Open-source alternative to Collibra data lineage: the short answer
If your team uses Collibra mainly for technical lineage, OpenMetadata and DataHub both offer self-hosted table and column lineage that can run inside your own infrastructure. Since Collibra ended maintenance support for on-premises environments for commercial customers on January 30, 2023, the vendor path for an on-premises estate leads to SaaS, so this is the question to settle first: whether lineage metadata can stay in your data center or private cloud. Both open-source projects are Apache-2.0 licensed and deploy on Kubernetes, and OpenMetadata also documents bare metal installs.
The lineage engine is rarely the hard part. The real work is connector and pipeline coverage: which warehouses, transformation tools, orchestrators and BI tools produce lineage that the catalog can read, and whether each one is covered by a native connector, an OpenLineage event feed or a custom job. Collibra's Catalog Technical Lineage API and its exports can tell you which lineage relations exist today, so inventory them against each platform's connector list before you commit. Confirm column-level coverage for each source in a proof of concept, since lineage depth varies by connector.
Business governance workflows are a separate question and should be decided on their own track. Stewardship approvals, custom operating-model workflows and glossary processes do not move with technical lineage, so plan them as a distinct scope. Ask each vendor, and any implementation partner, to show how a sample lineage path from your own pipeline appears in the catalog before you agree on a migration plan.
Which Collibra lineage capabilities map to OpenMetadata and DataHub
This table maps each lineage capability a Collibra team typically relies on to the closest option in OpenMetadata and DataHub, with the gaps to plan for. Read each row as a question about your own sources: if the lineage depends on a connector you have not configured or on a custom feed, expect setup work. Confirm the exact Collibra API scope in your own Collibra version before you plan the handover.
| Capability | OpenMetadata | DataHub |
|---|---|---|
| Table lineage | Supported with table lineage from connectors that extract query or pipeline metadata. Coverage depends on each source's connector configuration. | Supported through ingestion from connectors such as Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks and dbt. Coverage depends on each source's connector configuration. |
| Column lineage | Supported as column-level lineage. Confirm which connectors emit column mappings for your warehouse and transformation tools. | Supported as column-level lineage. Confirm which connectors emit column mappings for your warehouse and transformation tools. |
| Pipeline and dashboard lineage | Supported for pipelines and dashboards through connectors and OpenLineage events. BI or orchestration tools without a connector need custom ingestion. | Supported through pipeline and BI connectors such as Looker and Tableau. Tools outside the connector list need a custom source or push ingestion. |
| OpenLineage ingestion | Supported through the OpenLineage event integration. Your pipelines must emit OpenLineage events to reach the catalog. | Depends on the DataHub ingestion path you choose. Confirm the OpenLineage support and version in your deployment before you rely on it. |
| Collibra CSV or XLSX export and Technical Lineage API handover | Collibra's table export follows on-screen filters and columns, so lineage relations must be exported in that format and loaded through a custom script. Confirm the Collibra API scope in your version. | Same handover path: export from Collibra, transform to DataHub's ingestion formats and load with a custom job. Confirm the Collibra API scope in your version. |
| Lineage APIs for scripted access | REST APIs, a Python SDK, TypeScript packages and Java libraries support programmatic lineage writes and reads. | Programmatic lineage is available through the DataHub APIs and SDKs. Confirm the endpoints your version exposes. |
| Access control on lineage | Role-based access and authentication are set in the server configuration. Lineage visibility follows the permissions you define, so test them with a representative user set. | Lineage visibility follows DataHub's access policies on the self-deployed frontend. Access request workflows are reserved for DataHub Cloud. |
OpenMetadata or DataHub for technical lineage: when each fits
Both OpenMetadata and DataHub can replace the technical lineage Collibra provides, but they differ in how they ingest metadata and what they require to run. The cards below separate the two main candidates, the Hadoop-oriented option and the managed tiers, so you can match each to your sources and your team's operating capacity.
