vioscaleAI
Comparison

Lightdash vs Mode

On the evidence we track, Lightdash leads this comparison with a composite score of 64/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.

Lightdash full profile →Mode full profile →
Machine formatsMarkdownJSONGraphQLMarkdown is open. JSON and GraphQL need a free key.
★Lightdash64
Mode49
Score
vioscaleAI score
Lightdash64 / 100medium · 73%
Mode49 / 100low · 43%
Pricing
Free tier
Lightdash✓
Mode✓
Model
Lightdashfreemium
Modefreemium
Price level
Lightdashlow
Modelow
Transparent
Lightdash✓
Mode✗
Integrations
Count
Lightdash13
Mode–
Security
Certifications
LightdashSOC 2 Type II
Mode–
Gdpr
Lightdash✓
Mode–
Hipaa
Lightdash✓
Mode–
Soc2
Lightdash✓
Mode–
Vulnerabilities
Reliability
Status page
Lightdash✓
Mode✓
Adoption
Dependent repos
Lightdash14
Mode–
Github stars
Lightdash6,185
Mode–
Activity
Commits last 30d
Lightdash100
Mode–
Release
History
Lightdash20 items
Mode–
Language
Primary
LightdashTypeScript
Mode–
Market
Availability
Content
Faq
Lightdash7 items
Mode4 items

Capabilities

Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for bi software. “-” means undocumented, not absent.

Core
BI paradigm
LightdashGoverned dashboards
ModeGoverned dashboards
Semantic / modelling layer
Lightdashdbt metrics
Mode-
Engine
Warehouse-native (SQL push-down)
Lightdash✓
Mode-
Deployment
Self-hostable / OSS core
Lightdash✓
Mode✗
Managed cloud available
Lightdash✓
Mode✓
Intelligence
Natural-language query / AI copilot
Lightdash✓
Mode-
Delivery
Embedded / white-label analytics
Lightdash✓
Mode✓
Scheduled reports / alerting
Lightdash✓
Mode-
Governance
Row-level security & SSO/SAML
Lightdash✓
Mode-
Commercial
Per-seat pricing published
Lightdash✓
Mode✗
Free tier / free desktop
Lightdash✓
Mode✓
Ecosystem
dbt-native integration
Lightdash✓
Mode-
Data-source connector breadth
Lightdash9 data warehouses (BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift, Databricks, Postgres, Trino, C
ModeModern data stack integration

What each one is

The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.

Lightdash

Leader

An agentic BI platform that defines trusted metrics and business logic in dbt, then powers self-serve analytics across dashboards, natural-language AI agents, and embedded data apps. Available as open-source for self-hosting or managed cloud.

Independently observed

Mode

Mode is a collaborative BI platform that unites data teams and business teams around data. It provides SQL-based analysis, self-service reporting, custom data apps, and interactive dashboards in a single platform.

Independently observed

Pricing

List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.

Lightdash

Leader
from $3000/moHybridFree tier21-day trial

Open source free tier, Cloud Pro at $3,000/month (unlimited users), Enterprise custom. No per-seat pricing.

  • Open SourceFree
    • Unlimited seats
    • Data explorer and report builder
    • Native dbt integration
    • Scheduled deliveries
    • Alerting
    • +11 more
  • Cloud Pro$3,000/month flat rate, unlimited users and visualizations
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited visualizations
    • Native dbt integration with open semantic layer
    • Scheduled reports and alerting
    • Dashboards as code
    • +11 more
  • EnterpriseContact sales
    • All Cloud Pro features, plus:
    • Cloud or on-premises deployment
    • SAML 2.0 and SCIM 2.0 provisioning
    • Advanced user management with custom roles
    • SOC 2 Type II compliance
    • +9 more
as of verify ↗

Mode

HybridFree tier

Free tier available. Premium pricing available on request.

  • Mode StudioFree
  • Mode BusinessContact sales
  • Mode EnterpriseContact sales
as of verify ↗

Platform & deployment

Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.

Platforms
Web
Lightdash✓
Mode✓
CLI
Lightdash✓
Mode✗
Deployment
Cloud / SaaS
Lightdash✓
Mode✓
Self-hosted
Lightdash✓
Mode✗

Integrations

What each product connects to. Counts come from the vendor's own integration directory where one exists.

Lightdash

Leader
21 total
  • BigQuery
  • Snowflake
  • Redshift
  • Databricks
  • Postgres
  • Trino
  • ClickHouse
  • Athena
  • DuckDB
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Azure DevOps
  • Bitbucket
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Sheets
  • dbt
  • Rollstack
  • MotherDuck
  • Google Slides
  • PowerPoint
Independently observed

Mode

Not documented yet.

Still deciding?

Lightdash or Mode: which one depends on you

A composite score cannot know your constraints. Describe them and both get re-weighted against what you actually need, with the evidence behind every position.

Free to run, no account needed to start. How the evaluation works

Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.