Analytics & Reporting
Hex Review
Modern data workspace combining notebooks, spreadsheets, AI-native features, and collaborative dashboards — the tool for data teams that want notebook flexibility with spreadsheet accessibility.
Hex at a glance
The RevenueHoop take on Hex
Hex is the modern data workspace that combines the best of Mode (notebooks) and Equals (spreadsheets) into one platform, with AI-native features layered on top. For data teams that want the flexibility of code + the accessibility of spreadsheets + AI-augmented analysis, Hex is often meaningfully better than either Mode or Equals standalone. The tradeoff: Hex assumes some technical fluency, so it doesn't fit non-technical RevOps teams as cleanly as Equals does.
Best for
- Data science and analytics teams doing exploratory work
- Data-heavy RevOps orgs with SQL + Python fluency
- Companies whose analytics motion spans exploratory + production dashboards
- Teams that value AI-augmented analysis inside the notebook
- Any team where "notebook + spreadsheet + AI in one tool" is the ideal architecture
When to use it
Use Hex when your team's analytics work spans multiple modalities — notebooks for exploratory SQL and Python, spreadsheets for tabular data manipulation, dashboards for sharing. Hex handles all three in one workspace, and the AI-native features (Copilot for SQL, natural language queries) genuinely accelerate the workflow.
Hex also earns its place as the modern alternative for teams currently on Mode — same category, more modern UX, better AI integration, competitive pricing.
When NOT to use it
Skip Hex if your analysts are pure spreadsheet-first — Equals fits that mental model better. Skip it if you need enterprise semantic modeling; Looker's LookML architecture is more purpose-built for governed enterprise BI.
For pure financial modeling, Causal fits better. For traditional enterprise visualization, Tableau is more mature.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Best-in-class hybrid notebook + spreadsheet UX
- AI-native features (SQL Copilot, natural language queries)
- Native SQL + Python support
- Beautiful collaborative dashboards
- Fast product velocity from a modern team
- Fair pricing for data teams
Cons
- Requires some technical fluency (not for pure spreadsheet users)
- Enterprise semantic modeling trails Looker
- Vendor stability less established than Mode
- Deep dashboarding features trail Tableau
- Learning curve for the notebook + spreadsheet combo
Hex vs. the alternatives
Hex against the notebook-first, spreadsheet-first, and enterprise BI alternatives.
Primary UX
- Hex
- Notebook + spreadsheet hybrid ✅
- Mode
- Notebook
- Equals
- Spreadsheet
- Looker
- Semantic model
Best for
- Hex
- Modern data teams
- Mode
- Data teams (notebook-first)
- Equals
- RevOps analytics
- Looker
- Enterprise BI
AI-native features
- Hex
- Best ✅
- Mode
- Growing
- Equals
- Basic
- Looker
- Basic
SQL + Python support
- Hex
- ✅
- Mode
- ✅
- Equals
- SQL only
- Looker
- LookML
Best stage
- Hex
- Series B-C
- Mode
- Series B-C
- Equals
- Series A-C
- Looker
- Series C+ / Enterprise
Learning curve
- Hex
- Moderate
- Mode
- Moderate
- Equals
- Low
- Looker
- Steep
RH pick?
- Hex
- Data science teams ✅
- Mode
- Notebook-first analysts ✅
- Equals
- RevOps default ✅
- Looker
- Enterprise BI ✅
| Dimension | Hex | Mode | Equals | Looker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary UX | Notebook + spreadsheet hybrid ✅ | Notebook | Spreadsheet | Semantic model |
| Best for | Modern data teams | Data teams (notebook-first) | RevOps analytics | Enterprise BI |
| AI-native features | Best ✅ | Growing | Basic | Basic |
| SQL + Python support | ✅ | ✅ | SQL only | LookML |
| Best stage | Series B-C | Series B-C | Series A-C | Series C+ / Enterprise |
| Learning curve | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Steep |
| RH pick? | Data science teams ✅ | Notebook-first analysts ✅ | RevOps default ✅ | Enterprise BI ✅ |
The RevenueHoop opinion
Hex is the tool we recommend to data teams whose alternative is "I'm using Mode but the UX feels dated" or "I'm using Jupyter but I want collaboration built in." The hybrid architecture is genuinely useful — analysts move between notebook mode and spreadsheet mode without changing tools, and the AI-native features accelerate the workflow. For most Series B-C data teams evaluating BI tools, Hex should be on the shortlist alongside Mode.
— Written by the RevenueHoop team. Last updated July 2026.
Hex FAQ
Modern data workspace combining notebooks, spreadsheets, AI-native features, and collaborative dashboards — the tool for data teams that want notebook flexibility with spreadsheet accessibility. Hex is the modern data workspace that combines the best of Mode (notebooks) and Equals (spreadsheets) into one platform, with AI-native features layered on top. For data teams that want the flexibility of code + the accessibility of spreadsheets + AI-augmented analysis, Hex is often meaningfully better than either Mode or Equals standalone. The tradeoff: Hex assumes some technical fluency, so it doesn't fit non-technical RevOps teams as cleanly as Equals does.
Hex fits teams that need Data science and analytics teams doing exploratory work; Data-heavy RevOps orgs with SQL + Python fluency; Companies whose analytics motion spans exploratory + production dashboards; and Teams that value AI-augmented analysis inside the notebook.
Skip Hex if your analysts are pure spreadsheet-first — Equals fits that mental model better. Skip it if you need enterprise semantic modeling; Looker's LookML architecture is more purpose-built for governed enterprise BI.
The alternatives we compare Hex against are Mode; Equals; Looker; and Tableau. Hex against the notebook-first, spreadsheet-first, and enterprise BI alternatives.
Hex is the tool we recommend to data teams whose alternative is "I'm using Mode but the UX feels dated" or "I'm using Jupyter but I want collaboration built in." The hybrid architecture is genuinely useful — analysts move between notebook mode and spreadsheet mode without changing tools, and the AI-native features accelerate the workflow. For most Series B-C data teams evaluating BI tools, Hex should be on the shortlist alongside Mode.