tools for data presentation

Try Kinsta now - first month free!

Your Guide to the Top 11 Data Visualization Tools

If you clicked on this article, you’re probably in the following situation: you have a critical dataset to analyze, but you don’t know any good data visualization tools.

Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about data visualization tools, including what they are, why you should use them, and 11 potential tools we recommend trying.

Ready? Let’s start!

What Is Data Visualization?

Data visualization is the process of creating a visual representation of a data set’s trends, patterns, and critical insights. A data visualization tool is software that helps you create a visualization.

Though you may not work with data every day, you’ve likely used many different types of data visualizations before. Some of the most popular visualizations include:

• Pie charts , which show percentage breakdowns
• Tables , which show data that’s too complicated for text
• Timelines , which offer a sequence of events over time
• Histograms , which show the distribution of a dataset made up of continuous or discrete data
• Gantt charts , which show the timeline of a project
• Box-and-whisker plots , which offer a dataset’s five-number summary (which includes the minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum figures)
• Scatter plots , which show a relationship between two sets of data (like height vs. weight)
• Bar charts , which show the distribution of data in two categories (like the results of A/B tests )

There’s no “one” way to create a data visualization, though the general process of creating one looks like this:

• Step 1:  Gather your dataset
• Step 2: “Clean” your data to ensure it’s consistent and error-free
• Step 3:  Export your dataset into your data visualization software
• Step 4:  Use the software to generate visualizations
• Step 5:  Assess the reliability and validity of your visualization and use the chart as you please

When discussing data, it’s important to note that “reliability” and “validity” are separate things. “Reliability” refers to how well your data and the methodology behind it measures the thing you’re evaluating, while “validity” refers to how accurate your data itself is.

Why Data Visualization Is Important

Data visualizations are very useful, as they can help you:

• Discover BI Insights: Business Intelligence (BI) insights are vital pieces of information that inform your decisions.

For example, if you analyzed your email open rate , it’d be a BI insight to say that your click-through rate (CTR) was higher on emails sent through MailChimp instead of GetResponse. The insight will likely influence which platform you use.

• Convey Complicated Or Detailed Results To Others: Visualizations can help you explain what your data says to your boss, investors, coworkers, or the media — as they reduce complex data into easily digestible graphics.

For example, if you were doing A/B testing on your WordPress site, you could use data visualization to display results for both the “A” and “B” outcomes so that they are easy to understand.

• Analyze And Understand Hidden Trends In Your Business Data: While some trends are obvious by looking at a dataset, many datasets are too large to interpret without visualizations.

For example, if you were analyzing your ad retargeting results from a whole year, a data visualization would show you seasonal spikes that you likely couldn’t notice by looking at week-on-week results.

• Compare Figures In Big Data Sets   Quickly: You don’t have to own a big business to generate a lot of data.

Many businesses track data like their website conversion figures . These datasets contain results from hundreds of visitors, so analyzing the data manually would be extremely time-consuming.

Common Features of Data Visualization Tools

Although every data visualization tool is different, most tools share some common (and very helpful) features. This section will briefly describe these features and why they are essential when selecting your ideal tool.

Data Importing API

Many tools include an Application Programming Interface (API) that allows you to import data from your data collection tool to your visualization tool. APIs speed up the visualization process, as you’d need to download your data, upload it to your tool, and format it manually without an API.

Chart Templates

Chart templates are pre-set designs that you can use to create an attractive visualization quickly. These are perfect if you aren’t a graphic designer or a data analyst, as you simply insert your data into the chart.

Most chart templates will also let you customize your chart’s colors, fonts, and headers.

Interactive Charts

Interactive charts react when you interact with them, meaning you can highlight key figures, trends, or variables without creating different visualizations for each analytic.

Version History

Version history allows you to view and restore old versions of your data visualizations — meaning you can undo a mistake without losing your data.

Mobile Optimization

As the name suggests, mobile optimization allows you to alter the presentation of your visualizations to suit mobile devices.

Top 11 Data Visualization Tools

If you search for “data visualization software,” you’ll find hundreds of different options. That’s a lot of options to choose from, so to help you narrow it down, we’ve compiled a list of our top 11 tools in this section.

1. Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is the oldest (and likely best known) program on this list. Launched by Microsoft in 1987, Excel allows you to create tables, charts, and roughly 20  other visualizations.

Top Features

• Power Pivot: An add-in that you can use to create data models and perform analysis on large data sets
• Inbuilt formulas
• Autofilter:  A program that can sort your data automatically
• Available in Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices
• You can customize your visualization’s font, color, and features
• It comes with many Microsoft packages (so you may already have it on your computer)
• Allows you to import and export data quickly and in many file types
• Includes version history
• Can be expensive
• Difficult to use on large datasets if you aren’t a data scientist
• Not designed for teams

One license for Microsoft Excel costs $159.99 per year  or $6.99 a month if purchased with Office 365.

What It Looks Like In Practice

2. Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is Excel’s younger and brighter cousin. Power BI allows you to create data visualizations individually or within reports.

• Microsoft AI:  An artificial intelligence (AI) program that can prepare and analyze data automatically
• Fully customizable dashboards
• Real-time visualizations
• Includes many chart templates and pre-set reports
• Has Machine Learning capabilities
• Can analyze data from Dynamics 365, Excel, SharePoint, Salesforce, and Azure SQL DB (among other sources)
• Great for teams
• Can create an interactive data visualization
• Very cyber secure
• Available on desktop and mobile devices
• Best suited for people who have analyzed data before or who use Excel frequently
• Can only handle up to 2 GB of data at a time (so not suited to extensive data sets)

It costs $13.70 per user per month for Power BI Pro or $27.50 per user per month for Power BI Premium. Power BI also offers “per capacity” plans for large organizations.

3. Google Charts

Google Charts is a web-based tool that can create simple visualizations from small and large datasets. You can build visualizations to publish onto your website with Google Charts.

• Cross-browser compatibility:  Your visualizations will work on other (non-Microsoft) browsers like Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome
• Interactive charts
• You can use it to create many different types of visualizations
• Beginner-friendly
• You can use it to analyze data from any SQL database
• You can customize your visualizations with CSS editing
• You’ll need a basic understanding of JavaScript to publish your visualization onto your website

Google Charts is currently entirely free to use.

Tableau is a powerful and well-known data visualization tool that allows you to analyze data from multiple sources at once. Salesforce owns Tableau.

• Ask Data:  A tool that can answer basic questions about your data
• Explain Data:  An AI tool that explains why your dataset has outliers (outliers are data points that are abnormally different from other data points)
• Tableau Prep: A self-service data preparation tool that can create visualizations according to your instructions
• Includes a wide range of chart templates
• Can handle large volumes of data
• Can import data from a wide range of places
• It may take some time to learn to use
• Tableau Public makes your data visible to other users

The public version of Tableau is currently free. However, Tableau also offers Viewer, Creator, and Explorer plans that start from $12, $35, and $70, respectively. It also provides enterprise plans.

5. Zoho Analytics

Zoho Analytics is a data visualization tool loved by over 2 million users — including employees at big brands like HP, Hyundai, and Suzuki.

• Multi-user collaboration: You can grant other users permission to view and edit your visualizations
• Mobile BI app: Available on Android and iOS devices
• Automatic reports
• Includes a wide range of pre-set templates
• You can embed Zoho visualizations into your website with little or no code
• Integrates with over 500 apps (including Google Ads, Salesforce, and many social media platforms)
• It’s easy to learn Zoho Analytics as Zoho has produced video tutorials, webinars, and a product tour for users
• Zoho Analytics is best suited to people with a basic understanding of analytics and data analysis (or with the time to learn)

Zoho Analytics offers Basic, Standard, Premium, and Enterprise plans ranging from $24–$455  a month.

6. Datawrapper

Datawrapper is an easy-to-use tool perfect for creating charts, tables, and maps for websites. Initially, Datawrapper developers built the tool for news websites, but many organizations now use it.

• Built-in color blindness checker: Makes your visualizations color-blind friendly
• Mobile-friendly
• You can create an unlimited number of visualizations on the free account
• Easy to learn to use as Datawrapper has produced over 100 “how-to” articles
• You can only import data from a few sources
• Datawrapper’s premium plans are more expensive than competing tools

Datawrapper offers a free plan, a custom plan for $5,990 a year , and enterprise plans.

7. Qlik Sense

Qlik Sense is a data visualization tool designed for large businesses and people who want to use augmented analytics to analyze data. Qlik Sense is the successor to “QlikView” — a similar (but smaller) visual analytics tool.

• Visual and Advanced Data Prep:  Can clean and sort your data automatically
• Insight Advisor:  An AI program that can help you analyze your data and understand any BI insights you find
• Works online and offline on mobile devices
• Perfect for teams
• Scalable for large businesses
• Best suited to people with experience in data analytics

Qlik Sense offers Qlik Sense Business for $30 per user per month  and enterprise plans.

8. FusionCharts

FusionCharts is a popular Google Charts alternative. FusionCharts allows you to create visualizations to embed into web pages. Over 28,000 businesses worldwide currently use it — including tech giants like Google, Apple, and IBM.

