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Business Intelligence · head to head

Mode vs Periscope Data

Mode logo

Mode

Business Intelligence

Collaborative analytics for data teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Periscope Data logo

Periscope Data

Business Intelligence

SQL and Python analytics platform

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Mode has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mode free tier limited to 4GB RAM and 1 CPU for SQL notebooks, insufficient for large datasets; Periscope Data the periscopedata.com domain now redirects to sisense.com, so Periscope Data is no longer sold as a standalone product
  • They diverge on capability: Mode covers Python/R Notebooks, Periscope Data covers Python/R Integration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mode and Periscope Data actually diverge.

Attributes where Mode and Periscope Data differ
AttributeModePeriscope Data
Starting priceFree$1000/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Cloud
Founded20132012

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Business Intelligence).

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

  • Python/R Notebooks
  • Interactive Reports
  • Scheduling
  • Databricks
  • Slack

Only in Periscope Data

  • Python/R Integration
  • Caching
  • Dashboards
  • MySQL
  • Presto
  • Cloud support

Both cover

  • SQL Editor
  • Version Control
  • Snowflake
  • Redshift
  • BigQuery
  • PostgreSQL
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Mode

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

Periscope Data

  • SQL-based analytics and dashboards over a data warehousenot Mode
  • Python and R analysis alongside SQL in one workflownot Mode
  • Shared dashboards for data teamsnot 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

Periscope Data

  • The periscopedata.com domain now redirects to sisense.com, so Periscope Data is no longer sold as a standalone product
  • No Periscope Data pricing, plan or seat rate remains published at the original domain
  • Buyers must now purchase through Sisense, whose own pricing is not published as a rate card

Pricing, plan by plan

Mode

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

Periscope Data

$1000/month
  • Team$1000/month
    • SQL Analytics
    • Python/R
    • Dashboards
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced Features
    • Custom Integrations
    • Premium Support

Which should you pick?

Choose Mode if

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

Choose Periscope Data if

  • You need python/r integration.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want caching.
Periscope Data review

Questions people ask

Is Mode or Periscope Data better?
Neither clearly leads. Mode starts at Free and Periscope Data at $1000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mode or Periscope Data?
Mode has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Mode and $1000/month for Periscope Data.
Does Mode or Periscope Data run on more platforms?
Mode runs on Web. Periscope Data runs on Web, Cloud.
Can I use Mode for free?
Yes. Mode has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Periscope Data starts at $1000/month.
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 Periscope Data is typically brought in for.
What can Mode do that Periscope Data cannot?
Mode covers Python/R Notebooks, Interactive Reports, Scheduling, Databricks. Periscope Data covers Python/R Integration, Caching, Dashboards, MySQL. Both handle SQL Editor, Version Control, Snowflake, Redshift.

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
Periscope Data: Does Sisense offer a free trial?

Yes. Sisense offers a free trial of their Self-Serve plan. You can try features like data warehouse connectivity, built-in AI for natural-language queries, auto-narratives, and customer assistant features.

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
Periscope Data: What is the difference between Sisense Self-Serve and Enterprise plans?

The Self-Serve plan is for startups and teams and includes basic connectivity and AI features with iframe embedding. The Enterprise plan is for regulated industries and includes multi-tenant architecture, HIPAA readiness, column-level security, single sign-on, on-premise deployment options, 99.99% SLA, and 30-day backups.

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
Periscope Data: How do I access the Sisense Enterprise plan?

The Enterprise plan requires contacting Sisense for a demo and custom quote. There is no self-service signup for this tier.

Source
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