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Business Intelligence · head to head

Mode vs ThoughtSpot

Mode logo

Mode

Business Intelligence

Collaborative analytics for data teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ThoughtSpot logo

ThoughtSpot

Business Intelligence

AI-powered analytics for the modern enterprise

From
$12999/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; ThoughtSpot limited chart customization options; font, color, and size customizations for visualizations are restricted
  • They diverge on capability: Mode covers SQL Editor, ThoughtSpot covers Natural Language Search.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mode and ThoughtSpot actually diverge.

Attributes where Mode and ThoughtSpot differ
AttributeModeThoughtSpot
Starting priceFree$12999/year
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Cloud, On-Premises
Founded20132012

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
  • PostgreSQL
  • Slack

Only in ThoughtSpot

  • Natural Language Search
  • SpotIQ AI
  • Liveboards
  • Embedded Analytics
  • Data Modeling
  • Azure Synapse
  • Teradata
  • Mobile support

Both cover

  • Snowflake
  • Redshift
  • BigQuery
  • Databricks
  • 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

ThoughtSpot

  • 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

ThoughtSpot

  • Limited chart customization options; font, color, and size customizations for visualizations are restricted
  • Data modeling setup is complex and requires specialized expertise
  • High implementation costs restrict adoption for smaller organizations
  • Requires quality data and user training to fully realize benefits

Pricing, plan by plan

Mode

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

ThoughtSpot

$12999/year
  • StartupSpot$12999/year
    • Unlimited internal users
    • Up to 50 external customers
  • Essentials$25/per user per month
    • Self-service analytics
  • Pro$50/per user per month
    • Advanced analytics
    • Agentic 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 ThoughtSpot if

  • You need natural language search.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, On-Premises.
  • You also want spotiq ai.
ThoughtSpot review

Questions people ask

Is Mode or ThoughtSpot better?
Neither clearly leads. Mode starts at Free and ThoughtSpot at $12999/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mode or ThoughtSpot?
Mode has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Mode and $12999/year for ThoughtSpot.
Does Mode or ThoughtSpot run on more platforms?
Mode runs on Web. ThoughtSpot 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. ThoughtSpot starts at $12999/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 ThoughtSpot cannot?
Mode covers SQL Editor, Python/R Notebooks, Interactive Reports, Version Control. ThoughtSpot covers Natural Language Search, SpotIQ AI, Liveboards, Embedded Analytics. Both handle Snowflake, Redshift, BigQuery, Databricks.

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
ThoughtSpot: What is ThoughtSpot's core capability?

ThoughtSpot pioneered search-driven analytics, allowing users to type questions and get charts back instantly without complex setup. This semantic layer approach democratizes data access for business users.

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
ThoughtSpot: What are ThoughtSpot's pricing plans?

ThoughtSpot offers StartupSpot at $12,999 per year for startups, an Essentials plan starting at $25 per user per month, a Pro plan at $50 per user per month, and custom Enterprise pricing for large deployments.

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
ThoughtSpot: Does ThoughtSpot support embedded analytics?

Yes, ThoughtSpot provides embedded analytics capabilities for building data-driven applications, with pricing varying based on deployment model and scale.

Source
ThoughtSpot: What is SpotIQ?

SpotIQ is ThoughtSpot's AI-driven anomaly detection feature that automatically identifies interesting patterns and insights in data without manual configuration.

Source
ThoughtSpot: Can ThoughtSpot handle complex data models?

While ThoughtSpot excels in self-service BI and intuitive querying, data modeling can be complex and requires expertise to set up properly.

Source
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