• Integrations:  Works with JavaScript frameworks like Angular , Ember, React, and jQuery
• Compatibility:  Works with server-side programming languages Java, PHP , Ruby on Rails , and Django
• Live data dashboard
• Offers over 100 different types of charts and over 2,000 choropleth maps
• Great user interface (UI)
• You can export charts quickly and easily
• Handles large data sets
• More expensive than many other data visualization software options
• Not available on iOS or Android devices

FusionCharts offers the Basic package from $499 annually , the Pro package from $1,299 annually, and the Enterprise package from $2,499 annually.

This image shows what a visualization created with FusionCharts looks like.

Domo is a BI tool geared toward businesses with complicated or large datasets. Organizations like eBay, ESPN, Cisco, and Emerson all use Domo.

• Real-time analytics
• Buzz: Domo’s built-in chat app that allows you to communicate with your team
• App Dev Studio:  An built-in program that allows you to build visualizations with HTML, Javascript, and CSS
• Extensive library of report and chart templates
• Domo has a natural language query function that can answer basic questions about your data
• Domo can analyze data from 1,000+ data sources
• Domo offers alerts that will go off when you hit a predetermined goal
• Not beginner-friendly

Domo’s pricing is organization-specific — so you’ll need to contact the sales department for a quote.

10. Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a tried-and-true BI tool that’s perfect for small, medium, and large businesses looking to analyze their website activity. Google Analytics can track critical figures like bounce rate, average session duration, and pages per session.

• Integrations:  Works with Google Ads, Google Search Console, and WordPress
• Real-time report: Shows you your website’s current activity
• Interactive dashboard
• Easy to set up
• Google Analytics collects and analyzes data on your audience, conversions, audience acquisition, and their behavior automatically
• You can export your data into other programs for further analysis
• Only suitable for analyzing web traffic data
• Only offers a few pre-set visualizations

Google Analytics is currently free. However, Google also offers Google Analytics 360, which is organization-specific.

Visme is an intuitive program that can create data visualizations and infographics. Visme is perfect for anyone looking to make simple charts with sleek and aesthetically pleasing designs.

• Graph maker
• Data widget library
• Microsoft Office integration
• Visme offers many chart and infographic templates
• You can download your charts as multiple file types
• Works offline and online
• Allows you to customize your chart’s fonts, colors, backgrounds, and design
• Visme is best suited for businesses with small and medium-sized datasets
• All projects are public on VIsme’s Basic plan
• Visme is not available on Android or iOS devices

Visme offers the Basic plan for free , the Personal plan for $15 a month, the Business plan for $29 per user per month, and enterprise plans. Visme also offers discounts for students, teachers, and non-profit organizations.

Decision-Making: What to Look For When Choosing a Tool

While we covered 11 potential data visualization tools you could use in the previous section, everyone’s ideal tool will look different. So how do you choose the right one for you?

When selecting a data visualization solution for your business, check:

How Well It Meets Your Needs

As every business uses different data, you need to check if the tool meets your needs specifically. To do this, ask yourself:

• Does the tool work with the type of data we need visualizations for?
• Does it integrate with our data collection software or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system?
• Does it fit our skill set (i.e., if you are a beginner data analyst, is it beginner-friendly?)?
• Will it work on our devices and website?

Price is a huge factor to consider when investing in new software. Before you click “sign up,” ask yourself:

• Can we afford the tool?
• Is the tool a good value for us?
• Is there a cheaper tool that can provide the same value?

Future-Compatibility

While the tool may meet your business needs today, will it still be helpful to you one year from now? As many tools use subscription-based pricing, you may lock yourself into a contract you’ll regret if you sign up for a tool that doesn’t scale with your business.

To assess the future compatibility of your tool, ask yourself:

• Can the tool handle a higher volume of data?
• Can we use the tool to track our key performance indicator (KPI) results?
• Will we still use the tool one year from now?
• Can it measure all of our website marketing strategies ?

Data Before Visualization: Tips for Maximizing Your Data

Ultimately, your data visualization tool is just that — a tool. If the reliability and validity of your data are low, your visualizations won’t turn out well (no matter what tool you use).

So how do you ensure your data is high-quality? We recommend you:

• Identify and delete duplicate records before creating data visualizations
• Define your data formats clearly, so you don’t have data in multiple formats (like “10/2/2010” and “October 2, 2021”)
• Collect data over a long period (as collecting very short-sighted data could give you an inaccurate picture of your data)
• Identify outliers and account for them so that they don’t alter your visualizations
• Clearly define your data metrics (for example, “we define daily conversion rate as the percentage of leads that become customers from midnight day one to midnight day two”)
• Store your data in a secure, cloud-based location
• Identify data gaps and incorrect data, and fix them before creating your visualizations
• Collect data with high-quality tools

Data visualization tools are a game-changer, as they help you create high-quality visualizations quickly. Creating data visualizations has many advantages, as they allow you to:

• Generate BI insights
• Explain data to others in an engaging manner
• Spot trends in datasets that span a long period
• Easily understand complicated or large datasets

While your perfect tool will depend on your price and needs, we believe the top tools include Power BI, Tableau, and Google Charts.

Head of Content at Kinsta and Content Marketing Consultant for WordPress plugin developers. Connect with Matteo on Twitter .

Related Articles and Topics

Powerful Managed WordPress Hosting

8 Best APM Tools on the Market (And Why You Should Be Using One)

• Local Development

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Comment policy: We love comments and appreciate the time that readers spend to share ideas and give feedback. However, all comments are manually moderated and those deemed to be spam or solely promotional will be deleted.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

By submitting this form: You agree to the processing of the submitted personal data in accordance with Kinsta's Privacy Policy , including the transfer of data to the United States.

You also agree to receive information from Kinsta related to our services, events, and promotions. You may unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions in the communications received.

Home Blog Design Understanding Data Presentations (Guide + Examples)

Understanding Data Presentations (Guide + Examples)

In this age of overwhelming information, the skill to effectively convey data has become extremely valuable. Initiating a discussion on data presentation types involves thoughtful consideration of the nature of your data and the message you aim to convey. Different types of visualizations serve distinct purposes. Whether you’re dealing with how to develop a report or simply trying to communicate complex information, how you present data influences how well your audience understands and engages with it. This extensive guide leads you through the different ways of data presentation.

Table of Contents

What is a Data Presentation?

What should a data presentation include, line graphs, treemap chart, scatter plot, how to choose a data presentation type, recommended data presentation templates, common mistakes done in data presentation.

A data presentation is a slide deck that aims to disclose quantitative information to an audience through the use of visual formats and narrative techniques derived from data analysis, making complex data understandable and actionable. This process requires a series of tools, such as charts, graphs, tables, infographics, dashboards, and so on, supported by concise textual explanations to improve understanding and boost retention rate.

Data presentations require us to cull data in a format that allows the presenter to highlight trends, patterns, and insights so that the audience can act upon the shared information. In a few words, the goal of data presentations is to enable viewers to grasp complicated concepts or trends quickly, facilitating informed decision-making or deeper analysis.

Data presentations go beyond the mere usage of graphical elements. Seasoned presenters encompass visuals with the art of data storytelling , so the speech skillfully connects the points through a narrative that resonates with the audience. Depending on the purpose – inspire, persuade, inform, support decision-making processes, etc. – is the data presentation format that is better suited to help us in this journey.

To nail your upcoming data presentation, ensure to count with the following elements:

• Clear Objectives: Understand the intent of your presentation before selecting the graphical layout and metaphors to make content easier to grasp.
• Engaging introduction: Use a powerful hook from the get-go. For instance, you can ask a big question or present a problem that your data will answer. Take a look at our guide on how to start a presentation for tips & insights.
• Structured Narrative: Your data presentation must tell a coherent story. This means a beginning where you present the context, a middle section in which you present the data, and an ending that uses a call-to-action. Check our guide on presentation structure for further information.
• Visual Elements: These are the charts, graphs, and other elements of visual communication we ought to use to present data. This article will cover one by one the different types of data representation methods we can use, and provide further guidance on choosing between them.
• Insights and Analysis: This is not just showcasing a graph and letting people get an idea about it. A proper data presentation includes the interpretation of that data, the reason why it’s included, and why it matters to your research.
• Conclusion & CTA: Ending your presentation with a call to action is necessary. Whether you intend to wow your audience into acquiring your services, inspire them to change the world, or whatever the purpose of your presentation, there must be a stage in which you convey all that you shared and show the path to staying in touch. Plan ahead whether you want to use a thank-you slide, a video presentation, or which method is apt and tailored to the kind of presentation you deliver.
• Q&A Session: After your speech is concluded, allocate 3-5 minutes for the audience to raise any questions about the information you disclosed. This is an extra chance to establish your authority on the topic. Check our guide on questions and answer sessions in presentations here.

Bar charts are a graphical representation of data using rectangular bars to show quantities or frequencies in an established category. They make it easy for readers to spot patterns or trends. Bar charts can be horizontal or vertical, although the vertical format is commonly known as a column chart. They display categorical, discrete, or continuous variables grouped in class intervals [1] . They include an axis and a set of labeled bars horizontally or vertically. These bars represent the frequencies of variable values or the values themselves. Numbers on the y-axis of a vertical bar chart or the x-axis of a horizontal bar chart are called the scale.