OpenMetadata for table and column lineage
OpenMetadata is Apache-2.0 licensed and lists more than 130 connectors. It covers table, column, dashboard, pipeline and metric lineage and ingests OpenLineage events from pipelines, which suits teams that want lineage from their orchestration layer as well as from warehouses. The trade-off is the stack it needs: Java 21, a MySQL or PostgreSQL database and Elasticsearch or OpenSearch, with production deployments typically on Kubernetes with Helm charts. Confirm that each of your lineage sources has a connector or an OpenLineage emitter before you commit.
DataHub for broad source coverage
DataHub is Apache-2.0 licensed and lists more than 150 integrations, including Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks, dbt, Looker and Tableau, with column-level lineage. Its architecture uses a metadata service with Kafka for streaming metadata changes, plus MySQL or PostgreSQL, Elasticsearch or OpenSearch, and a graph index. That gives strong scale and event flow but adds Kafka to your operating burden. Plan for the four core components and their dependencies, and test the system-update job during upgrades.
Apache Atlas for Hadoop estates
Apache Atlas is an Apache-2.0 metadata and governance framework built for Hadoop. It provides lineage and classification and integrates with Apache Ranger for classification-based access control. It fits estates where Hadoop and Ranger already enforce access, but it is less suited to a modern mix of cloud warehouses, BI tools and SaaS sources. Check which of your lineage sources Atlas can read natively and whether your team still maintains the Hadoop components it depends on.
Managed tiers from the vendors
Collate offers managed OpenMetadata with commercial support and AI features, and DataHub Cloud is the managed product from the company behind DataHub. DataHub Cloud adds access request workflows, compliance forms, data quality monitoring and a 99.5% uptime SLA, which open source does not include. Choosing a managed tier shifts infrastructure work to the vendor but keeps metadata outside your own network, so confirm where metadata is stored and whether private connectivity is available before you sign.
Lineage source gaps to check
Technical lineage is only as complete as the connectors behind it. Sources that Collibra reaches through Edge sites or custom scripts may not have a ready connector in either platform. Inventory every pipeline, warehouse and BI tool that feeds lineage today, then mark which ones need an OpenLineage emitter, a custom ingestion job or an API push. Expect the connector work to be a major part of the migration effort.
What the Collibra technical lineage export can hand over
The documented bulk export path out of Collibra is the table-based CSV or XLSX export, and it follows whatever filters, columns and sorting are applied to the table on screen. For lineage, that means the file contains only what the current view returns. Before relying on it, run the export against a known lineage path, such as one source table feeding one dashboard, and confirm whether the upstream and downstream relations both appear, how each relation is written under its header, and whether the column-level edges are present or only asset-level ones. Treat the result as a sample until those answers are confirmed in your own Collibra version.
The Collibra Technical Lineage API is a separate route that may hand over edges programmatically, but its role depends on the Collibra version you run and on which lineage sources were ingested into it. Verify the endpoints, payload shape and access rights in your own environment with Collibra before planning around them, and ask your Collibra administrator which lineage sources feed the catalog today. Collibra's export documentation is the starting point for the export side.
Before cutover, script a reconciliation that compares the exported edges with the source systems: query each warehouse, BI tool and pipeline for its own lineage or query history, then match each edge by source and target asset name. Record which edges are missing, duplicated or only partially named, and decide whether each gap is fixed by a connector, an OpenLineage event from the pipeline, or a manual entry. Edges that cannot be rebuilt automatically need a named owner and a sign-off, because they are the ones most likely to disappear silently during migration.
Moving technical lineage out of Collibra in phases
This sequence moves table and column lineage out of Collibra in an order that keeps the old edges available for comparison until the new catalog has been checked. The result is a documented lineage inventory, a working set of connectors or OpenLineage emitters, and a signed-off cutover.
Inventory lineage sources and Collibra lineage assets
List every pipeline, warehouse, BI tool and transformation layer that feeds lineage into Collibra today, and record which Collibra asset types and relations hold each edge. Note whether each source was loaded by a Collibra connector, by Edge, by a custom import or by hand. The data engineering lead and the catalog owner should review the list together. The step is done when every source has an owner, a connection method and a count of the lineage edges it contributes. Effort rises with the number of sources and pipelines, so ask for this count before any quote is written.
