Knowi vs Sisense: Which Embedded Analytics Platform Handles Complex Data Better?
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Sisense is a developer-focused embedded analytics platform built around its ElastiCube data engine and Compose SDK component library. Knowi natively queries NoSQL databases, REST APIs, and SQL sources without requiring data import or transformation. If your data lives in MongoDB or Elasticsearch, Knowi removes an entire layer of complexity.
AT A GLANCE
Things to Know Before You Decide
Sisense requires data to be imported into its ElastiCube engine before analysis. Knowi queries MongoDB, Elasticsearch, Cassandra, and REST APIs directly without data movement.
Sisense has a MongoDB connector but flattens nested documents into virtual tables. Subdocuments deeper than one level are poorly supported. Knowi handles nested JSON natively at any depth.
Cross-source joins in Sisense only work within an ElastiCube after data import. Knowi joins across any combination of SQL, NoSQL, and REST API sources in a single live query.
Sisense's Compose SDK (React, Angular, Vue beta) gives developers granular control over embedded UI components. Knowi offers three embed methods with built-in multi-tenancy and AI, bundled rather than separately priced.
SIDE BY SIDE
Knowi vs Sisense at a Glance
| Capability | Knowi | Sisense |
|---|---|---|
| MongoDB Connectivity | Native connector with live querying. Full support for nested documents at any depth. | Connector flattens nested docs into virtual tables. Deep nesting poorly supported. Special characters restricted. |
| Elasticsearch | Native connector with live querying | No dedicated connector |
| Cross-Source Joins | Join any SQL, NoSQL, and REST API sources in a single query without data movement | Only within ElastiCube after data import. Not live — requires data movement and storage. |
| Nested JSON | Native support at any nesting depth. No flattening or transformation required. | Auto-flattened during import. Deep nesting causes errors. Special characters in field names restricted. |
| Embedding SDK | Three embed methods. White-label with multi-tenancy and AI included. | Compose SDK (React, Angular, Vue beta). Steep learning curve. Legacy iFrame migration is major effort. |
| AI / NLQ | Private AI, NLQ on all sources, Document AI. Included in platform. | Intelligence Suite adds 20-30% to base costs. Quality depends on ElastiCube modeling. |
| Multi-Tenancy | Built-in multi-tenant architecture with RLS. No per-tenant infrastructure cost. | Single-tenant ElastiCubes ($10K-$35K/yr each) or shared with limited customization. |
| Data Privacy | Private AI runs inside deployment. No data sent to third-party LLMs. | AI uses Sisense cloud infrastructure. No documented private AI option. |
| Deployment | Cloud (SOC2 Type II), on-premise via Docker or Kubernetes, hybrid | Cloud, on-premise, hybrid |
BEST FIT
Who Should Choose Knowi
- MongoDB as a primary database: If your application runs on MongoDB, Knowi queries it natively without flattening nested documents or importing data into a separate engine. You avoid the schema compromise Sisense forces.
- Multi-source analytics without ETL: When you need to join MongoDB + PostgreSQL + Elasticsearch + REST API data and cannot afford the time or cost of building import pipelines into ElastiCubes.
- SaaS embedded analytics at scale: When you need multi-tenancy for dozens or hundreds of customers without paying per-tenant ElastiCube costs. Knowi's built-in multi-tenant architecture scales without multiplicative infrastructure fees.
- Regulated industries requiring Private AI: When your compliance team says no data can leave your infrastructure. Knowi's Private AI deploys inside your environment with on-prem GPU acceleration.
- Document analytics: When your users need to query PDFs, Word documents, and Excel files alongside structured data. Document AI with source attribution is a capability Sisense does not offer.
- Speed over customization: When getting analytics into production in days matters more than building a pixel-perfect custom UI with framework-specific components.
HOW CLIENTS SUCCEED WITH KNOWI
Who's Using Knowi
Stitch healthcare and community services
Healthcare SaaS
Chose Knowi over Sisense to deliver SSO-embedded analytics to hospitals. Hospital clients create visualizations and monitor patient data - all white-labeled and powered by MongoDB.
Charity Organization
CRM & Fundraising SaaS
White-labeled, multi-tenant BI inside their charity CRM. Each nonprofit gets personalized dashboards, NLP-powered data exploration, and automated reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sisense support MongoDB?
$ and . are restricted. Knowi queries MongoDB natively without flattening, supporting any nesting depth.How does Sisense handle multi-tenancy for SaaS embedding?
Can Sisense join data from different databases?
Is Sisense's AI included in the platform price?
What is Sisense's Compose SDK?
How does data freshness compare between the platforms?
Skip the ElastiCube Tax - See What Native NoSQL Analytics Looks Like
Query your MongoDB and NoSQL data natively - no ElastiCubes, no flattening, no per-tenant infrastructure costs. AI and multi-tenancy included, not priced as add-ons.