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Free Mode alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

3 of the 5 Mode alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). Metabase, Hex and Tableau rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Mode has been acquired. Acquired by ThoughtSpot, according to a notice on Mode's own website; still sold as Mode.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Metabase logoMetabaseOpen source$100/month (Starter)YesWeb, Self-hosted5 of 579.8
2Hex logoHexFree plan + paid$36 per editor/month (Professional)NoWeb5 of 556.8
3Tableau logoTableauFree plan + paid—NoWeb, Windows, macOS +15 of 553.6
  1. Metabase logo

    1. MetabaseTop pick

    Best for: Startups and product teams wanting quick, self-hosted dashboards on top of their own database

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    79.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Mode

    Open-source and self-hostable, with a friendlier question builder for non-analysts.

    Pros

    • Free open-source edition with unlimited users
    • Point-and-click question builder plus a SQL editor
    • Easy to self-host with Docker or a single JAR file
    • Popular choice for embedding analytics in a product

    Cons

    • Row-level permissions and SSO need a paid plan
    • Lighter data modelling than Tableau or Power BI
    • Paid cloud plans start at a noticeable monthly base price
    Visit Metabase Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Metabase a good Mode alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    AGPL (Open Source Edition)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026metabase.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Open Source, unlimited users
    Checked Nov 8, 2026metabase.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $100/month (Starter)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026metabase.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Nov 8, 2026metabase.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Docker or JAR
    Checked Nov 8, 2026metabase.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Hex logo

    2. Hex

    Best for: Analytics teams on a cloud warehouse who want notebooks that become shareable data apps

    Free plan + paidWeb

    56.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Mode

    Notebook-first workspace mixing SQL and Python cells, with apps for sharing results.

    Pros

    • Notebooks publish as interactive apps for non-technical colleagues
    • Works with dbt, Airflow and Dagster
    • Free trial of the Team plan needs no payment card

    Cons

    • Community plan is limited to small compute and light AI use
    • Per-editor pricing is high compared with general notebook tools
    • Larger machines and GPUs are billed per minute on top of the plan
    Visit Hex Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.360
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Hex a good Mode alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes (Community)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hex.tech(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $36 per editor/month (Professional)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hex.tech(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days (Team), no card
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hex.tech(opens source in a new tab)
    Integrations
    Airflow, Dagster, dbt
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hex.tech(opens source in a new tab)
    Team plan
    $75 per editor/month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hex.tech(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Tableau logo

    3. Tableau

    Best for: Analyst teams that want polished, interactive dashboards and can budget for per-user licences

    Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Self-hosted

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Mode

    Deeper visual analytics and a large community, at enterprise prices.

    Pros

    • Drag-and-drop canvas makes rich, interactive charts without code
    • Choice of hosted Tableau Cloud or self-managed Tableau Server
    • Free Tableau Public for learning and sharing public visualizations
    • Large community gallery and plenty of training material

    Cons

    • Per-user licensing gets expensive as more people need access
    • Free Tableau Public workbooks are visible to anyone
    • Desktop authoring app has no Linux version
    Visit Tableau Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Tableau a good Mode alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free option
    Tableau Public (public workbooks only)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.tableau.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free desktop app
    Tableau Desktop Public Edition
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.tableau.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Hosted version
    Tableau Cloud
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.tableau.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Tableau Server on Windows or Linux
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.tableau.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    REST API
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.tableau.com(opens source in a new tab)