Export lineage through CSV, XLSX and API reads
Export the lineage-related assets and relations from Collibra using the table export to CSV or XLSX, which follows the filters, columns and sorting shown on screen, so set up each view before exporting. Where the export does not carry every relation you need, script reads against the Collibra REST API. Save the raw files unchanged in a restricted location. The step is done when each lineage source has a file or API extract and a row count that matches what the Collibra UI shows.
Build connectors or OpenLineage emitters per source
For each source, choose between an OpenMetadata or DataHub connector that ingests the technical metadata and lineage directly, or an OpenLineage emitter that sends run-time lineage events from the pipeline. Sources without a supported connector need a custom ingestion job or a documented manual load, and that work is typically the largest variable in the plan. Confirm column-level lineage support for each source in the chosen catalog's current documentation before you commit. The step is done when each source has a tested ingestion path in a non-production environment.
Load the target catalog in a staging environment
Deploy OpenMetadata or DataHub in a staging environment inside your own infrastructure, following the production sizing and prerequisites in the vendor documentation. Run each connector against the staging copy of the sources, then load the exported Collibra lineage as a reference set. The platform team should confirm that search, storage and any graph index are sized for the expected edge count. The step is done when a complete ingestion run finishes without errors and the staging catalog shows lineage for every inventoried source.
Run parallel lineage and reconcile edges and owners
Keep Collibra lineage visible and running alongside the new catalog for a fixed period agreed in advance by the governance lead. Compare upstream and downstream edges, column mappings and asset owners between the two systems, and log each mismatch with a cause: missing source, renamed asset, changed ownership or connector gap. Assign each mismatch to an owner for correction. The step is done when every mismatch is resolved, accepted with a written reason, or moved to the backlog, and the governance lead has signed the reconciliation report.
Cut over lineage consumers to the new catalog
Update every team and process that reads lineage from Collibra, including impact analysis steps, data quality reviews and any reports or scripts that call the Collibra API. Point their links, bookmarks and API clients to the new catalog and confirm that each consumer can find what it needs. Agree on the date the new catalog becomes the system of record for lineage with the data owners. The step is done when no active consumer reads lineage from Collibra and the cutover date is recorded.
Retire Collibra lineage and archive evidence
Stop lineage ingestion into Collibra, disable any Edge or scheduled jobs that feed it, and export a final snapshot of the lineage assets and relations for retention. Store the snapshot, the reconciliation report and the cutover record in a location your records and audit owners control. Confirm with your Collibra contract owner what data remains on the Collibra side and how it is removed. The step is done when Collibra no longer receives lineage updates and the archive has been verified as complete.
Running lineage in the new catalog alongside Collibra
During a parallel run, both catalogs hold lineage for the same pipelines, so the first decision is which one is authoritative for each purpose. Collibra stays authoritative for anything consumers already rely on until cutover, such as reports that cite its lineage in audits or approvals. The new catalog becomes authoritative only for the sources you have validated in it. Neither system will reconcile the other on its own, so the rule has to be written down and owned by a named person.
- Write a source-of-truth register: list each source system, the catalog that answers lineage questions for it, and the date that answer changed.
- Validate before you switch: compare table and column edges for a sample of critical pipelines in both catalogs and log every mismatch.
- Freeze the Collibra lineage model per source: avoid hand edits to Collibra lineage for sources already validated in the new catalog.
- Route questions to one place: tell analysts which catalog to ask, so the same question does not get two answers.
- Schedule a review point: agree on who signs off the register and when it is reviewed.
Confirm with your own team how long the parallel run needs for each source, since that depends on your pipeline mix and change frequency.
Some teams keep Collibra for the business glossary, stewardship workflows and approvals, and move only technical lineage to a self-hosted catalog. This split can work, but it creates a boundary problem: a business term in Collibra may point at a table whose lineage now lives in OpenMetadata or DataHub. Make the boundary explicit so stewards know where to record a definition and engineers know where to record a lineage edge.
