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Business Intelligence · head to head

Mode vs pnpm

Mode logo

Mode

Business Intelligence

Collaborative analytics for data teams

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit ModeFull review
pnpm logo

pnpm

Developer Tools

Fast, disk space efficient package manager

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit pnpmFull review

The short version

  • Mode is a collaborative analytics platform; pnpm is a fast, disk space efficient package manager.
  • pnpm is free; Mode starts at $65/mo.
  • Where Mode falls short: free tier limited to 4GB RAM and 1 CPU for SQL notebooks, insufficient for large datasets.
  • Where pnpm falls short: requires command-line proficiency to use.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mode and pnpm actually diverge.

Attributes where Mode and pnpm differ
AttributeModepnpm
PlatformsWebLinux, Windows, macOS
CategoryBusiness IntelligenceDeveloper Tools
Founded20132017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

Not yet recorded: pricing model for pnpm.

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 pnpm

Nothing recorded that Mode does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Mode

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

pnpm

  • Installing dependencies faster than npm in monorepo workspacesnot Mode
  • Sharing common dependencies across multiple projects to save disk spacenot Mode
  • Preventing dependency version conflicts in workspace environmentsnot Mode
  • Managing workspaces with many interdependent packagesnot 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

pnpm

  • Requires command-line proficiency to use
  • Community-driven support only

Pricing, plan by plan

Mode

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

pnpm

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the pnpm review.

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 pnpm if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
pnpm review

Questions people ask

Is Mode or pnpm better?
Neither clearly leads. Mode starts at Free and pnpm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mode or pnpm?
Mode starts at Free and pnpm at Free.
Does Mode or pnpm run on more platforms?
Mode runs on Web. pnpm runs on Linux, Windows, macOS.
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 pnpm is typically brought in for.
What can Mode do that pnpm cannot?
Mode covers SQL Editor, Python/R Notebooks, Interactive Reports, Version Control.

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
pnpm: Is pnpm free and open source?

Yes. pnpm is free and open source software developed for Node.js. Version 10 and 11 are currently available.

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
pnpm: How does pnpm save disk space?

pnpm uses a content-addressable store with hard linking and symlinks to avoid duplication. All files are saved in a single place on disk and hard-linked to individual projects, dramatically reducing storage requirements compared to npm.

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
pnpm: Is pnpm faster than npm?

Yes. pnpm performs installation in three stages: dependency resolution, directory structure calculation, and linking. Packages are fetched and linked as soon as possible, making it significantly faster than npm's sequential approach.

Source
pnpm: Does pnpm support monorepos?

Yes. pnpm has built-in support for monorepositories. You can create a workspace using pnpm-workspace.yaml to unite multiple projects in a single repository.

Source
pnpm: How does pnpm handle node_modules differently than npm?

pnpm uses symlinks to add only direct dependencies to node_modules root, preventing accidental access to undeclared dependencies. This encourages more explicit dependency management compared to npm's flattened node_modules structure.

Source
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