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Software · head to head

Mode vs NocoDB

Mode logo

Mode

Software

Collaborative analytics for data teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
NocoDB logo

NocoDB

Software

Open-source no-code database platform with REST and GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Mode free tier limited to 4GB RAM and 1 CPU for SQL notebooks, insufficient for large datasets; NocoDB the free cloud tier is capped at 3 editor seats, 1,000 records and 1 GB of storage
  • They diverge on capability: Mode covers SQL Editor, NocoDB covers REST API.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mode and NocoDB actually diverge.

Attributes where Mode and NocoDB differ
AttributeModeNocoDB
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
PlatformsWebCloud, Self-hosted, Docker
Founded20132020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Mode

  • SQL Editor
  • Python/R Notebooks
  • Interactive Reports
  • Version Control
  • Scheduling
  • Snowflake
  • Redshift
  • BigQuery

Only in NocoDB

  • REST API
  • GraphQL API
  • No-code database
  • Multiple SQL databases
  • Webhooks
  • Automation
  • Cloud support
  • Self-hosted support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Mode

  • Self-service analyticsnot NocoDB
  • Data explorationnot NocoDB
  • Ad-hoc reportingnot NocoDB
  • Collaborative analysisnot NocoDB
  • Embedded analyticsnot NocoDB

NocoDB

  • Self-hosting an open source alternative to a spreadsheet databasenot Mode
  • Putting a spreadsheet interface over an existing Postgres or MySQL databasenot Mode
  • Building internal tools on structured data with an APInot Mode
  • Team bases with per-field and per-table permissions on the paid tiersnot Mode

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Mode

  • Free tier limited to 4GB RAM and 1 CPU for SQL notebooks, insufficient for large datasets
  • Requires SQL knowledge for most analysis tasks, creating dependency on technical resources
  • Paid plan pricing not publicly listed; requires sales consultation
  • Recently acquired by ThoughtSpot in 2026, creating product direction uncertainty
  • Limited customization options for visual aspects and embedded analytics

NocoDB

  • The free cloud tier is capped at 3 editor seats, 1,000 records and 1 GB of storage
  • Records are the metering unit on cloud, so Plus covers 50K and Business 300K rather than scaling by seat alone
  • Row-level security, audit log retention and team hierarchy require the Scale tier
  • SCIM provisioning and air-gapped deployment are Enterprise only
  • The self-hosted Community edition is unlimited on records and seats but does without workflows, scripts and dashboards, which start at the paid self-hosted tiers

Pricing, plan by plan

Mode

Free
  • FreeFree
    • SQL Editor
    • Python/R Notebooks
    • Basic Charts
  • Business$65/month
    • Advanced Visualizations
    • Collaboration
    • Integrations

NocoDB

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Self-hosted NocoDB
    • Community support
  • Starter$5/monthly
    • Cloud hosting
    • Basic features

Which should you pick?

Choose Mode if

  • You need sql editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want python/r notebooks.
Mode review

Choose NocoDB if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want graphql api.
NocoDB review

Questions people ask

Is Mode or NocoDB better?
Neither clearly leads. Mode starts at Free and NocoDB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mode or NocoDB?
Mode starts at Free and NocoDB at Free.
Does Mode or NocoDB run on more platforms?
Mode runs on Web. NocoDB runs on Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
Can I use Mode for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Mode best used for?
Mode is most often used for self-service analytics, data exploration, ad-hoc reporting, collaborative analysis. Of those, self-service analytics and data exploration are not what NocoDB is typically brought in for.
What can Mode do that NocoDB cannot?
Mode covers SQL Editor, Python/R Notebooks, Interactive Reports, Version Control. NocoDB covers REST API, GraphQL API, No-code database, Multiple SQL databases.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mode: What languages does Mode support for analysis?

Mode notebooks support SQL, Python (3.11 with pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, matplotlib), and R (4.2.0 with ggplot2, dplyr, tidyr). Both Python and R allow additional library installation at runtime.

Source
Mode: Can I integrate Mode notebook results into reports?

Yes. Mode allows adding notebook cell results directly to reports, with synchronized scheduling so reports re-run to keep data current.

Source
Mode: Does Mode support collaborative analysis?

Yes. Mode notebooks provide moveable code blocks and markdown cells enabling exploratory analysis and team collaboration on data queries and visualizations.

Source
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Related pages

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