The 10 Best Data Visualization Tools

Power BI delivers interactive dashboards, reports, and stunning visualizations from a myriad of backend databases. It’s also available for cloud infrastructure and on-premise installation.
This versatile, easy-to-use tool boasts a drag-and-drop capability to allow users to create stunning visualizations quickly. And being a popular data visualization tool among businesses and organizations, it has a robust community.
QlikView can help you identify trends for faster decision-making. It also uses AI and data association process that’s similar to how the human brain works. The results are easy to digest and interactive graphs and charts.
It has a drag-and-drop feature to let you create and share graphs easily. Also, it integrates with over 500 apps and services, including social media platforms and popular CRMs.
Google Charts is a free, open-source program with a wide range of sophisticated tools, including customized visualization with CSS editing, SQL database compatibility, interactive charts, and easy-to-use interface.
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What Are Data Visualization Tools?

Data visualization is essential for almost every career, from teachers who need to display student test results and marketers who have to show sales data to scientists who have to share health information with a non-technical audience.

The best visualization tools support a variety of visual styles and handle a large volume of data. And most importantly, present them in a way that’s accurate and easy to understand.

In today’s world, data is increasingly important. That’s why organizations use visualization tools to make crucial decisions and display easy-to-understand (and stunning) graphs to educate the public.

But not all data visualization tools are created equal. The best ones represent raw data in an easy-to-understand, accurate graphical formats, such as:

    • Pie charts                                 

    • Bar charts 

    • Line charts 

    • Spider/Radar charts

    • Column charts 

    • Heatmap/Area maps 

    • Tree maps

    • Decision trees 

    • Scatter plots

    • Bubble charts

    • Organizational charts

    • Infographics 

    • Area charts

    • Pyramid graphs  

    • Funnel charts

    • Mind map

    • Venn Diagram

    • Fishbone Diagram 

    • Process Flow Diagram

    • Gantt Chart 

    • T-Chart

The Best Data Visualization Tools

So, you may wonder what’s the best data visualization programs out there. Find out with this comparison guide.

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Omar's Take

Microsoft’s visualization tool ranks number one on my top list because it’s a versatile and complete program that supports various databases. Plus, it has stunning visualizations and templates.

Best For:
Professionals looking for a complete, versatile data visualization tool
Price:
Starts at $9.99 monthly per user
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
Free trial for up to 60 days

Microsoft Power BI is an easy-to-use, versatile data visualization tool that allows data exploration using natural language queries.

This tool is available for cloud infrastructure and on-premise installation.

It delivers interactive dashboards, reports, and stunning and complete visualizations from various backend databases.

  • Google Analytics
  • Oracle
  • Adobe Analytics
  • PostgreSQL
  • Github
  • Salesforce
  • Teradata
  • Azure
  • Excel
  • SQL Server

 

Microsoft Power BI

Features

Here are some of Power BI’s notable features.

Robust Security Features

This enterprise-level tool provides a reliable and secure connection to your data sources.

Real-Time Updates

Power BI delivers real-time insights for fast decision-making. Plus, users can access these updates on the customizable dashboard and use a mobile app for better accessibility.

Impressive Integrations

This data visualization software integrates with existing applications and is compatible with Microsoft products. As a result, you won’t need specialized tech support and will find it easy to use in a hybrid configuration.

Cons

  • Desktop version not compatible with Mac
  • Rigid formulas
  • Bulky user interface
  • Heavy CPU usage
  • Free versions have limited data capacity

Pricing

Power BI’s pricing plans

Here are Power BI’s pricing plans.

  • Power BI Pro – $9.99 monthly (per user)
  • Power BI Premium – $20 monthly (per user)
  • Power BI Premium per capacity – $4,995 monthly
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Omar's Take

Tableau is arguably the best data visualization tool for beginners, thanks to its drag-and-drop elements and AI-driven statistical modeling that allows natural language queries.

Best For:
Beginners
Price:
Starts at $15 per month billed annually
Annual Billing:
Starts at $180
Promotion:
Free 14-day trial, Free for active students and instructors from accredited institutions around the world

Simple is probably the best word to describe Tableau. However, don’t be fooled by its easy-to-use interface with drag-and-drop elements and natural language capability.

