Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Hex.
Want the closest match?
ModeMost similar to Hex in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens Mode in a new tab)Need a free plan?
BlazeSQLHas a free plan, rated 5.0 out of 5.
Visit (opens BlazeSQL in a new tab)Want to pay less than Hex?
BasedashFrom $25/mo, against from $36/mo for Hex.
Visit (opens Basedash in a new tab)Want the best rated?
ThoughtSpotRated 4.4 out of 5 in our review, against 4.0 for Hex.
Visit (opens ThoughtSpot in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Hex, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 HexBaseline | 4.0 | $36/mo | Yes | Notebooks for analysis, then a polished app for sharing results | |
| Mode | 4.3+0.3 | Free | Yes | Now a ThoughtSpot subsidiary, following a 2023 acquisition | vs Hex |
 Deepnote | 4.2+0.2 | $39/mo$3 more | Yes | Cloud notebook that combines Python, SQL, and AI assistance for teams doing collaborative data analysis. | vs Hex |
| BlazeSQL | 5.0+1.0 | $39/mo$3 more | Yes | A full AI data analyst, not just a text-to-SQL converter | vs Hex |
| Basedash | 4.2+0.2 | $25/mo$11 less | No | Builds internal admin panels directly on top of your database | vs Hex |
| ThoughtSpot | 4.4+0.4 | $25/mo$11 less | No | Pioneered search-bar-style BI, now owns Mode after a 2023 acquisition | vs Hex |
 Alteryx | 4.0Same | Not listed | No | Data workflow automation with AI-powered analytics, letting analysts build repeatable prep and modelling pipelines without writing code. | vs Hex |
 Querio | 4.0Same | $1,167/mo$1,131 more | No | Charges no per-user fees, with unlimited viewer access to agentic notebooks | vs Hex |
 Polymer | 4.3+0.3 | $25/mo$11 less | Yes | Turns spreadsheets and business apps into dashboards, no SQL needed | vs Hex |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Hex.
Mode
4.3Free
vs Hex+0.3
Now a ThoughtSpot subsidiary, following a 2023 acquisition.
- SQL and Python notebooks for code-first analysis
- Acquired by ThoughtSpot in 2023 for $200 million
- Now a wholly owned ThoughtSpot subsidiary
Long-established, proven code-first analyst workflow
No longer an independent company, product direction now follows ThoughtSpot's roadmap
Deepnote
4.2$39/mo
vs Hex$3 more+0.2
Cloud notebook that combines Python, SQL, and AI assistance for teams doing collaborative data analysis.
- Real-time multiplayer editing across Python and SQL cells in one notebook
- Native SQL blocks that query connected databases without leaving the notebook
- Built-in AI assistant for generating, explaining, and debugging code
Multiplayer editing removes the file-passing friction of local Jupyter notebooks
Team plan pricing per editor per month adds up for larger data teams
BlazeSQL
5.0$39/mo
vs Hex$3 more+1.0
A full AI data analyst, not just a text-to-SQL converter.
- Proactive, autonomous insight suggestions and weekly updates
- Self-learning database schema extraction
- Separate technical and business-user interfaces
Goes beyond query generation into proactive insight delivery
Broader feature set adds complexity versus a narrow SQL-only tool
Basedash
4.2$25/mo
vs Hex$11 less+0.2
Builds internal admin panels directly on top of your database.
- Auto-generated admin panels from an existing database
- Collaborative SQL editor for technical users
- Direct database viewing and editing for non-technical staff
Saves real engineering time versus building a custom internal tool
No free tier to test before committing
ThoughtSpot
4.4$25/mo
vs Hex$11 less+0.4
Pioneered search-bar-style BI, now owns Mode after a 2023 acquisition.
- Search-bar-style natural-language querying, pioneered before the LLM era
- Acquired Mode Analytics in 2023 for $200 million
- Combines self-service search with code-first analyst workflows
Genuinely pioneering search-first BI interface predating conversational AI trends
No free tier or transparent self-serve pricing
Alteryx
4.0Not listed
vs HexSame
Data workflow automation with AI-powered analytics, letting analysts build repeatable prep and modelling pipelines without writing code.
- Visual, repeatable data workflow automation
- Data preparation, blending and enrichment
- AI-powered analytics across the platform
Workflows make analysis repeatable instead of rebuilt each cycle
Enterprise licensing costs are substantial
Querio
4.0$1,167/mo
vs Hex$1,131 moreSame
Charges no per-user fees, with unlimited viewer access to agentic notebooks.
- Agentic notebooks converting plain-English questions into SQL or Python
- No per-user fees, unlimited viewer access included
- Built for both internal teams and external customer-facing data access
No per-user pricing removes a common barrier to broad internal adoption
No free tier, a real financial commitment before testing thoroughly
Polymer
4.3$25/mo
vs Hex$11 less+0.3
Turns spreadsheets and business apps into dashboards, no SQL needed.
- Direct connections to Airtable, Shopify, and similar business apps
- No SQL or data pipeline required
- Automatic dashboard generation from connected data
No SQL knowledge required to build working dashboards
Less flexible than code-first BI tools for complex custom analysis
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Hex free?
Hex has a free plan, and paid plans start from $36/mo.
What is the best free alternative to Hex?
BlazeSQL is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (5.0 out of 5). Other free options: Mode, Polymer, Deepnote.
What is the cheapest alternative to Hex?
Among paid plans, Basedash has the lowest starting price (from $25/mo). If you need it free, start with BlazeSQL.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.