Software · head to head
Mode vs Periscope Data
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.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Mode and Periscope Data actually diverge.
| Attribute | Mode | Periscope Data |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $1000/month |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Cloud |
| Founded | 2013 | 2012 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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
- 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.
Choose Periscope Data if
- You need python/r integration.
- You work on Web, Cloud.
- You also want caching.
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.
SourceMode: 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.
SourceMode: 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