Polinode

Polinode is a browser-based tool for organizational network analysis, combining relationship surveys, network visualizations and metrics. It is best suited to people analytics teams, consultants and researchers who need to map how people connect at work. Its free and individual plans make it approachable, but passive data integrations require an organization account.

Overview

Polinode can build a network from survey responses, imported files or passive data queries. Its survey tool gathers relationship data alongside demographic, engagement, culture and open-text responses, while imports accept Excel, GEXF and JSON. That range suits projects where teams need both purpose-built relationship questions and a way to analyze existing network data.

The visualization tool handles networks of up to 50,000 nodes and 250,000 edges, with more than 30 metrics on paid plans. Free accounts get only six basic metrics, so the free tier is better for a small initial exercise than sustained analysis requiring the full metric set. AI networks chat can answer questions about network data, calculate metrics, interpret results and find shortest paths.

Key features

Survey and passive data collection

Customizable surveys bring relationship mapping together with broader workforce questions. Passive integrations can access metadata from Office 365, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace and Slack, with connected data refreshed every 24 hours. Polinode says it does not read or store message content. This can help organizations analyze collaboration patterns without collecting message text, but individual accounts cannot use these integrations.

Analysis and security

Paid individual plans unlock the full set of 30-plus metrics; Professional adds roll-up functionality and template views. Polinode says it is AICPA SOC 2 certified, encrypts stored data with AES-256 and uses SSL/TLS in transit. Its infrastructure is hosted in AWS Ireland, with other AWS regions potentially supported on request. Organizations with a regional hosting requirement should confirm whether their preferred region can be supported.

Pricing

Polinode is freemium, with monthly prices for individual plans and custom pricing for organizational plans. Respondent credits cost $2 each where needed.

Free is a no-cost way for one person to work with a handful of public networks, but its six basic metrics and lack of private networks are material constraints. Lite is the entry point for private analysis and full metrics, though its five views per network may be limiting for teams that need several saved perspectives. Professional costs twice as much and raises that cap to 200 views while adding roll-ups and template views; it remains a single-user plan. Consultant and Enterprise are the options for multiple users and higher-touch support, with custom pricing. A free trial is offered.

Platforms

Polinode is web-based, so its network analysis is accessed through a browser.

Who it's for

People leaders and people analytics teams can use Polinode to examine workplace relationships and collaboration patterns. Consultants, academics and researchers may value its survey collection and larger network capacity, while not-for-profits and developers or software vendors are also among its stated user groups. It is a weaker fit for an individual who specifically needs passive integrations, since those require an organization account.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Multiple collection routes—surveys, file imports and organizational passive integrations—support different network-analysis projects.
• Pros: The visualization capacity of up to 50,000 nodes and 250,000 edges, plus 30-plus metrics on paid plans, suits substantial networks.
• Pros: The free tier provides a no-cost starting point, and Lite adds private networks and full metrics for $40 a month.
• Cons: Free has no private networks and only six basic metrics, limiting its use for confidential or deeper analysis.
• Cons: Lite and Professional are single-user plans; teams need a custom-priced organizational tier.
• Cons: Passive integrations are organization-only, and Enterprise treats them as an optional extra.

Alternatives

For broader HR analytics, compare HR Analytics Software; for tools focused on relationship intelligence, see Relationship Intelligence Software.

Zoho Analytics is another freemium option, with a free plan for two users, 10,000 rows and five workspaces; consider it when those limits and its self-hosted platform better suit the work.

Culture Amp is a paid, web-based option with annual pricing that depends on employee count, product and service tier; it may suit buyers seeking that kind of quote-based annual arrangement. Lightcast offers paid consulting projects, ongoing software subscriptions and data delivery, making it an alternative for buyers considering those service and data-delivery models.

One Model has a Data Mesh plan with a standard IDE, configurable API integrations and pay-as-you-go additional data sources and insight packs; consider it when that data-mesh approach is the priority. Reejig lists its Work OS at $250,000 a year for a 12-month contract, a substantially different commitment and pricing model.

Workday Adaptive Planning offers a 30-day trial and spans Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows; it is worth comparing when those platform options or trial terms matter. Affirmity Employment Law Navigator is a paid web product with pricing by request.

Verdict

Polinode is a strong choice for people analytics teams, consultants and researchers who need to collect relationship data and analyze large organizational networks with a broad metric set. Its free tier gives individuals a low-risk start, while Professional adds much more room for private networks and saved views. Look elsewhere if you need passive integrations as an individual, multiple seats at a fixed published price or more than six metrics without upgrading.