| Primary workflow | Local Python notebook IDE: AI-assisted analysis, autonomous ML experiments, persistent notebooks, and Mercury app publishing. | Conversational AI workflow where users upload files, ask questions in natural language, and receive results inside a chat session. |
| Execution environment | Runs entirely on your local machine, so data and code stay in your own environment by default. | Runs in a cloud sandbox where code is executed temporarily as part of a chat workflow rather than a persistent notebook environment. |
| Privacy model | Local-first by default; no data upload is required unless you choose an external AI provider. | Files are uploaded for processing, and privacy behavior depends on plan type, workspace context, and settings. |
| Code transparency | All AI-generated code appears directly in notebook cells and stays fully visible, editable, and rerunnable. | Generated code can be viewed and copied, but the interface is not designed as an editable notebook workflow. |
| Reproducibility | High: .ipynb notebooks and code history remain available locally, so analyses can be revisited and rerun at any time. | More limited: analysis is tied to chat sessions and temporary execution environments rather than a persistent local notebook artifact. |
| ML experimentation | AutoLab runs autonomous experiments with feature search, pipeline comparison, and performance optimization. | ML code can be generated on request, but experimentation remains prompt-driven and there is no built-in autonomous pipeline search. |
| Sharing results | Mercury publishes notebooks as interactive web apps, and .ipynb files remain portable. | Results can be reviewed and shared through the chat experience, but there is no built-in notebook-to-app publishing workflow. |
| AI provider flexibility | Supports your own API keys, Local LLMs, third-party providers, or the hosted Free, Pro, or Business plans. | Tied to OpenAI models and infrastructure rather than a bring-your-own-provider model. |
| Best fit user | Data scientists and analysts who need persistent, private Python workflows with AI assistance and autonomous experimentation. | Business users, analysts, and non-programmers who need fast exploratory analysis without setting up a local environment. |
| Pricing model | Free, Pro, and Business hosted plans, plus a separate $199 perpetual license with one year of updates for Local LLMs and your own provider keys. | Free tier with limited usage plus paid consumer and business plans depending on access level and privacy needs. |