With Tableau, you can ask questions using natural language, employ statistical modeling with its drag-and-drop capability, and access a secure and robust platform.

Thanks to its versatility and ease of use, it has become the favorite data visualization tool of professionals in the business, marketing, government, medical science, and security industry.

It’s also worth noting that it integrates with Slack, Salesforce data, and these advanced databases.

  • Amazon AWS
  • SAP
  • Teradata
  • My SQL
  • Hadoop

 

tableau

Features

Here are some of Tableau’s outstanding features.

Versatile and Powerful Performance

Tableau has a desktop app, online versions, cloud online versions, and a server. Additionally, you can import data from various sources, including CSV files, Salesforce data, Google Ads, and Analytics data.

Excellent Visualization Capabilities

It has a drag-and-drop capability that allows users to create stunning visualizations quickly and easily.

Responsive and Informative Community

Being one of the most popular data visualization tools in the market, Tableau has a robust community of users who give tips, tutorials, and other resource materials.

Cons

  • Premium versions are more expensive than other tools.
  • Public version doesn’t keep data analyses private.
  • It lacks report scheduling and auto-refresh options.

Pricing

tableau pricing plan

Here are Tableau’s pricing plans (billed annually).

  • Tableau Viewer – $15 monthly per user
  • Tableau Explorer – $42 monthly per user
  • Tableau Creator – $70 monthly per user
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out of 10

Omar's Take

One of the best data visualizations for business intelligence, QlikView uses the association process similar to how the human brain works. As a result, it can convert raw data into easy-to-digest information.

Best For:
Business intelligence
Price:
Starts at $30 per month billed annually
Annual Billing:
Starts at $360
Promotion:
Free 30-day trial / Free version for personal use (small start-ups and qualified university students, researchers, and educators)

If you want to access real-time insights, QlikView is one of the best data visualization tools out there. This versatile and scalable software also uses data association similar to how the human brain functions.

Thanks to data association, QlikView excels at helping you identify trends for faster decision-making.

This tool is available on the cloud, on-premise, and hybrid configurations. For this reason, it has positioned itself as one of the major players in the data visualization market, with more than 40,000 clients worldwide.

qlickview

Features

Here are some excellent features you can find in QlikView.

Artificial Intelligence

As a data visualization software that uses AI, it delivers accurate, easy-to-digest, stunning insights and graphical formats.

Scalability and Powerful Performance

QlikView is one of the best data visualization tools for business intelligence, thanks to its integrations with various databases and lightning-fast calculations involving hundreds of data sources.

User-Friendly Interface

Don’t be fooled by QlikView’s ease of use because it also supports customized visualizations, enterprise reporting, analytics, and business intelligence capabilities.

Cons

  • Interface needs improvement
  • Not-so-great customer support
  • Lack of drag-and-drop feature
  • RAM limitations

Pricing

qlickview

Here are QlikView’s pricing plans.

  • Qlik Sense Business – $30 per month billed annually
  • Qlik Sense Enterprise Saas – Contact sales to get a price quote
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out of 10

Omar's Take

Zoho Analytics, also known as Zoho Reports, is a drag-and-drop data visualization tool that lets you create graphs, maps, and charts in just a few minutes.

Best For:
Integrations and work projects
Price:
Starts at $24 monthly (billed annually)
Annual Billing:
Starts at $288
Promotion:
Free on-premise versions but with limited features, 20% Discount for cloud subscription when you choose an annual plan, Free 15-day trial for paid plans

Zoho Analytics lets you import data from a myriad of databases to make insightful reports. And because it has a drag-and-drop feature, you can create and share graphical formats in just a few clicks.

This data analytics and visualization program integrates with other Zoho web-based business tools and over 500 apps, including Google Ads, social media platforms, and popular CRMs like Salesforce.

Thanks to its ease of use and impressive integration capability, it has over a million users, which include global brands such as HP, Upwork Global, and Hyundai.

zoho analytics

Features

Here are the outstanding features of Zoho Analytics.

Collaboration Tools

Zoho Analytics is great for group projects and collaborative work, thanks to its report sharing, email scheduling, and other similar functions. You can also publish your reports and dashboards via email or embed these on websites.

