Mode
Freemium Last verified: September 2026Collaborative analytics platform with SQL, Python, R notebooks and built-in AI copilot for data teams
What is Mode?
Mode is a collaborative analytics platform built for data analysts who want SQL, Python, R notebooks, and interactive dashboards in a single workspace. Acquired by ThoughtSpot in 2023, Mode blends classic BI-style reporting with generative AI features through its Notebook AI Assist and natural-language query capabilities. Analysts connect Mode directly to a data warehouse (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, Databricks, Postgres, MySQL) and write SQL queries that feed into visualizations, parameterized dashboards, and Python notebooks for deeper analysis. The result is shareable reports with live data and rich interactivity that business stakeholders can filter and drill into. Mode differentiates itself from Hex, Deepnote, and Looker by being explicitly analyst-centric: it assumes you know SQL, exposes the notebook environment without hiding it, and produces polished dashboards as an output. The AI copilot can suggest SQL, explain queries, summarize results, and generate charts from natural language, though its depth is narrower than the full notebook AI experience in Hex. Mode is strongest for mid-to-large data teams at B2B SaaS companies that have a modeled warehouse and want a collaborative reporting environment, you can tell a data story in narrative form, ship it as a dashboard, and update it automatically as the warehouse changes. Pricing starts with a free Studio plan for individual analysts, capped at 3 users, and scales up through the Pro and Enterprise tiers with custom pricing quoted by the sales team based on seats, compute, and embedding requirements. Note that Mode renamed the middle tier from Business to Pro, and Pro now carries a 3-user minimum while Enterprise carries a 50-user minimum.
Mode demo video
Watch Mode's official demo to see Mode in action before reading our full review.
Official video by Mode via YouTube, embedded for reference. ToolChase does not host or claim this video.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Data analysts and analytics teams with warehouses who want SQL, Python, and AI-powered reports in one place
Non-technical marketers who do not want to write SQL, or teams without a central data warehouse
Studio Free (up to 3 users) · Pro custom (min 3 users) · Enterprise custom (min 50 users)
Yes, Studio plan for individual analysts
Strong SQL-first workflow with polished interactive dashboards and notebook integration
Paid pricing is quote-only; AI copilot is narrower than Hex or Deepnote
Bottom line: Mode scores 4.3/5, A strong pick for analyst-led teams on Snowflake, BigQuery, or Redshift. Free Studio covers solo work; upgrade to Pro for team collaboration.
Pricing
Studio, Free: Individual analyst plan with SQL, Python and R, private database connections, basic visualizations, and personal dashboards. Capped at 3 users and 10 MB per query. Good for learning and solo projects.
Pro, custom pricing (minimum 3 users): Full collaboration, scheduled report delivery, dashboard sharing, parameterized reports, version history, Email and Slack sharing, API access, and the AI Notebook Assist. Mode lists 250 GB/month and 5 GB/query on this tier. White-label embedding and external sharing are paid add-ons here.
Enterprise, custom pricing (minimum 50 users): Everything in Pro plus custom data compute, advanced identity management, SAML SSO, SCIM, admin-level API access, premium support, and ThoughtSpot integration for search-based analytics.
Mode does not publish dollar figures for Pro or Enterprise; both are quoted through a sales demo.
Key Features
- SQL editor with autocomplete, schema browser, and query history
- Python and R notebooks with pandas, matplotlib, and Plotly
- Notebook AI Assist for query generation and explanation
- Interactive dashboards with filters and parameterized views
- Direct warehouse connectors: Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, Databricks, Postgres
- Scheduled email and Slack report delivery
- Version control and collaborative editing
- Embedding in customer-facing products (paid add-on on Pro and Enterprise)
- ThoughtSpot integration for natural-language search
Pros & Cons
Pros
- SQL-first workflow that respects how analysts actually work
- Clean hand-off from notebook to polished dashboard
- Strong warehouse integrations with live data
- Free Studio plan genuinely useful for individual analysts
Cons
- Paid pricing is not public
- Less notebook-native than newer alternatives
- AI assistant is narrower than Hex's Magic AI
FAQ
Is Mode free?
Mode offers a free Studio plan for individual analysts that includes SQL, Python, and R, private database connections, basic visualizations, and personal dashboards, capped at 3 users and 10 MB per query. It is genuinely useful for solo work and learning the product. The paid Pro and Enterprise plans, which unlock collaboration, scheduled reports, advanced AI features, and embedding, use custom pricing you request from sales. Pro requires a minimum of 3 users and Enterprise a minimum of 50.
How is Mode different from Hex or Deepnote?
Mode is more BI-oriented, SQL first, polished dashboards as the primary output, and notebooks as a secondary surface. Hex and Deepnote are more notebook-native with richer Python workflows and stronger AI assistants. Mode wins if your team produces dashboards for non-technical stakeholders and lives in SQL. Hex wins if your team is Python-heavy and wants deeper AI and notebook automation.
Does Mode have AI features?
Yes. Mode Notebook AI Assist can suggest SQL from natural language, explain existing queries, summarize result sets, and generate charts from prompts. Since the ThoughtSpot acquisition, Mode has also expanded into natural-language search via the ThoughtSpot integration. The AI is useful but not as prominent as Hex's Magic AI or Deepnote's notebook agent.
What warehouses does Mode connect to?
Mode connects directly to Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, Databricks, Postgres, MySQL, SQL Server, Presto, Athena, and most modern analytics warehouses. Queries execute on your warehouse, and Mode caches results for dashboard consumption. For CSV-only exploration or non-warehouse workflows, Mode is less ideal than Polymer or Julius.
Is Mode good for business stakeholders?
Yes, on the consumption side. Mode dashboards are designed to be shared and consumed by non-technical users through filter controls and parameterized views. But stakeholders cannot author reports, that requires analysts writing SQL. Mode is best in organizations where a central analytics team serves the rest of the business.
Is Mode secure for enterprise?
Single sign-on is tiered: Google SSO is available even on the free Studio plan, Pro adds Microsoft SSO, and Enterprise adds SAML SSO plus advanced identity management. SCIM (Okta) is included on Enterprise and offered as an add-on on Pro. Dashboards respect warehouse-level permissions, and queries can be routed through private networks with IP allow-lists. For regulated industries, Enterprise plans add dedicated support and contractual security terms.
Can Mode embed dashboards in a product?
Yes. Mode lists white-label embedding and external sharing as paid add-ons on both the Pro and Enterprise plans, so it is viable for SaaS companies that want to expose analytics to their own customers. The embedded experience supports custom themes, row-level security, and programmatic provisioning. Pricing for embedded use cases is quote-based.
📋 Good to know
Connect your warehouse, authenticate, and start writing SQL. Notebooks and dashboards work out of the box.
Queries execute on your warehouse with full permission enforcement. Google SSO is available from the free Studio tier, Pro adds Microsoft SSO, and Enterprise adds SAML SSO and advanced identity management.
Pro when you need collaboration or scheduled delivery, minimum 3 users. Enterprise when you need SAML SSO, custom compute, or a 50-seat deployment.
Moderate. Comfortable if you already know SQL; steeper if you do not.
