Adea vs Hex
Adea is the Hex alternative for teams that want the answer without the notebook. It sets itself up on your database, answers in plain words, builds dashboards and reports, and watches every number when no notebook is running.
Free planNo cardRead-only access
“Our data team already builds apps in Hex.”
Every app is one more thing they built and now maintain, and every new question goes back to them. Adea answers new questions itself, builds the report on request and watches every number, so the data team can work on what really needs them.
The Hex alternative that sets itself up.
Choose Adea when:
- 1
You don't have a data team, or it's busy with other work
- 2
Anyone should be able to ask in plain words and get the chart in seconds
- 3
You want reports and dashboards from a question, not from a notebook
- 4
You want numbers watched every night, not only when a notebook runs
Adea vs Hex side by side
| Question | Hex | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Answering questions, building reports and dashboards, and watching every number of the business | Notebooks where a data team combines SQL, Python and no-code cells |
| Asking a question | Ask in plain words and get the answer in seconds, with the query and its sources shown | Write SQL or Python in a notebook, with AI help |
| Reports and dashboards | Dashboards from a question in plain words. Bring a report you already have as a PDF, screenshot or Excel file, and Adea rebuilds it from your live data. Send any of it on a schedule | Apps and reports a data team publishes from a notebook |
| Who can build them | Anyone who can ask a question | Data teams; others use the apps they publish |
| Getting started | Connect a read-only database. Adea learns what the tables mean, works out what's normal and suggests the numbers to watch, the same day | Connect a warehouse, then build a notebook |
| When a number moves | Checks every number each night against what is normal for it, tells you in the morning, and tests the likely causes | A notebook or app runs on a schedule |
| Where answers arrive | In Adea, Slack, Teams, mail and the AI assistant you already use | In Hex, by mail and in Slack |
| Personal data | Guardian checks every query before it runs and flags large pulls of personal data. On Business it can hold them until an admin says yes | Workspace permissions your data team sets |
About Hex
A workspace where data teams combine SQL, Python and no-code cells in notebooks, and turn the analysis into apps others can use.
Written from how each tool describes itself, in October 2026. Tools change, so check theirs for today's details. Found something wrong? Write to us and we'll correct it.
Choose Hex when
- Your data team works in notebooks with SQL and Python
- You publish custom interactive apps
Switching from Hex takes three steps
Start on the same database. Nothing in Hex has to change until you're ready.
- 1
Connect the same database, read-only
The one Hex already reads from. Adea only reads, and refuses a user that can write.
- 2
Adea sets itself up
It learns what your tables mean, works out what's normal and suggests the numbers to watch. You check the first ones.
- 3
Recreate the reports you rely on
Bring a screenshot or PDF of a Hex report, or its Excel export. Adea rebuilds it from your live data, ready to send on a schedule.
Not ready to switch everything? Run both while you move. Adea only reads the database, so Hex keeps working as it does today.
Questions
What is the best alternative to Hex?
If you don't have a data team, or it's stretched, Adea. Anyone asks in plain words, Adea builds the dashboards and reports, and it watches every number each night.
How is Adea different from Hex?
Hex is a workspace where a data team builds notebooks and apps. Adea needs no one to build: it sets itself up, answers anyone in plain words and keeps watching the numbers.
Is Adea a replacement for Hex?
For everyday questions, dashboards and scheduled reports, yes. A data team that lives in notebooks can keep Hex for its own analysis.
Can I use Adea with Hex?
Yes. Adea connects to your database, not to Hex, so Hex keeps working exactly as it does today.
Is my data safe with Adea?
Adea connects with a database user that can only read, and refuses one that can write. Guardian checks every query before it runs and flags large pulls of personal data. Everything travels over HTTPS, the passwords you give Adea are encrypted with a key that belongs to your company alone, and no other company can see your numbers.
How long does it take to set up?
A couple of minutes to connect a database. Then Adea sets itself up: it learns what your tables mean and suggests the numbers to watch, and you check the first one. You can start free, with no card.
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