Drag-and-Drop Interface

This data analytics tool boasts a drag-and-drop interface complemented by pre-set templates to make it more user-friendly. Plus, you can embed visualizations into your websites with little or no coding skills.

Robust Mobile App

Zoho Analytics is available on Android and iOS devices.

Cons

Premium support has additional costs
User training needs improvement
Requires a decent understanding of data analytics and analysis
Dashboard becomes confusing when you import large volumes of data

Pricing

zoho analytics pricing plan

zoho analytics pricing plan

Zoho Analytics’ annual plans on cloud.

  • Basic – $24 monthly (billed annually)
  • Standard – $48 monthly (billed annually)
  • Premium – $115 monthly (billed annually)
  • Enterprise – $455 monthly billed annually

Here are the on-premise pricing plans.

  • Personal – Free
  • Professional – $30
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out of 10

Omar's Take

Despite being a free, open-source data analytics and visualization tool, Google Charts boasts sophisticated features to create stunning visualizations from small and large datasets.

Best For:
Users who aren’t ready to invest in a premium data visualization tool
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
Free to use

Google Charts is a free and open-source data visualization tool with sophisticated features.

Visualized charts, graphs, and maps allow users to convey a clear message.

It has an array of graphical formats your audience, including non-experts, can easily understand. The free software can also support a wide range of applications, KPIs, and goals to help users make data-driven decisions.

google charts

Features

Here are some notable features of this web-based data visualization tool.

Versatility and Robust Performance

With a variety of graphical formats, you can see relevant data representation and make smart decisions.

Furthermore, you can predict future trends and see past results.

Ease of Use

Aside from offering a wide variety of visualization formats, including interactive charts, Google Charts has an easy-to-use interface and aesthetic appeal.

Non-Microsoft users can still access Google Charts using other browsers, including Mozilla Firefox and Safari.

Sophisticated Features

Despite being a free, open-source program, Google Charts has sophisticated tools, including customized visualization with CSS editing and SQL database compatibility.

Cons

  • Requires understanding of JavaScript to publish reports onto their websites
  • Lacks some sophisticated features found in premium data visualization tools
  • Needs Internet connectivity
  • Export features require fine-tuning

Pricing

Free

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out of 10

Omar's Take

It’s one of the best data visualization tools focused on business intelligence, thanks to its features that allow users to plan, budget, and make financial forecasts to make better decisions.

Best For:
Medium to large business enterprises
Price:
Starts at $15,000 per license
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
Free 30-day trial, one-on-one demo

Workday Adaptive Planning is one of the best data visualization tools catering to business leaders, executives, and sales/marketing professionals.

One of its selling points is the set of collaboration tools that allow members to share reports and manage group projects using a secure cloud platform.

This tool also offers these business-specific capabilities.

  • Workforce management
  • Capital management
  • Expense management
  • Revenue management
  • Profitability analysis
  • Financial close
  • Balance sheet
  • Cash flow

 

workday

Features

Here are noteworthy features of this business-centered data visualization tool.

Budgeting and Forecasting Tools

Workday Adaptive Planning helps users make informed financial decisions with its in-depth reports, budgeting, and forecasting tools. In short, you can turn your static planning into an active strategy.

Robust and Secure Environment

As a business-focused analytics tool, it uses powerful security features to protect your company’s sensitive data.

Collaboration Tools

This data analytics boasts collaborative tools to help business leaders better manage their organizations.

Cons

Steep learning curve
Users have to request free trials
Lacks transparent pricing

Pricing

You must contact their sales team to get a quote.

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out of 10

Omar's Take

If you’re looking for a free data visualization tool that focuses on interactive maps, Polymaps is arguably the best software out there, thanks to its variety of styles, customizable visuals, and SVG compatibility.

Best For:
Mapping
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
It’s a free, open-source JavaScript library for mapping

Polymaps is a free, open-source JavaScript library for image and vector-tiled maps that support SVG. This tool allows you to create stunning and interactive maps in web browsers.

While Polymaps only deliver one type of visualization, this is the best tool for someone looking for a free, map-centric data analytics software.