Real-Life Application of Bar Charts

Let’s say a sales manager is presenting sales to their audience. Using a bar chart, he follows these steps.

Step 1: Selecting Data

The first step is to identify the specific data you will present to your audience.

The sales manager has highlighted these products for the presentation.

• Product A: Men’s Shoes
• Product B: Women’s Apparel
• Product C: Electronics
• Product D: Home Decor

Step 2: Choosing Orientation

Opt for a vertical layout for simplicity. Vertical bar charts help compare different categories in case there are not too many categories [1] . They can also help show different trends. A vertical bar chart is used where each bar represents one of the four chosen products. After plotting the data, it is seen that the height of each bar directly represents the sales performance of the respective product.

It is visible that the tallest bar (Electronics – Product C) is showing the highest sales. However, the shorter bars (Women’s Apparel – Product B and Home Decor – Product D) need attention. It indicates areas that require further analysis or strategies for improvement.

Step 3: Colorful Insights

Different colors are used to differentiate each product. It is essential to show a color-coded chart where the audience can distinguish between products.

• Men’s Shoes (Product A): Yellow
• Women’s Apparel (Product B): Orange
• Electronics (Product C): Violet
• Home Decor (Product D): Blue

Bar charts are straightforward and easily understandable for presenting data. They are versatile when comparing products or any categorical data [2] . Bar charts adapt seamlessly to retail scenarios. Despite that, bar charts have a few shortcomings. They cannot illustrate data trends over time. Besides, overloading the chart with numerous products can lead to visual clutter, diminishing its effectiveness.

For more information, check our collection of bar chart templates for PowerPoint .

Line graphs help illustrate data trends, progressions, or fluctuations by connecting a series of data points called ‘markers’ with straight line segments. This provides a straightforward representation of how values change [5] . Their versatility makes them invaluable for scenarios requiring a visual understanding of continuous data. In addition, line graphs are also useful for comparing multiple datasets over the same timeline. Using multiple line graphs allows us to compare more than one data set. They simplify complex information so the audience can quickly grasp the ups and downs of values. From tracking stock prices to analyzing experimental results, you can use line graphs to show how data changes over a continuous timeline. They show trends with simplicity and clarity.

Real-life Application of Line Graphs

To understand line graphs thoroughly, we will use a real case. Imagine you’re a financial analyst presenting a tech company’s monthly sales for a licensed product over the past year. Investors want insights into sales behavior by month, how market trends may have influenced sales performance and reception to the new pricing strategy. To present data via a line graph, you will complete these steps.

First, you need to gather the data. In this case, your data will be the sales numbers. For example:

• January: $45,000
• February: $55,000
• March: $45,000
• April: $60,000
• May: $ 70,000
• June: $65,000
• July: $62,000
• August: $68,000
• September: $81,000
• October: $76,000
• November: $87,000
• December: $91,000

After choosing the data, the next step is to select the orientation. Like bar charts, you can use vertical or horizontal line graphs. However, we want to keep this simple, so we will keep the timeline (x-axis) horizontal while the sales numbers (y-axis) vertical.

Step 3: Connecting Trends

After adding the data to your preferred software, you will plot a line graph. In the graph, each month’s sales are represented by data points connected by a line.

Step 4: Adding Clarity with Color

If there are multiple lines, you can also add colors to highlight each one, making it easier to follow.

Line graphs excel at visually presenting trends over time. These presentation aids identify patterns, like upward or downward trends. However, too many data points can clutter the graph, making it harder to interpret. Line graphs work best with continuous data but are not suitable for categories.

For more information, check our collection of line chart templates for PowerPoint and our article about how to make a presentation graph .

A data dashboard is a visual tool for analyzing information. Different graphs, charts, and tables are consolidated in a layout to showcase the information required to achieve one or more objectives. Dashboards help quickly see Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). You don’t make new visuals in the dashboard; instead, you use it to display visuals you’ve already made in worksheets [3] .

Keeping the number of visuals on a dashboard to three or four is recommended. Adding too many can make it hard to see the main points [4]. Dashboards can be used for business analytics to analyze sales, revenue, and marketing metrics at a time. They are also used in the manufacturing industry, as they allow users to grasp the entire production scenario at the moment while tracking the core KPIs for each line.

Real-Life Application of a Dashboard

Consider a project manager presenting a software development project’s progress to a tech company’s leadership team. He follows the following steps.

Step 1: Defining Key Metrics

To effectively communicate the project’s status, identify key metrics such as completion status, budget, and bug resolution rates. Then, choose measurable metrics aligned with project objectives.

Step 2: Choosing Visualization Widgets

After finalizing the data, presentation aids that align with each metric are selected. For this project, the project manager chooses a progress bar for the completion status and uses bar charts for budget allocation. Likewise, he implements line charts for bug resolution rates.

Step 3: Dashboard Layout

Key metrics are prominently placed in the dashboard for easy visibility, and the manager ensures that it appears clean and organized.

Dashboards provide a comprehensive view of key project metrics. Users can interact with data, customize views, and drill down for detailed analysis. However, creating an effective dashboard requires careful planning to avoid clutter. Besides, dashboards rely on the availability and accuracy of underlying data sources.

For more information, check our article on how to design a dashboard presentation , and discover our collection of dashboard PowerPoint templates .

Treemap charts represent hierarchical data structured in a series of nested rectangles [6] . As each branch of the ‘tree’ is given a rectangle, smaller tiles can be seen representing sub-branches, meaning elements on a lower hierarchical level than the parent rectangle. Each one of those rectangular nodes is built by representing an area proportional to the specified data dimension.

Treemaps are useful for visualizing large datasets in compact space. It is easy to identify patterns, such as which categories are dominant. Common applications of the treemap chart are seen in the IT industry, such as resource allocation, disk space management, website analytics, etc. Also, they can be used in multiple industries like healthcare data analysis, market share across different product categories, or even in finance to visualize portfolios.

Real-Life Application of a Treemap Chart

Let’s consider a financial scenario where a financial team wants to represent the budget allocation of a company. There is a hierarchy in the process, so it is helpful to use a treemap chart. In the chart, the top-level rectangle could represent the total budget, and it would be subdivided into smaller rectangles, each denoting a specific department. Further subdivisions within these smaller rectangles might represent individual projects or cost categories.

Step 1: Define Your Data Hierarchy

While presenting data on the budget allocation, start by outlining the hierarchical structure. The sequence will be like the overall budget at the top, followed by departments, projects within each department, and finally, individual cost categories for each project.

• Top-level rectangle: Total Budget
• Second-level rectangles: Departments (Engineering, Marketing, Sales)
• Third-level rectangles: Projects within each department
• Fourth-level rectangles: Cost categories for each project (Personnel, Marketing Expenses, Equipment)

Step 2: Choose a Suitable Tool

It’s time to select a data visualization tool supporting Treemaps. Popular choices include Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, PowerPoint, or even coding with libraries like D3.js. It is vital to ensure that the chosen tool provides customization options for colors, labels, and hierarchical structures.

Here, the team uses PowerPoint for this guide because of its user-friendly interface and robust Treemap capabilities.

Step 3: Make a Treemap Chart with PowerPoint

After opening the PowerPoint presentation, they chose “SmartArt” to form the chart. The SmartArt Graphic window has a “Hierarchy” category on the left.  Here, you will see multiple options. You can choose any layout that resembles a Treemap. The “Table Hierarchy” or “Organization Chart” options can be adapted. The team selects the Table Hierarchy as it looks close to a Treemap.

Step 5: Input Your Data

After that, a new window will open with a basic structure. They add the data one by one by clicking on the text boxes. They start with the top-level rectangle, representing the total budget.  

Step 6: Customize the Treemap

By clicking on each shape, they customize its color, size, and label. At the same time, they can adjust the font size, style, and color of labels by using the options in the “Format” tab in PowerPoint. Using different colors for each level enhances the visual difference.

Treemaps excel at illustrating hierarchical structures. These charts make it easy to understand relationships and dependencies. They efficiently use space, compactly displaying a large amount of data, reducing the need for excessive scrolling or navigation. Additionally, using colors enhances the understanding of data by representing different variables or categories.

In some cases, treemaps might become complex, especially with deep hierarchies.  It becomes challenging for some users to interpret the chart. At the same time, displaying detailed information within each rectangle might be constrained by space. It potentially limits the amount of data that can be shown clearly. Without proper labeling and color coding, there’s a risk of misinterpretation.

A heatmap is a data visualization tool that uses color coding to represent values across a two-dimensional surface. In these, colors replace numbers to indicate the magnitude of each cell. This color-shaded matrix display is valuable for summarizing and understanding data sets with a glance [7] . The intensity of the color corresponds to the value it represents, making it easy to identify patterns, trends, and variations in the data.

As a tool, heatmaps help businesses analyze website interactions, revealing user behavior patterns and preferences to enhance overall user experience. In addition, companies use heatmaps to assess content engagement, identifying popular sections and areas of improvement for more effective communication. They excel at highlighting patterns and trends in large datasets, making it easy to identify areas of interest.

