Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Mode.
Want the closest match?
ThoughtSpotMost similar to Mode in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens ThoughtSpot in a new tab)Need a free plan?
PolymerHas a free plan, rated 4.3 out of 5.
Visit (opens Polymer in a new tab)Want the lowest price?
AI2SQLFrom $15/mo, the lowest starting price here.
Visit (opens AI2SQL in a new tab)Want the best rated?
DeepnoteRated 4.2 out of 5 in our review, against 4.3 for Mode.
Visit (opens Deepnote in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Mode, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 ModeBaseline | 4.3 | Free | Yes | Now a ThoughtSpot subsidiary, following a 2023 acquisition | |
| ThoughtSpot | 4.4+0.1 | $25/mo | No | Pioneered search-bar-style BI, now owns Mode after a 2023 acquisition | vs Mode |
 Hex | 4.0−0.3 | $36/mo | Yes | Notebooks for analysis, then a polished app for sharing results | vs Mode |
| AI2SQL | 4.1−0.2 | $15/mo | Yes | A narrow, focused text-to-SQL converter, nothing else bolted on | vs Mode |
| Polymer | 4.3Same | $25/mo | Yes | Turns spreadsheets and business apps into dashboards, no SQL needed | vs Mode |
 Querio | 4.0−0.3 | $1,167/mo | No | Charges no per-user fees, with unlimited viewer access to agentic notebooks | vs Mode |
 Metabase | 3.8−0.5 | Free | Yes | Metabase AI answers natural-language questions on every tier - including the free, self-hosted open-source edition - with inspectable, verifiable queries. | vs Mode |
 RATH | 4.0−0.3 | Free | Yes | Open-source, automated exploratory analysis from Kanaries | vs Mode |
| Deepnote | 4.2−0.1 | $39/mo | Yes | Cloud notebook that combines Python, SQL, and AI assistance for teams doing collaborative data analysis. | vs Mode |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Mode.
ThoughtSpot
4.4$25/mo
vs Mode+0.1
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
Hex
4.0$36/mo
vs Mode−0.3
Notebooks for analysis, then a polished app for sharing results.
- Collaborative SQL and Python notebooks
- Polished app-building layer for sharing results
- Real-time multi-analyst collaboration
Combines flexible code-based analysis with a clean sharing layer
Team-scale pricing required for larger organizations
AI2SQL
4.1$15/mo
vs Mode−0.2
A narrow, focused text-to-SQL converter, nothing else bolted on.
- Natural-language to SQL query generation
- Support for multiple SQL dialects
- Narrow, focused scope without bundled dashboards
Simple, focused tool without unnecessary bundled features
No dashboards or reporting layer for business users
Polymer
4.3$25/mo
vs ModeSame
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
Querio
4.0$1,167/mo
vs Mode−0.3
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
Metabase
3.8Free
vs Mode−0.5
Metabase AI answers natural-language questions on every tier - including the free, self-hosted open-source edition - with inspectable, verifiable queries.
- Metabase AI - natural-language querying on every tier, including free
- AI-guided exploration with drill-through root-cause analysis
- MCP server integration for broader AI workflows
AI querying available even on the free, self-hosted open-source tier
Pro and Enterprise tier pricing isn't shown on the landing page
RATH
4.0Free
vs Mode−0.3
Open-source, automated exploratory analysis from Kanaries.
- Automated exploratory data analysis and visualization discovery
- Open-source, self-hostable foundation
- Algorithmic pattern detection across variable combinations
Open-source licensing avoids vendor lock-in
Smaller community and support resources than major commercial BI platforms
Deepnote
4.2$39/mo
vs Mode−0.1
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
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Mode free?
Mode has a free plan.
What is the best free alternative to Mode?
Polymer is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (4.3 out of 5). Other free options: Deepnote, AI2SQL, Hex.
What is the cheapest alternative to Mode?
Among paid plans, AI2SQL has the lowest starting price (from $15/mo). If you need it free, start with Polymer.
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.