In some types of data, it’s ideal to use map visualization or geographic representation because it allows viewers to quickly grasp patterns and use their intuition.

polymaps

Features

Here are some outstanding features of this map-centric data visualization tool.

Integration with Imaged-Based Map Suppliers

Polymaps uses cartography from a wide range of image-based online map suppliers such as Bing, OpenStreetMap, and CloudMade.

Scalability

This data visualizations tool loads data at any scale and displays information from the continent level down to the local level.

It shows information using Scalable Vector Graphis or SVG, a technology that uses CSS rules to create different data designs.

Interactive Maps

This tool supports highly interactive maps with dynamic colors and zooming capability. Also, it provides a variety of maps, including symbol maps, density maps, and image overlays.

Cons

  • Only delivers one type of data visualization
  • Requires some coding skills to customize and implement maps

Pricing

It’s a free, open-source program.

0
out of 10

Omar's Take

Visme is an easy-to-use data visualization platform offering a variety of charts and infographic templates, many of which have a minimalist and sleek design.

Best For:
Simple charts and infographics
Price:
Starts at $12.5 a month per user
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
Free basic plan / Discount for students, educators, and non-profit organizations

This easy-to-use visualization tool has built-in templates, animations, and s data widget library to help you make simple charts in just a few clicks.

These features make it one of the best data visualization tools for beginners.

visme

Features

Here are Visme’s outstanding features.

Collection of Templates

Visme has an extensive library of chart and infographic templates, allowing you to make stunning visuals in no time.

Customizable Elements

Aide from its large selection of chart and infographic templates, it has features that let you customize fonts, backgrounds, graphic design, colors, and other elements. You can also download charts in different file types.

Sophisticated Features

Visme integrates with Microsoft Office, offers animations and data widget library, and works offline and online.

Cons

  • Projects on Visme’s basic plan are public
  • Not available on Android and iOS devices
  • Not suitable for large enterprises

Pricing

visme pricing plan

Here are Visme’s monthly plans billed yearly.

  • Basic Plan – Free
  • Starter Plan – $12.25
  • Pro Plan – $24.75
  • Visme for Team – Contact the sales department for the price quote.
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out of 10

Omar's Take

Klipfolio offers unlimited dashboards and numerous pre-built metrics that allow you to access and combine data from hundreds of compatible sources and services.

Best For:
Customized dashboards
Price:
Starts at $99 a month billed annually
Annual Billing:
Starts at $1,188
Promotion:
Free 14-day trial, discounts for non-profit organizations

Klipfolio lets you create stunning visuals even though you have no or little coding skills, thanks to its pre-built instant metrics.

Additionally, its data visualization capabilities include customizable dashboards, integration with complex data sources, and CSV-based themes to visualize and modify data around your dashboard.

klipfolio

Features

Here are some notable features of Klipfolio.

Excellent User Interface

The user interface makes it easy to navigate around the tool’s dashboard. Plus, it offers CSV-based themes to help you better visualize and alter your data around the dashboard.

Hundreds of Integrations

Klipfolio integrates with hundreds of data sources, from popular ones like Google Drive, Slack, Microsoft Excel, Trello, and Google Workspace to complex services such as Mailchimp, Dropbox, Salesforce Sales Cloud, and Google Analytics 360.

Excellent Support Team

The customer support team is available almost any time of the day. The service also includes a chat box that’s responsive and helpful.

Cons

  • A slightly steeper learning curve
  • Support or help documents are sometimes difficult to find

Pricing

klipfolio pricing plan

klipfolio custom plan

Here are Klipfolio’s pricing plans (billed annually).

  • Grow — $99 monthly
  • Team — $199 monthly
  • Team Plus — $399 monthly
  • Custom Plans — Starts at $499 monthly

Klipfolio also offers premium plans for larger enterprises needing robust metric exploration.
Contact the sales department for the price quote.

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out of 10

Omar's Take

Domo is ideal for small- and mid-sized businesses aiming to better understand their data and make better decisions.

Best For:
Custom Apps
Price:
Contact their sales team to get a quote (Pricing varies by company).
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
Free 30-day trial, discounts for non-profit organizations

Domo has a streamlined interface with pre-built templates and apps and custom visualization tools to track sales, revenue, and attendance, among other things.

