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Business Intelligence · head to head

Mode vs Sisense

Mode logo

Mode

Business Intelligence

Collaborative analytics for data teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sisense logo

Sisense

Business Intelligence

Infuse analytics everywhere

From
$10000/year
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; Sisense pricing lacks transparency with opaque scaling costs and hidden fees for onboarding and training
  • They diverge on capability: Mode covers SQL Editor, Sisense covers Embedded Analytics.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mode and Sisense actually diverge.

Attributes where Mode and Sisense differ
AttributeModeSisense
Starting priceFree$10000/year
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Cloud, On-premises
Founded20132004

Identical on both: 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

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

Only in Sisense

  • Embedded Analytics
  • AI/ML Integration
  • In-chip Technology
  • White-labeling
  • REST API
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Google Cloud

Both cover

  • Snowflake
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Mode

  • Self-service analytics
  • Data exploration
  • Ad-hoc reporting
  • Collaborative analysis
  • Embedded analytics

Sisense

  • Self-service analytics
  • Data exploration
  • Ad-hoc reporting
  • Collaborative analysis
  • Embedded analytics

Both are used for self-service analytics, data exploration, ad-hoc reporting, collaborative analysis, embedded analytics, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Sisense

  • Pricing lacks transparency with opaque scaling costs and hidden fees for onboarding and training
  • Limited connector ecosystem compared to competitors; missing native connectors to many data sources
  • Dashboard customization options are limited; widgets cannot span multiple rows, restricting layout possibilities
  • Performance issues reported with large datasets and stability problems with data cubes

Pricing, plan by plan

Mode

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

Sisense

$10000/year
  • Small Team$10000/year minimum
    • Basic analytics dashboards
    • Limited data sources
  • Mid-Market$undefined/custom
    • Advanced analytics
    • Multiple data sources
    • Custom integrations
  • Enterprise$60000/year+
    • Advanced AI analytics
    • Premium support
    • Custom development

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 Sisense if

  • You need embedded analytics.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, On-premises.
  • You also want ai/ml integration.
Sisense review

Questions people ask

Is Mode or Sisense better?
Neither clearly leads. Mode starts at Free and Sisense at $10000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mode or Sisense?
Mode has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Mode and $10000/year for Sisense.
Does Mode or Sisense run on more platforms?
Mode runs on Web. Sisense runs on Web, Cloud, On-premises.
Can I use Mode for free?
Yes. Mode has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sisense starts at $10000/year.
What is Mode best used for?
Mode is most often used for self-service analytics, data exploration, ad-hoc reporting, collaborative analysis.
What can Mode do that Sisense cannot?
Mode covers SQL Editor, Python/R Notebooks, Interactive Reports, Version Control. Sisense covers Embedded Analytics, AI/ML Integration, In-chip Technology, White-labeling. Both handle Snowflake, Web support.

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
Sisense: What is Sisense primarily used for?

Sisense is an embedded analytics platform that combines data ingestion, modeling, and dashboarding, allowing organizations to embed analytics and insights directly into their applications and workflows.

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
Sisense: Does Sisense have a transparent pricing model?

Sisense pricing is not publicly listed and requires contacting sales. Typical costs start at $10,000 per year for small teams but can scale to $60,000+ annually depending on users, data volume, number of data sources, and complexity. AI capabilities typically add 20-30% to base costs.

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
Sisense: What data sources can Sisense connect to?

Sisense provides pre-built connectors for popular applications including Salesforce, Google Analytics, Zendesk, and others. It also supports custom connections through APIs and SDKs for specialized data sources.

Source
Sisense: Is Sisense easy to use for non-technical users?

Sisense requires significant technical expertise to set up, particularly for creating Elasticubes (database caches) which often need SQL code. While it promotes codeless reporting, typical implementations require a technical resource.

Source
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