vendor documentation and public sources, not hands-on testing
- Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
- Vendor: Sigma Computing
- Documentation: Official docs
References
- Sigma product site accessed 7 November 2026
- Sigma documentation accessed 7 November 2026
- Sigma pricing page accessed 7 November 2026
Disclosure
Alongside advisory work I also build a CMMS and CAFM platform, so I have a commercial interest in enterprise software generally. No vendor in this directory has paid for inclusion, placement or wording, and there are no reseller or affiliate arrangements. Weigh the analysis accordingly.
Evaluating Sigma?
Independent help testing it against your actual requirement, and designing the data integration it will depend on. 22+ years across ERP, EAM, CAFM and enterprise integration. No reseller arrangements.
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At a glance
- Vendor
Sigma Computing - Category
Business Intelligence Software - Primary use
Self-service analytics - Deployment
Cloud - Licensing
Commercial - Status
Active