As a robust data visualizations tool, it has real-time analytics and more than 150 interactive charts, which allow users to scroll, zoom in or out, hover, and do other actions.

domo

Features

Here are some notable features of Domo.

Pre-Built Interactive Charts

You don’t have to be a graphic designer to create professional-looking interactive charts and maps because Domo already has more than 150 templates you can choose from.

Easy Data Sharing

With Domo, you can take your data and embed it onto your website or landing page using JavaScript or iFrame.

It comes with a built-in chat app for communicating with your team.

Custom Seat Visualization Tool

This data analytics tool has features that allow you to create custom apps and other visuals with just a few clicks.

Cons

  • Not transparent pricing (You must speak with their sales time for a price quote.)
  • Steep learning curve

Pricing

Custom pricing only

How To Choose the Right Data Visualization Tool

While these tools come in all shapes and sizes, the best ones have a few things in common.

The best ones are easy to use.

The most popular data visualization tools have pre-built templates to help you create stunning but easy-to-understand graphs, charts, and maps.

The best visualization tools offer free tutorials, blogs, forums, groups, and other resource materials to improve user experience.

The best visualization tools can also create interactive graphical formats with images.

Their versatility makes them applicable to different fields, from business and science to politics and education.

The best software can handle huge data sets, which can display in a single visualization.

And finally, there are cost considerations. While there are free data visualization tools with decent features, you may need the paid version to access more sophisticated capabilities, depending on your needs.

However, higher prices don’t always mean better features and more functions. Consider the tool’s overall value when before paying a premium.

Common Data Visualization Capabilities

While these tools come in all shapes and sizes, most share common (and functional) features.

Here are essential functions to look for when picking your software.

Chart Templates

These are built-in, pre-set designs to help you create a professional-looking visual in an instant. Consequently, this feature is a must-have if you lack graphic design skills.

However, it’s nice to have built-in charts that allow users to customize the fonts, colors, headers, and visual elements.

Interactive Charts

Interactive graphical formats react when you interact with them, meaning you can change critical figures and variables without having to create a different visual for each data analytics.

Mobile Optimization

When your graphs, charts, and maps adapt to the smaller screens of mobile devices, you can deliver an engaging experience to your viewers.

Version History

This feature allows you to view and restore old versions of your visuals, meaning you can simply undo your mistakes without losing data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who Uses Data Visualization Tools?

When you hear the term data visualization, chances are you think about companies learning about their customers or probably scientists and researchers who need to present data to a non-technical audience.

Data visualization software has an all-encompassing use. Entrepreneurs, community leaders, non-government organizations, musicians, marketers, educators, and students can use this for better decision-making.

Why Use Data Visualization?

Data visualization tools help you better understand patterns and trends from large and complicated data sets, allowing us to make informed decisions. It also helps organizations share data that even a non-technical audience can easily understand.

What Should You Look For in Data Visualization Software?

The best data visualization tools primarily depend on what you need. However, you should always look for these factors when selecting your software.

  • Easy to use and install
  • Excellent customer support
  • Comes with free user training
  • Offers versatility and customization
  • Integrations with other tools you’re using
  • Secure and reliable
  • Robust performance
  • Hardware and software requirements of the data analytics tool
  • Supports multiple databases
  • Value for money

What Are Data Visualization Techniques?

These techniques include understanding your goals, selecting the right chart to present your data, knowing your audience, and using the right visualization tool that caters to your needs.

Is Data Visualization Important?

Almost every organization and industry can use data visualization to be efficient, share relevant information with their audience, and make data-driven decisions.

What Are the Most Common Types of Data Visualizations?

The most common graphical formats used in data visualizations are pie charts, line graphs, area charts, histograms, and heat maps.

The Bottom Line

Without collecting and analyzing data, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to make informed decisions and uncover business trends. Data visualization and analytics always go hand in hand.

If you own an enterprise ecommerce business, data visualization software isn’t the only tool you need. You should also look into ecommerce platforms for enterprises.

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Omar Founder of OJ Digital Solutions

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