We can implement heatmaps to express multiple data types, such as numerical values, percentages, or even categorical data. Heatmaps help us easily spot areas with lots of activity, making them helpful in figuring out clusters [8] . When making these maps, it is important to pick colors carefully. The colors need to show the differences between groups or levels of something. And it is good to use colors that people with colorblindness can easily see.

Check our detailed guide on how to create a heatmap here. Also discover our collection of heatmap PowerPoint templates .

Pie charts are circular statistical graphics divided into slices to illustrate numerical proportions. Each slice represents a proportionate part of the whole, making it easy to visualize the contribution of each component to the total.

The size of the pie charts is influenced by the value of data points within each pie. The total of all data points in a pie determines its size. The pie with the highest data points appears as the largest, whereas the others are proportionally smaller. However, you can present all pies of the same size if proportional representation is not required [9] . Sometimes, pie charts are difficult to read, or additional information is required. A variation of this tool can be used instead, known as the donut chart , which has the same structure but a blank center, creating a ring shape. Presenters can add extra information, and the ring shape helps to declutter the graph.

Pie charts are used in business to show percentage distribution, compare relative sizes of categories, or present straightforward data sets where visualizing ratios is essential.

Real-Life Application of Pie Charts

Consider a scenario where you want to represent the distribution of the data. Each slice of the pie chart would represent a different category, and the size of each slice would indicate the percentage of the total portion allocated to that category.

Step 1: Define Your Data Structure

Imagine you are presenting the distribution of a project budget among different expense categories.

• Column A: Expense Categories (Personnel, Equipment, Marketing, Miscellaneous)
• Column B: Budget Amounts ($40,000, $30,000, $20,000, $10,000) Column B represents the values of your categories in Column A.

Step 2: Insert a Pie Chart

Using any of the accessible tools, you can create a pie chart. The most convenient tools for forming a pie chart in a presentation are presentation tools such as PowerPoint or Google Slides.  You will notice that the pie chart assigns each expense category a percentage of the total budget by dividing it by the total budget.

For instance:

• Personnel: $40,000 / ($40,000 + $30,000 + $20,000 + $10,000) = 40%
• Equipment: $30,000 / ($40,000 + $30,000 + $20,000 + $10,000) = 30%
• Marketing: $20,000 / ($40,000 + $30,000 + $20,000 + $10,000) = 20%
• Miscellaneous: $10,000 / ($40,000 + $30,000 + $20,000 + $10,000) = 10%

You can make a chart out of this or just pull out the pie chart from the data.

3D pie charts and 3D donut charts are quite popular among the audience. They stand out as visual elements in any presentation slide, so let’s take a look at how our pie chart example would look in 3D pie chart format.

Step 03: Results Interpretation

The pie chart visually illustrates the distribution of the project budget among different expense categories. Personnel constitutes the largest portion at 40%, followed by equipment at 30%, marketing at 20%, and miscellaneous at 10%. This breakdown provides a clear overview of where the project funds are allocated, which helps in informed decision-making and resource management. It is evident that personnel are a significant investment, emphasizing their importance in the overall project budget.

Pie charts provide a straightforward way to represent proportions and percentages. They are easy to understand, even for individuals with limited data analysis experience. These charts work well for small datasets with a limited number of categories.

However, a pie chart can become cluttered and less effective in situations with many categories. Accurate interpretation may be challenging, especially when dealing with slight differences in slice sizes. In addition, these charts are static and do not effectively convey trends over time.

For more information, check our collection of pie chart templates for PowerPoint .

Histograms present the distribution of numerical variables. Unlike a bar chart that records each unique response separately, histograms organize numeric responses into bins and show the frequency of reactions within each bin [10] . The x-axis of a histogram shows the range of values for a numeric variable. At the same time, the y-axis indicates the relative frequencies (percentage of the total counts) for that range of values.

Whenever you want to understand the distribution of your data, check which values are more common, or identify outliers, histograms are your go-to. Think of them as a spotlight on the story your data is telling. A histogram can provide a quick and insightful overview if you’re curious about exam scores, sales figures, or any numerical data distribution.

Real-Life Application of a Histogram

In the histogram data analysis presentation example, imagine an instructor analyzing a class’s grades to identify the most common score range. A histogram could effectively display the distribution. It will show whether most students scored in the average range or if there are significant outliers.

Step 1: Gather Data

He begins by gathering the data. The scores of each student in class are gathered to analyze exam scores.

After arranging the scores in ascending order, bin ranges are set.

Step 2: Define Bins

Bins are like categories that group similar values. Think of them as buckets that organize your data. The presenter decides how wide each bin should be based on the range of the values. For instance, the instructor sets the bin ranges based on score intervals: 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, and 90-100.

Step 3: Count Frequency

Now, he counts how many data points fall into each bin. This step is crucial because it tells you how often specific ranges of values occur. The result is the frequency distribution, showing the occurrences of each group.

Here, the instructor counts the number of students in each category.

• 60-69: 1 student (Kate)
• 70-79: 4 students (David, Emma, Grace, Jack)
• 80-89: 7 students (Alice, Bob, Frank, Isabel, Liam, Mia, Noah)
• 90-100: 3 students (Clara, Henry, Olivia)

Step 4: Create the Histogram

It’s time to turn the data into a visual representation. Draw a bar for each bin on a graph. The width of the bar should correspond to the range of the bin, and the height should correspond to the frequency.  To make your histogram understandable, label the X and Y axes.

In this case, the X-axis should represent the bins (e.g., test score ranges), and the Y-axis represents the frequency.

The histogram of the class grades reveals insightful patterns in the distribution. Most students, with seven students, fall within the 80-89 score range. The histogram provides a clear visualization of the class’s performance. It showcases a concentration of grades in the upper-middle range with few outliers at both ends. This analysis helps in understanding the overall academic standing of the class. It also identifies the areas for potential improvement or recognition.

Thus, histograms provide a clear visual representation of data distribution. They are easy to interpret, even for those without a statistical background. They apply to various types of data, including continuous and discrete variables. One weak point is that histograms do not capture detailed patterns in students’ data, with seven compared to other visualization methods.

A scatter plot is a graphical representation of the relationship between two variables. It consists of individual data points on a two-dimensional plane. This plane plots one variable on the x-axis and the other on the y-axis. Each point represents a unique observation. It visualizes patterns, trends, or correlations between the two variables.

Scatter plots are also effective in revealing the strength and direction of relationships. They identify outliers and assess the overall distribution of data points. The points’ dispersion and clustering reflect the relationship’s nature, whether it is positive, negative, or lacks a discernible pattern. In business, scatter plots assess relationships between variables such as marketing cost and sales revenue. They help present data correlations and decision-making.

Real-Life Application of Scatter Plot

A group of scientists is conducting a study on the relationship between daily hours of screen time and sleep quality. After reviewing the data, they managed to create this table to help them build a scatter plot graph:

In the provided example, the x-axis represents Daily Hours of Screen Time, and the y-axis represents the Sleep Quality Rating.

The scientists observe a negative correlation between the amount of screen time and the quality of sleep. This is consistent with their hypothesis that blue light, especially before bedtime, has a significant impact on sleep quality and metabolic processes.

There are a few things to remember when using a scatter plot. Even when a scatter diagram indicates a relationship, it doesn’t mean one variable affects the other. A third factor can influence both variables. The more the plot resembles a straight line, the stronger the relationship is perceived [11] . If it suggests no ties, the observed pattern might be due to random fluctuations in data. When the scatter diagram depicts no correlation, whether the data might be stratified is worth considering.

Choosing the appropriate data presentation type is crucial when making a presentation . Understanding the nature of your data and the message you intend to convey will guide this selection process. For instance, when showcasing quantitative relationships, scatter plots become instrumental in revealing correlations between variables. If the focus is on emphasizing parts of a whole, pie charts offer a concise display of proportions. Histograms, on the other hand, prove valuable for illustrating distributions and frequency patterns. 

Bar charts provide a clear visual comparison of different categories. Likewise, line charts excel in showcasing trends over time, while tables are ideal for detailed data examination. Starting a presentation on data presentation types involves evaluating the specific information you want to communicate and selecting the format that aligns with your message. This ensures clarity and resonance with your audience from the beginning of your presentation.

1. Fact Sheet Dashboard for Data Presentation

Convey all the data you need to present in this one-pager format, an ideal solution tailored for users looking for presentation aids. Global maps, donut chats, column graphs, and text neatly arranged in a clean layout presented in light and dark themes.

Use This Template

2. 3D Column Chart Infographic PPT Template

Represent column charts in a highly visual 3D format with this PPT template. A creative way to present data, this template is entirely editable, and we can craft either a one-page infographic or a series of slides explaining what we intend to disclose point by point.

3. Data Circles Infographic PowerPoint Template

An alternative to the pie chart and donut chart diagrams, this template features a series of curved shapes with bubble callouts as ways of presenting data. Expand the information for each arch in the text placeholder areas.

4. Colorful Metrics Dashboard for Data Presentation

This versatile dashboard template helps us in the presentation of the data by offering several graphs and methods to convert numbers into graphics. Implement it for e-commerce projects, financial projections, project development, and more.

5. Animated Data Presentation Tools for PowerPoint & Google Slides

A slide deck filled with most of the tools mentioned in this article, from bar charts, column charts, treemap graphs, pie charts, histogram, etc. Animated effects make each slide look dynamic when sharing data with stakeholders.