- Assign ownership by object type: Collibra owns terms, definitions and steward assignments; the new catalog owns table, column and pipeline lineage.
- Use stable identifiers: record fully qualified table names or the source system's own IDs in Collibra attributes so the link between a term and a lineage node is traceable.
- Limit cross-references to one direction: if Collibra points at the technical asset, do not also duplicate the lineage graph in Collibra.
- Document the policy for auditors: explain which system is evidence for each control, using your own wording rather than copying control text from any standard.
- Check Collibra exports for lineage fields: confirm with Collibra what your export actually returns before you rely on it, since the CSV or XLSX export follows the table on screen.
Confirm with your governance lead whether any Collibra workflow depends on lineage relations being present in Collibra itself.
When a team retires Collibra completely, the lineage question becomes a cutover and archive question. Once the new catalog is authoritative for every source, Collibra lineage should be exported as a historical record and then no longer updated. The main risk is losing lineage that only existed in Collibra, such as manually drawn edges for systems with no connector. Inventory those before the cutover, because they will not appear in an automated ingestion run.
- Inventory manual lineage: find every lineage edge created by hand in Collibra and decide whether to rebuild it with a connector, an OpenLineage event or a metadata import.
- Export before the switch: use the table export path to keep a dated copy of lineage-related assets and relations.
- Set a read-only date: stop edits in Collibra on a fixed date and communicate it to data owners.
- Keep the archive separate: store the export where your retention policy applies, not inside the new catalog's data store.
- Plan for the Technical Lineage API: if you script reads through the Collibra Catalog Technical Lineage API, retire those jobs at the same time as the manual process they support.
Confirm with your records and compliance team how long Collibra lineage history must be retained and in what form.
Two live lineage sources are a common failure mode in any catalog transition, whether or not an automated sync exists. Neither OpenMetadata nor DataHub includes a built-in sync with Collibra, so any alignment is a process or a custom integration that your team owns. The safest pattern is to make one catalog authoritative per source at any moment and to treat the other as read-only for that source.
- Pick one writer per source: only one catalog accepts lineage edits for a given pipeline or table at a time.
- Run periodic comparisons: a scheduled script that compares node counts and edge sets for critical sources will surface drift early.
- Log discrepancies with an owner: each mismatch needs an owner and a resolution date, not just a ticket.
- Version your lineage sources: record which connector or OpenLineage producer version created each edge, so you can explain differences during an audit.
- Do not assume parity: Collibra and the new catalog model lineage differently, so a matching graph is a result to verify, not a default.
Confirm with your platform team which lineage producers, such as dbt, Airflow or Spark, emit events to each catalog during the transition.
Questions teams ask before replacing Collibra lineage
What drives the cost of replacing Collibra lineage with open source?
The cost depends on who pays for what: the software itself is free under Apache-2.0 for both OpenMetadata and DataHub, so the spend sits in infrastructure, connector setup, staff time and any support contract. Infrastructure is a recurring cost. OpenMetadata's bare metal docs list minimum sizing of 2 vCPUs, 4 GB RAM and 20 GB storage for the server, with the database and search services each needing at least 2 vCPUs, 2 GB RAM and 30 GB storage. Production sizing is larger and depends on the number of sources and lineage events. Connector work is largely one-time per source, while upgrades recur. Ask any quote to separate infrastructure, connector build, lineage pipeline changes, upgrades and run support.
How long does it take to move Collibra technical lineage to OpenMetadata or DataHub?
Duration is set by the number of lineage sources, how many of them have a ready connector, and how much custom lineage you must rebuild. Sources covered by an existing connector are usually the fastest to bring over, while sources that need new connectors or OpenLineage emitters take longer to build and validate. Neither vendor's documentation supplied here gives a general timeline, so ask the implementer for a written schedule tied to a defined source list, and confirm acceptance criteria for column-level lineage on each source.
