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Metabase vs Mode(2026)

Metabase is better for teams that need free open source. Mode is the stronger choice if sql + python in one tool. Metabase is open-source (from $0) and Mode is freemium (from $0).

Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.

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Metabase logo

Metabase

open-source

Metabase is an open-source BI tool that lets anyone in your company — not just analysts — ask questions of your database and build dashboards with a no-SQL query builder.

Starting at $0

Visit Metabase
Mode logo

Mode

freemium

Mode is a collaborative analytics platform combining SQL notebooks, Python/R analysis, and interactive dashboards — designed for data analysts who want more power than BI tools offer.

Starting at $0

Visit Mode

How Do Metabase and Mode Compare on Features?

FeatureMetabaseMode
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
Starting price$0$0
No-SQL question builder
Dashboards
Scheduled reports
Embedding
SQL editor
Caching
Self-hosted or cloud
SQL notebooks
Python + R notebooks
Dashboard builder
Chart library (25+ types)
Query scheduling
Report sharing
Data catalog

Metabase Pros and Cons vs Mode

M

Metabase

+Free open source
+Non-technical user friendly
+Easy embedding
+Active community
Performance on large datasets
Complex permissions in OSS
Limited advanced analytics
M

Mode

+SQL + Python in one tool
+Good for data analysts
+Collaboration features
+Free tier available
Overkill for simple dashboards
Less no-code friendly
Smaller market share

Should You Use Metabase or Mode?

Choose Metabase if…

  • Free open source
  • Non-technical user friendly
  • Easy embedding

Choose Mode if…

  • SQL + Python in one tool
  • Good for data analysts
  • Collaboration features

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