6. Statistics Waffle Charts PPT Template for Data Presentations

This PPT template helps us how to present data beyond the typical pie chart representation. It is widely used for demographics, so it’s a great fit for marketing teams, data science professionals, HR personnel, and more.

7. Data Presentation Dashboard Template for Google Slides

A compendium of tools in dashboard format featuring line graphs, bar charts, column charts, and neatly arranged placeholder text areas. 

8. Weather Dashboard for Data Presentation

Share weather data for agricultural presentation topics, environmental studies, or any kind of presentation that requires a highly visual layout for weather forecasting on a single day. Two color themes are available.

9. Social Media Marketing Dashboard Data Presentation Template

Intended for marketing professionals, this dashboard template for data presentation is a tool for presenting data analytics from social media channels. Two slide layouts featuring line graphs and column charts.

10. Project Management Summary Dashboard Template

A tool crafted for project managers to deliver highly visual reports on a project’s completion, the profits it delivered for the company, and expenses/time required to execute it. 4 different color layouts are available.

11. Profit & Loss Dashboard for PowerPoint and Google Slides

A must-have for finance professionals. This typical profit & loss dashboard includes progress bars, donut charts, column charts, line graphs, and everything that’s required to deliver a comprehensive report about a company’s financial situation.

Overwhelming visuals

One of the mistakes related to using data-presenting methods is including too much data or using overly complex visualizations. They can confuse the audience and dilute the key message.

Inappropriate chart types

Choosing the wrong type of chart for the data at hand can lead to misinterpretation. For example, using a pie chart for data that doesn’t represent parts of a whole is not right.

Lack of context

Failing to provide context or sufficient labeling can make it challenging for the audience to understand the significance of the presented data.

Inconsistency in design

Using inconsistent design elements and color schemes across different visualizations can create confusion and visual disarray.

Failure to provide details

Simply presenting raw data without offering clear insights or takeaways can leave the audience without a meaningful conclusion.

Lack of focus

Not having a clear focus on the key message or main takeaway can result in a presentation that lacks a central theme.

Visual accessibility issues

Overlooking the visual accessibility of charts and graphs can exclude certain audience members who may have difficulty interpreting visual information.

In order to avoid these mistakes in data presentation, presenters can benefit from using presentation templates . These templates provide a structured framework. They ensure consistency, clarity, and an aesthetically pleasing design, enhancing data communication’s overall impact.

Understanding and choosing data presentation types are pivotal in effective communication. Each method serves a unique purpose, so selecting the appropriate one depends on the nature of the data and the message to be conveyed. The diverse array of presentation types offers versatility in visually representing information, from bar charts showing values to pie charts illustrating proportions. 

Using the proper method enhances clarity, engages the audience, and ensures that data sets are not just presented but comprehensively understood. By appreciating the strengths and limitations of different presentation types, communicators can tailor their approach to convey information accurately, developing a deeper connection between data and audience understanding.

If you need a quick method to create a data presentation, check out our  AI presentation maker . A tool in which you add the topic, curate the outline, select a design, and let AI do the work for you.

[1] Government of Canada, S.C. (2021) 5 Data Visualization 5.2 Bar Chart , 5.2 Bar chart .  https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/edu/power-pouvoir/ch9/bargraph-diagrammeabarres/5214818-eng.htm

[2] Kosslyn, S.M., 1989. Understanding charts and graphs. Applied cognitive psychology, 3(3), pp.185-225. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA183409.pdf

[3] Creating a Dashboard . https://it.tufts.edu/book/export/html/1870

[4] https://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/research/data-and-more/data-dashboards/index.html

[5] https://www.mit.edu/course/21/21.guide/grf-line.htm

[6] Jadeja, M. and Shah, K., 2015, January. Tree-Map: A Visualization Tool for Large Data. In GSB@ SIGIR (pp. 9-13). https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1393/gsb15proceedings.pdf#page=15

[7] Heat Maps and Quilt Plots. https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/research/population-health-methods/heat-maps-and-quilt-plots

[8] EIU QGIS WORKSHOP. https://www.eiu.edu/qgisworkshop/heatmaps.php

[9] About Pie Charts.  https://www.mit.edu/~mbarker/formula1/f1help/11-ch-c8.htm

[10] Histograms. https://sites.utexas.edu/sos/guided/descriptive/numericaldd/descriptiven2/histogram/ [11] https://asq.org/quality-resources/scatter-diagram

Like this article? Please share

Data Analysis, Data Science, Data Visualization Filed under Design

Related Articles

Filed under Business • October 8th, 2024

Data-Driven Decision Making: Presenting the Process Behind Informed Choices

Discover how to harness data for informed decision-making and create impactful presentations. A detailed guide + templates on DDDM presentation slides.

Filed under Google Slides Tutorials • June 3rd, 2024

How To Make a Graph on Google Slides

Creating quality graphics is an essential aspect of designing data presentations. Learn how to make a graph in Google Slides with this guide.

Filed under Design • March 27th, 2024

How to Make a Presentation Graph

Detailed step-by-step instructions to master the art of how to make a presentation graph in PowerPoint and Google Slides. Check it out!

Leave a Reply

• Sources of Business Finance
• Small Business Loans
• Small Business Grants
• Crowdfunding Sites
• How to Get a Business Loan
• Small Business Insurance Providers
• Best Factoring Companies
• Types of Bank Accounts
• Best Banks for Small Business
• Best Business Bank Accounts
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Bank Accounts for Small Businesses
• Free Business Checking Accounts
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Business Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Build Business Credit Fast
• Business Loan Eligibility Criteria
• Small-Business Bookkeeping Basics
• How to Set Financial Goals
• Business Loan Calculators
• How to Calculate ROI
• Calculate Net Income
• Calculate Working Capital
• Calculate Operating Income
• Calculate Net Present Value (NPV)
• Calculate Payroll Tax

23 Best Data Visualization Tools of 2024 (with Examples)

If you are dissatisfied with what you've been able to achieve with your current data visualization software, and you want to try a different one, you have come to the right place.

Or, if you have never tried a data visualization software and you wish first to understand how it works and what the market offers, you are again in the right place.

Through extensive research, we have compiled a list of the absolute best data visualization tools in the industry, ranging from free solutions to enterprise packages.

Continue reading, and find the JavaScript library, non-programmer-optimized tools, industry and concept-specific, or fully-featured mapping, charting, and dashboard solutions for your needs.

What are Data Visualization Tools?

Data Visualization Tools refer to all forms of software designed to visualize data.

Different tools can contain varying features but, at their most basic, data visualization tools will provide you with the capabilities to input datasets and visually manipulate them.

Helping you showcase raw data in a visually digestible graphical format, data visualization tools can ensure you produce customizable bar, pie, Gantt, column, area, doughnut charts, and more.

When you need to handle datasets that contain up to millions of data points, you will need a program that will help you explore, source, trim, implement and provide insights for the data you work with.

A data visualization tool will enable you to automate these processes, so you can interpret information immediately, whether that is needed for your annual reports, sales and marketing materials, identifying trends and disruptions in your audience's product consumption, investor slide decks, or something else.

After you have collected and studied the trends, outliers, and patterns in data you gathered through the data visualization tools, you can make necessary adjustments in business strategy and propel your team closer to better results.

In addition, the more you can implement the valuable insights gained from the graphs, charts, and maps into your work, the more interested and adept you will become at generating intelligent data visualizations, and this loops back into getting actionable insights from the reports.

Through data visualization tools, you build a constructive feedback loop that keeps your team on the right path.

Comparison of Best Data Visualization Tools

Best data visualization software for creating maps and public-facing visualizations..

Available in a variety of ways, including desktop, server, online, prep, free public option, Tableau provides an enormous collection of data connectors and visualizations.

Establishing connections to your data sources is straightforward, and you can import everything from CSV files, Google Ads and Analytics to Microsoft Excel, JSON, PDF files, and Salesforce data.

A variety of chart formats and a robust mapping capability ensure that the designers can create color-coded maps that show geographically important data in the most visually digestible way.

The tool offers a public version that is free to use for everyone that will help you create interactive visualizations and connect to CSV, text, statistical files, Google sheets, web data connectors, and Excel documents.

Tableau Desktop can help you transform, process, and store huge volumes of data with exceptional analytics and powerful calculations from existing data, drag-and-drop reference lines and forecasts, and statistical summaries.

The Desktop option lets you connect to data on-prem or in the cloud, access and combine disparate data without coding, pivot, split, and manage metadata, and there is no limit to how much data it can store, process, or share.

Whereas Tableau Desktop is more suitable for analysts and BI professionals, Tableau Public is for anyone interested in understanding data and sharing those insights through data visualizations (students, journalists, writers, bloggers).

Data visualization example

You can purchase Tableau Creator for $70 per user per month.

• The tool comes in desktop, cloud, server, prep, online options
• Free public version
• Extensive options for securing data without scripting
• Convert unstructured statistical information into comprehensive logical results
• Fully functional, interactive, and appealing dashboards
• Arrange raw data into catchy diagrams
• Support for connections with many data sources, such as HADOOP, SAP, DB Technologies
• More than 250 app integrations

With a user-friendly design and a substantial collection of data connectors and visualizations, Tableau will help you attain high performance with a thriving community & forum and mobile-friendly capacity.

