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Business Intelligence · head to head

Mode vs Yarn

Mode logo

Mode

Business Intelligence

Collaborative analytics for data teams

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit ModeFull review
Yarn logo

Yarn

Developer Tools

Fast, reliable, and secure dependency management

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit YarnFull review

The short version

  • Mode is a collaborative analytics platform; Yarn is a package manager.
  • Yarn 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 Yarn falls short: Yarn 2+ (Berry) has limited ESM support which can be a constraint for some projects.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mode and Yarn actually diverge.

Attributes where Mode and Yarn differ
AttributeModeYarn
Pricing modelSubscriptionFree
PlatformsWebWeb, Linux, macOS, Windows
CategoryBusiness IntelligenceDeveloper Tools
Founded20132016

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

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 Yarn

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 Yarn
  • Data explorationnot Yarn
  • Ad-hoc reportingnot Yarn
  • Collaborative analysisnot Yarn
  • Embedded analyticsnot Yarn

Yarn

  • Monorepo teams managing dependencies across 50+ interdependent packagesnot Mode
  • Enterprise JavaScript projects ensuring reproducible builds across CI/CDnot Mode
  • Open-source projects with plugin ecosystems coordinating versionsnot Mode
  • Teams requiring consistent package installs regardless of network conditionsnot 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

Yarn

  • Yarn 2+ (Berry) has limited ESM support which can be a constraint for some projects
  • Smaller ecosystem and community compared to npm, though still substantial

Pricing, plan by plan

Mode

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

Yarn

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Yarn 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 Yarn if

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

Questions people ask

Is Mode or Yarn better?
Neither clearly leads. Mode starts at Free and Yarn at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mode or Yarn?
Mode starts at Free and Yarn at Free.
Does Mode or Yarn run on more platforms?
Mode runs on Web. Yarn runs on Web, Linux, macOS, Windows.
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 Yarn is typically brought in for.
What can Mode do that Yarn 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
Yarn: What is Yarn's main advantage over npm?

Yarn downloads packages in parallel, significantly reducing installation time. It uses a yarn.lock file for deterministic installs, ensuring identical package versions across machines and preventing version conflicts common with npm.

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
Yarn: Can I use Yarn in offline environments?

Yes, Yarn supports secure offline environments. The yarn.lock file enables reproducible installs without requiring new downloads.

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
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