Which lineage sources will need new connectors or custom work?
Expect gaps wherever Collibra relies on an Edge site or a custom import rather than a standard connector. OpenMetadata lists more than 130 connectors and an OpenLineage integration, and DataHub lists more than 150 integrations including Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks, dbt, Looker and Tableau, but coverage varies by source version and by lineage granularity. Make an inventory of every Collibra Technical Lineage input, then mark each as connector, OpenLineage emitter, or custom build. Confirm column-level lineage support for each connector before you commit.
Can our internal data engineering team run the lineage migration without help?
A capable internal team can run it, but the work needs people who know the pipelines, the warehouse and the catalog model. Platform engineers must deploy and patch the stack, usually on Kubernetes with Helm charts for OpenMetadata or DataHub, while data engineers must adjust pipelines to emit OpenLineage events or configure ingestion. Governance staff must confirm which lineage paths matter for audit and stewardship. If the team has no Kubernetes or search operations experience, plan for training or external help. DeployOpen implements, customizes and supports self-hosted platforms in your environment under a written, fixed scope.
What data engineering and governance effort does the migration require?
Data engineering effort goes into connector configuration, credentials, ingestion schedules, and any OpenLineage instrumentation in pipelines such as Airflow jobs. Governance effort covers deciding which lineage is authoritative, validating sample lineage against known data flows, and assigning owners for each domain. Ask for a validation plan that compares lineage paths in Collibra with the new catalog for a representative set of tables and columns, and confirm who signs off on each result.
Which lineage features may not carry over from Collibra?
Expect differences in how manual lineage, workflow-attached lineage and governance approvals are represented. Collibra exports assets and relations as CSV or XLSX following the table filters and columns on screen, so relation data can be extracted, but the export does not by itself rebuild lineage logic or stewardship workflows. OpenMetadata supports table, column, dashboard, pipeline and metric lineage, and DataHub supports column-level lineage, but any Collibra-only fields or approval steps need a documented mapping. Ask the implementer to list each Collibra lineage feature with its target equivalent and any accepted gap.
What should we ask for in a written quote for lineage replacement?
Ask for a fixed scope in writing before work starts, listing the lineage sources, connectors to build, OpenLineage pipeline changes, target versions, and the environment where the stack will run. The quote should separate one-time work (deployment, connector setup, validation, documentation) from recurring work (upgrades, backups, support). Request the infrastructure sizing assumptions, the upgrade approach for the chosen release line, the acceptance tests for lineage accuracy, and the handover documents. DeployOpen does not publish a price list, so the quote follows from that written scope.
How DeployOpen scopes and delivers lineage replacement
DeployOpen plans, implements, integrates, documents and supports self-hosted open-source platforms inside your own infrastructure. For Collibra lineage, that means defining which lineage sources move to OpenMetadata or DataHub, which need new connectors, and how the catalog runs in your cloud account, data center or air-gapped network.
How we scope
- Inventory which Collibra technical lineage edges are used in practice and which sources feed them.
- Classify each source as covered by a native connector, covered by OpenLineage events, or requiring a custom connector.
- Agree the written scope, deliverables and timeline with you before any work starts, as engagements are fixed-scope.
How we build
- Deploy OpenMetadata or DataHub on your Kubernetes or bare metal environment, with its database and search dependencies.
- Configure ingestion for warehouses, BI tools and pipelines, and wire OpenLineage events from orchestrators where needed.
- Test table and column lineage against a sample of known Collibra relations, and record every gap that remains.
How we hand over
- Document the deployment, connector configuration, ingestion schedules and lineage coverage for your operations team.
- Provide a list of lineage sources still unmapped, with the owner and decision each one needs.
- Walk your engineers through upgrade steps, including breaking changes in the release you deploy.
How we support
- Ongoing support, upgrades and continuous testing are available as a retainer after handover.
- Plan upgrades against the release notes for your chosen version, and confirm prerequisites before each change.
- Ask us to confirm connector coverage in writing for any new source before it goes into production lineage.