2. Infogram

Fully-featured data visualization tool for non-designers and designers..

Consisting of more than 550 maps, 35 charts, and 20 predesigned templates, Infogram can enable you to prepare a fully responsive, professional presentation on any device.

You can import data from online or PC sources, and you can download infographics in HD quality, supporting multiple file types (PNG, JPG, PDF, GIF, HTML).

If the majority of your data sources are in Excel XLS, JPG, or HTML files, and you want them imported in Infogram as PDF files, you can do a little search and find the best PDF converters .

The process of creating effective visualizations for marketing reports, infographics, social media posts, and maps is simplified with the drag-and-drop editor, allowing non-designers or people without much technical knowledge to generate slick-looking reports, one-pagers, diagrams.

Interactive visualizations are perfect for embedding into websites and apps, and you can update new data to a chart periodically and automatically for updating dashboards, reports, presentations, live feeds, and articles through Infogram's live options.

The software allows you to upload CSV or XLS files from your Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive accounts easily by connecting with the accounts, making any design changes, publishing, and embedding them.

Outside of the free Basic plan, the Pro subscription is $25 per month.

• 550+ map types and 35+ chart types
• Enhanced interactive charts and maps with tooltips, tabs, clickable legends, linking
• Object animations
• Move your graphics to social media, slide decks like Prezi, and other platforms easily
• Make changes on the fly without wholesale revisions
• View and restore earlier versions of your projects
• Generate 13 different reports on website traffic and automatically update the charts with data
• Facilitate top referring sites, mobile usage, number of pages per session, top keywords, and other reports through Google Analytics
• Publish your content on Facebook Instant Articles, Medium, or through WordPress

With a wide selection of chart types and map types that are easy to implement by anyone and a free plan that allows you to publish your content online, you will find Infogram is an excellent solution for downloading data, sharing it privately, and accessing beautiful templates and images.

3. ChartBlocks

Best data visualization tool for embedding charts on any website..

The cloud-based chart-building tool allows you to customize any charts and sync them with any data source, letting you share charts on social media websites, including Facebook and Twitter.

You can import data from any source using their API, including live feeds, with the chart building wizard helping you select the optimal data for your charts before importing on any device of any screen size.

Control all aspects of your charts with hundreds of customization options, allowing you to configure everything from colors, fonts, and sizes to grids and number ticks on your axes.

CartBlocks ensures responsive HTML5 charts that work on any browser or device and the powerful D3.js tool to render your charts as scalable vector graphics and make them ready to be used on retina screens and for high-quality printed documents.

Grab the embed code and share the charts on your website, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites.

The Personal plan is $0 per month, and you can scale up to the Professional subscription for $20.

• HTML5 charts that work on any browser, device, and screen size
• Import data from spreadsheets, databases, and live feeds
• Pick the right data for your chart with the chart building wizard
• Design all elements of your charts with hundreds of customization options
• Embed your charts on websites, articles, and across social media
• Set up scheduled imports in the ChartBlocks app
• Optimize your charts for retina screens and high-quality printed documents through D3.js
• Export charts to PNG images
• Export charts as vector graphics (eps, PDF, SVG)
• Remove branding for $20 per month

Helping you create charts on any device and any screen size along with optimizing the charts for high-quality prints, ChartBlocks can offer up to 50 active charts for free for up to 50K monthly views.

4. Datawrapper

Best data visualization software for adding charts and maps to news stories..

Created specifically for adding charts and maps to news stories, Datawrapper is an open-source tool that supports Windows, Mac, and Linux and enables you to connect your visualization to Google Sheets.

Select one of 19 interactive and responsive chart types ranging from simple bars and lines to the arrow, range, and scatter plots, three map types that allow you to create locator maps, thematic choropleth, symbol maps, and more.

Table capabilities provide you with a range of styling options for the responsive bars, columns & line charts, heatmaps, images, search bars & pagination.

Copy your data from the web, Excel, or Google Sheets, and upload CSV/XLS files or provide links to URLs, Google Sheets for live-updating charts.

Copy the embed code into your CMS or website to access the interactive version, or export the chart as a PNG, SVG, or PDF for printing.

Outside the free plan, you can purchase the Custom for $599 per month, but the free one offers unlimited visualizations.

• 19 interactive and responsive charts and 3 map types
• No limits to charts, maps, and tables you can create in the free plan
• All visualizations are private until you activate the publish capability
• Utilize shared folders, Slack & Team integrations, and admin permissions
• Dustwrapper will design a custom chart theme according to the style guides you send
• Export all visualizations as PNG, SVG, PDF formats
• Update charts and tables automatically without republishing through live updating
• Access print-ready PDFs with defined CMYK colors

Datawrapper will create finished visualizations similar to those in the New York Times, with tons of stylization options and practicality for creating graphics and web maps that you can easily copy and share.

JavaScript Library for Manipulating Documents through Data with Reusable Charts.

D3.js is a JavaScript library for manipulating documents based on data, helping you activate data through HTML, SVG, and CSS.

The tool is extremely fast and it supports large datasets and dynamic behaviors for interaction and animation, enabling you to generate an HTML table from an array of numbers or use the same data to create an interactive SVG bar chart with smooth transitions and interaction.

While the platform requires some JavaScript knowledge, there are apps like NVD3 that allow non-programmers to utilize the library, providing reusable charts and chart components without taking away the power of D3.js.

Other similar apps include Plotly's Chart Studio that enables you to import data, compose interactive charts, publish static, printed versions or share interactively.

Ember Charts lets you extend and modify the time series, bar, pie, and scatter charts within the D3.js frameworks.

D3.js is free.

• Free, open-source, customizable
• Extremely fast and supportive of large datasets
• Generate HTML tables from numbers
• Create interactive SVG bar charts with smooth transitions and interaction
• Non-programmers can create complex visualizations
• A diverse collection of official and community-developed modules allows code reuse
• Utilize NVD3, Plotly's Chart Studio, and Ember Charts to get the most out of D3.js's library without coding

Emphasizing web standards, D3.js will help you create high-quality visualizations quickly and share them on the web without anyone having to install any software to view your work.

Best Data Visualization Software for Companies with BI Experience.

Domo is a cloud platform that has a powerful BI tool with a lot of data connectors and a robust data visualization capability that helps you conduct analysis and generate interactive visualizations.

The app helps you simplify administration data and examine important data using graphs and pie charts, and the engine allows you to manipulate ETL operations and conduct data cleansing in the engine after the load with no limits to how much data you can store.

With more than 450 available connectors, some of which are accessible by default and others after requesting URLs from the support team, Domo is highly flexible, and they allow you to load the locally stored CSV files easily.

Explore data in the interactive format through the data warehouse functionality, and conduct data prep, data joining, and ETL tasks.

Access more than 85 different visualizations, create and customize cards and pages, handling everything from text editing and single-data points to creating the apps for the app store.

You need to contact Domo's sales team for a personalized quote.

• Limitless data storage and an extensive range of connectors
• Create advanced charts and maps with filters and drill-downs
• Guide people through analysis with interactive data stories by combining cards, text, and images
• Ensure the teams can self-service while governing access to data
• Refine data with data points, calculated fields, and filters
• Annotate chart data for further commentary
• Define how cards on a dashboard interact with custom links and filters
• Dashboards with KPIs for retail, marketing, data science through different apps
• Encrypt your data with the Workbench tool or use an on-premise VM with Domo querying engine behind your firewall

Domo's powerful BI tool with a lot of data connectors isn't suited for newcomers and is best-suited for businesses that have BI experience that will benefit from the tool's excellent sharing features, limitless data storage, and terrific collaboration capabilities.

7. Google Charts

Best data visualization tool for creating simple line charts and complex hierarchical trees..

The powerful and free data visualization tool Google Charts is specifically designed for creating interactive charts that communicate data and points of emphasis clearly.

The charts are embeddable online, and you can select the most fitting ones from a rich interactive gallery and configure them according to your taste.

Supporting the HTML5 and SVG outputs, Google Charts work in browsers without the use of additional plugins, extracting the data from Google Spreadsheets and Google Fusion Tables, Salesforce, and other SQL databases.

Visualize data through pictographs, pie charts, histograms, maps, scatter charts, column and bar charts, area charts, treemaps, timelines, gauges, and many more.

Google Charts is free.

• Rich interactive chart gallery
• Cross-browser compatibility
• Dynamic data support
• Combo, calendar, candlestick, diff, gauge, Gantt, histograms, intervals, org, scattered, stepped area charts
• Animate modifications made to a chart
• Draw multiple charts on one web page
• Compatible with Android and iOS platforms

Google Charts is a free data visualization platform that supports dynamic data, provides you with a rich gallery of interactive charts to choose from, and allows you to configure them however you want.

8. FusionCharts

Best data visualization tool for building beautiful web and mobile dashboards..

FusionCharts is a JavaScript-based solution for creating web and mobile dashboards that can integrate with popular JS frameworks like React, jQuery, Ember, and Angular and server-side programming languages like PHP, Java, Django, and Ruby on Rails.

The tool equips you with 100+ interactive chart types and 2,000+ data-driven maps, including popular options like the bar, column, line, area, and pie, or domain-specific charts like treemaps, heatmaps, Gantt charts, Marimekko charts, gauges, spider charts, and waterfall charts.

In addition to these, FusionCharts provides 2K+ choropleth maps that cover countries and even cities, and the powerful engine supports millions of data points in your browser with no glitches.

Generate charts on the server-side, export the dashboards as PDFs, send reports via email, and FusionCharts will have you covered.

The Basic plan is $499 per year.

• Integrates with popular JS frameworks and server-side programming languages
• 100+ interactive chart types and 2K+ data-driven choropleth maps
• Construct complex charts through dashboards easily with consistent API
• Plot your crucial business data by regions with over 2,000 choropleth maps
• Common charts are supported on older browsers
• Comprehensive documentation for each library or programming language
• Ready-to-use chart examples, industry-specific dashboards and data stories with source codes

With extensive documentation, cross-browser support, and a huge number of chart and map format options, FusionCharts will allow you to build beautiful dashboards for your web and mobile projects while keeping even the most complex charts performing on a high level with consistent API.

9. Chart.js

Simple and flexible data visualization software for including animated, interactive graphs on your website..

Chart.js is a simple and flexible JavaScript charting library that provides eight chart types in total and allows animation and interaction.

Using the HTML5 Canvas for output, Chart.js renders charts across all modern browsers effectively.

You can mix and match bar and line charts to provide a clear visual distinction between datasets, plot complex, sparse datasets on date time, logarithmic, and fully custom scales.

Animate anything with out-of-the-box stunning transitions for data changes.

Chart.js is free.

• The learning curve is almost non-existent
• Compatible with all screen sizes
• Modernized, eye-catching, and pleasing graphs
• Open-source and free
• Visualize your data through 8 different animated, customizable chart types
• Continuous rendering performance across all modern browsers through HTML5 Canvas
• Mix and match bar and line charts for a clear visual distinction between datasets
• Plot complex, sparse datasets on date time, logarithmic, and entirely custom scales
• Redraw charts on window resize

Not only are the Chart.js graphs easy to digest and eye-catching, but the tool allows you to combine different graph forms to translate data into a more tangible output and add numerical JSON data into the Canvas for free.

10. Sisense

#1 data visualization tool for simplifying complex data from multiple sources..

Crunch large datasets and visualize them with beautiful pictures, graphs, charts, maps, and more from a single dashboard.

One of the best data visualization tools that can help you transform data into actionable, applicable components or visualizations, Sisense lets you simplify data analysis by unlocking data from the cloud and on-prem and embed analytics anywhere with a customizable feature.

Create custom experiences and automated multi-step actions to accelerate workflows and integrate AI-powered analytics into workflows, processes, applications, and products.

Before selecting your data sources, you can preview and mash up a couple of data sources before adding them to your schema.

Instead of valuing visualizations for the number of designs and formats it offers, Sisense places the emphasis on the depth of insights the charts expose, providing multidimensional widgets that render interactive visualizations and generate a ton of insights by scrolling the mouse over them or clicking on different sections.

With no subscription plans displayed publicly, you will need to request a quote.

• Assemble and share dashboards
• Crunch large datasets and visualize them through graphs, charts, maps, and pictures
• Transform raw data into actionable, applicable components for visualizations
• Preview and mash up multiple data sources before adding them to your schema
• Enable self-service analytics for your customers code-free
• Advanced predictive intelligence and natural language querying
• Leverage robust embedding capabilities from iFrames to APIs and SDKs
• Pull in data from eBay, Facebook, Quickbooks, PayPal
• Leverage cached data for minimized query costs
• Resolve bottlenecks with in-chip processing

Appealing to seasoned BI users with its comprehensive features, Sisense will help you mash up data and create an analytics app, deploy your work on the cloud, recover your data and safeguard against errors, and help you export data to Excel, CSV, PDF.

11. Workday Adaptive Planning

#1 data visualization tool with the best planning, budgeting, and forecasting capabilities..

Workday's Adaptive Planning data visualization tool is designed to boost your business by helping you make more lucrative decisions, allowing you to plan, budget, and forecast while evaluating multiple scenarios across large datasets.

Collaborate through the web, mobile, or Excel and deliver stunning reports in minutes while quickly optimizing sales resources, increasing rep performances, and improving predictability.

Create dashboards that integrate your actuals and plans, easily manage models and forecasts across integrated data sources, and always extract real-time data.

Automated data consolidation from all sources and use flexible modeling that lets you build on the fly, adjusting the dimensions if needed.

Making the right decisions based on the insights gathered through a comprehensive budgeting and forecasting tool like Workday Adaptive Planning will be more effective when implemented hand in hand with Net Present Value calculation for fostering a more budget-optimized workspace and better investment decisions.

Before starting your free trial and receiving a quote, you will need to write a request to the support team.

• Create dashboards that integrate your actuals and plans
• Drag-and-drop report building features
• Create rep capacity plans to meet topline bookings targets
• Deploy the right quotas and set up balanced territories
• Collaborate on what-if scenarios
• Access audit trails to see what changed, where, and who did it
• Export operational data from GL, payroll, purchasing

When the active planning process is collaborative, comprehensive, and continuous as with Adaptive Planning, the tools and information for building complex dashboards quickly that the software provides are easy to deploy.

12. Grafana

Open-source data visualization tool for integrating with all data sources and using the smoothest graphs..

In Grafana , you can package and present information through a variety of chart types, and if you want to make dynamic dashboards, there are not a lot of visualization tools that make the process simpler than Grafana.

Grafana's open-source data visualization software allows you to create dynamic dashboards and other visualizations.

You can query, visualize, alert on, and understand your metrics no matter where they are stored, and deploy data source permissions, reporting, and usage insights.

Extract data from mixed data sources, apply annotations and customizable alert functions, and extend the software's capabilities via hundreds of available plugins.

Share snapshots of dashboards and invite other users to collaborate through the export functions.

Outside of the Free plan, you can purchase the Pro subscription for $49 per month + usage.

• Creating dynamic dashboards is easy
• Variety of chart types and data sources
• Support for mixed data feeds
• Access for up to 3 members in the Free plan
• Query, visualize, alert on, and understand your metrics
• Data source permissions
• Usage insights
• Apply annotations
• Hundreds of plugins
• Share snapshots of the dashboard

One of the best software for monitoring and alerting, Grafana allows you to write the query to create graphs and alerts, integrate with almost all cloud platforms, and invite other users to collaborate for free.

Best Data Visualization Software to Motivate and Engage Your Employees to Perform Better through Dashboards.

By visualizing performance indicators openly and engagingly, Plecto helps keep your team's morale at a high level and motivates your employees to keep improving.

Plecto allows you to integrate with an unlimited number of data sources, and you can even import data from different sources and filter these across sources.

Visualize your most important KPIs on real-time dashboards and engage your team with the addicting gamification features, sales contests, leaderboards, and instant notifications.

Add data through Excel, SQL, Zapier, or Plecto's REST-based API, display your Plecto account on a TV and access your dashboard on the go through mobile apps for Android, iPhone, and Apple Watch.

The Medium subscription starts at $250 per month when billed monthly.

• Provide data-driven, actionable knowledge about the business, departments, and individuals' performances
• Motivate your team to keep improving through gamification
• Integrate with an unlimited number of data sources
• Import data from different sources and apply filters
• Engage your team through sales contests, leaderboards, and instant notifications
• Add data through Excel, SQL, Zapier, or the software's REST-based API
• Access your Plecto account via TV or through the Android, iPhone, and Apple Watch apps

Plecto will allow the teams and individuals to keep progressing and provide teams with actionable, data-driven knowledge delivered through encouraging gamification practices while connecting them with one of 50+ pre-built integrations or public API.

14. Whatagraph

Best data visualization tool for monitoring and comparing performances of multiple campaigns..

The Whatagraph application allows you to transfer custom data from Google Sheets and API.

Commonly used by marketing professionals for visualizing data and building tailored cross-channel reports, Whatagraph is the best tool for performance monitoring and reporting.

Blend data from different sources and create cross-channel reports so you can compare how the same campaign is performing across different channels.

Create custom reports or utilize the pre-made widgets, with ready-made report templates for different marketing channels like SEO, PPC, social media, and share links with your colleagues so they can access them at all times.

Choose from 30+ integrations that include Facebook Ads, Google Analytics, HubSpot, and more.

The Professional plan will cost you $119 per month.

• Monitor and compare performances of multiple channels and campaigns
• Customize the reports with brand colors, logos, custom domains
• Add custom data with Google Sheets and Public API integrations
• Blend data from different sources and create cross-channel reports
• Ready-made templates for different marketing channels
• Google Analytics, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, Simplifi, and more integrations
• Automatically deliver reports to clients

Whatagraph allows you to style your reports according to your preferences, monitor and compare performances across multiple campaigns and channels, and blend data from different sources for cross-channel reports.

Best-in-Class Data Visualization Software for Running SQL Queries.

Cluvio will enable you to utilize SQL and R to analyze your data and create appealing, interactive dashboards in a few minutes better than any other tool on the market.

Translate your raw data into numerous professional charts and graphs, and share your dashboard with clients and colleagues without a mandatory log-in.

Scheduled dashboard and report sharing via email (image, PDF, Excel, CSV) are functionalities Cluvio provides to urge the users to view the information, get a regular snapshot, or trigger conversations.

Cluvio's customer service team is definitely worth mentioning as it has gained praise for being fast, informative, accurate, and helpful for a large portion of Cluvio's audience.

Outside of the Free plan, Cluvio's Pro plan is $249 per month.

• Change aggregation, select a specific time range, and filter dashboards by any individual attributes
• Code completion, syntax highlighting, and parameterized queries in the SQL editor
• Turn your codes into reusable snippets
• Monitor data in real-time with SQL alerts
• Automatic suggestions for best data visualization practices
• Run custom R scripts
• Invite an unlimited number of employees in the Pro and Business plans

Not only does Cluvio offer a free plan with three dashboards and 1,000 query executions, but the software comes with complete monitoring and sharing capabilities while allowing you to dig deeper into your statistical analysis and extract more value through SQL and R queries.

16. RAWGraphs

Best data visualization tool for simplifying complicated data through striking visual representation..

RAWGraphs will enable you to generate beautiful data visualizations uploaded as XLSX or CSV files quickly, as well as URL uploads and spreadsheet copies.

The software offers mapping and export visualizations as SVG or PNG images that can be customized by inputting additional parameters.

You can work with delimiter-separated values (CSV. and TSV. files), as well as copy-paste texts from other applications (TextEdit, Excel) and CORS-enabled endpoints (APIs).

Data here is processed only by the web browser, and the charts are available in conventional and unconventional layouts.

The pricing is not provided by the vendor, which is why you will have to contact them to get your quote.

• Work with CSV, TSV files, copy-paste texts from other applications, and APIs
• Receive visual feedback after mapping dataset dimensions
• Export visualizations as SVG and PNG images and embed them on your web page
• No server-side operations or storages are performed so no one can see or copy your data
• Unconventional charts that are hard to produce with other tools
• Simple pie and column charts
• Map the dimensions of your datasets with the visual variables of the selected layouts
• Open the visualizations in your favorite vector graphics editor and improve them

Designed as a tool to provide the missing link between spreadsheet applications (Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers, OpenRefine) and vector graphics editors (Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, Sketch), RAWGraphs will help you simplify complex data through powerful visualizations.

17. Visually

Fast and affordable data visualization solution for infographics and interactive websites..

Visually is a data visualization and infographics platform that will help you turn your data into a compelling story, allowing you to convert your numbers into image-based visualizations and streamline the product design processes.

To create your memorable data visualizations, Visually's team will handpick from a selection of 1,000 of the best data journalists, designers, and developers to deliver your designs in record time.

Collaborate with world-class designers to create infographics that stand out, with the software keeping you in direct contact with your creative team and assigning you a dedicated rep to be at your disposal during the streamlining of the production.

Create presentations and slideshows that leave long-lasting impressions with a normal delivery time of 19 days.

Data personalization example

You will need to submit a request to get your quote.

• Create world-class presentations and slideshows and attention-grabbing infographics
• Usual delivery time of 16 days for infographics and 19 days for slideshows and presentations
• Corporate reports, sales decks, and slideshares for startups, Fortune 50 companies
• Share content on social media channels
• Collaboration with premium data journalists, designers, and developers
• Convert your numbers into image-based visualizations
• Keep direct contact with the creative team during the infographics, presentation production process

Visually creates beautiful content that grabs the attention of large crowds on social media, conveys the intended message in a captivating way, and connects you with the world's biggest experts while allowing you to keep direct contact during their work in the production stages, which guarantees satisfactory infographics and presentations.

#1 Data Visualization Tool for Converting Data into Useful Diagrams.

Looker will help you develop and streamline accurate data models and visualize your codes in interactive diagrams.

Equipping you with a dashboard through which you can explore and analyze your data deeply, Looker lets you select funnel, maps, timelines, donut multiples, snakey, treemap, combined charts, or gauge multiple visualizations.

You can configure your specific visualization, and the software will add it to your Looker workflow, helping you maximize your impact and tell a compelling story.

Without proper organization, any data you pull for visualizations will give subpar results, which is why you need to properly manage, update, and track data by choosing one of the best database software that will help you generate realistic and productive projections in your visualizations.

Set up filters for individuals or groups dynamically, separating one dashboard for sales reps, one for customer success managers, and another for external viewers.

Develop robust and accurate data models and reduce errors while understanding the relationships, behaviors, and extensions of different LookML objects.

As with many other vendors, you will need to send a request to receive your quote.

• Visualize your codes in interactive diagrams
• Explore and analyze your data deeply
• Choose from a variety of chart types, multiple chart and map frameworks, or configure your own
• Build effective, action-oriented dashboards and presentations
• Easy to detect changes and irregularities in your data
• The software adds your tailored visualizations to your Looker workflows
• Set up dynamic filters for groups and individuals and separate the dashboards for sales reps and external viewers
• Visualize data with subtotal in tables

Providing a modern API to integrate your workflows, Looker allows you to explore your data to intrinsic detail and bring your stories to life through compelling visualizations while compartmentalizing the dashboards for different uses.

19. Chartist.js

Best data visualization tool for smaller teams in need of simple, responsive charts..

Chartist.js is an open-source charting JavaScript library that has a lightweight interface that is flexible for integrations.

Create responsive, scalable, and great-looking charts while availing of the simple handling, great flexibility while using clear separation of concerns (styling with CSS and controlling with JS), SVG for illustration, and more.

The app is fully responsive and DPI independent, which results in GUI being displayed at a consistent size regardless of the resolution of the screen.

Chartist.js ensures responsive configuration with media queries, allowing compatibility with a wide variety of devices and screen sizes.

Specifying the style of your chart in the CSS will enable you to use the amazing CSS animations and transitions and apply them to your SVG elements.

Chartist's SVG animation API ensures almost limitless animation possibilities, and you can style your charts with CSS in @media queries.

The configuration override mechanism based on media queries helps you conditionally control the behavior of your charts when necessary.

Lastly, you should know that the app is fully built and customizable with SaaS.

Chartist.js is free.

• Create responsive, scalable, great-looking charts
• A lightweight interface that's flexible for integrations
• Implement your style through the DOM hooks
• Rich, responsive support for multiple screen sizes
• Comprehensive grid, color, label layout options
• Advanced SSL animations
• Multi-line labels
• SVG animations with SMIL
• Control the behavior of your charts with the configuration override mechanism

Offering great response configuration to media queries and high flexibility for use in the separation of concerns, Chartist.js is here to help you create highly customized, responsive charts and allow you to utilize SVG for illustrations.

20. Sigma.js

Single-purpose data visualization tool for creating network graphs..

Sigma.js allows you to create embeddable, interactive, and responsive graphs, helping you customize your drawing and allowing you to publish the final result on any website.

To make the networks' manipulation on web pages as smooth and as fast as possible, Sigma.js will equip you with features such as Canvas and WebGL renderers, as well as mouse & touch support.

You can add your functions directly to your scripts and render the nodes and edges how you want them to be.

Through the Public API, you can modify data, move the camera, refresh the rendering, listen to events, and more.

Sigma.js can allow you to create JSON and GEXF-encoded graphs with the related plugin covering loading and parsing of the files.

Sigma.js is a free, open-source tool.

• WebGL and Canvas rendering
• Rescale when the container's size changes
• Render nodes and edges according to your liking
• Move the camera, refresh the rendering, listen to events, and modify your data through the Public API
• Display simple interactive publications of network and rich web applications
• Update data and refresh the drawing when you want
• Use plugins for animating the graphs or applying force-directed layouts to your graphs

Sigma.js is a dedicated graph drawing service that will help you embed graphs in websites and apps easily while allowing you to make changes and refresh the graphs anytime you want.

Best Data Visualization Software for Building Complex Data Models Quickly through its Associative Engine.

Innovatively providing data visualization services, Qlik will help you attain data from various sources quickly while automatically maintaining data association and supporting numerous forms of data presentation.

Capture large volumes of data and generate reports quickly and automatically while extracting valuable insights from transparent reporting functionalities and identify trends and information to help you make best-practice decisions.

Get an understanding of the information quickly through powerful global search and selections with interactive dashboards.

Combine, load, visualize, and explore your data, and activate the assistance from the insight advisor for chart creation, association recommendation, and data preparation.

Qlik Sense Business plan will cost you $30 per user per month.

• Build complex data models and dashboards quickly
• Simplifies data load and data modeling
• Aggregate structured data from different sources and build simple data models through snowflake or star schemas
• Simplified operation querying
• Generate reports quickly and automatically
• Identify trends to make best-practice decisions
• An attentive, knowledgeable support team that is receptive to feedback
• Get assistance on chart creation, association recommendation, and data preparation with the insight advisor

Allowing you to discover important insights through conversational analytics and insight advisor, rapidly develop custom apps, new visualizations, or extensions, and embed fully interactive analytics within the apps and processes, Qlik will let you visualize with clear intent and context through the most engaging graphs.

22. Polymaps

Dedicated javascript library for mapping and complete data visualization..

Designed specifically for mapping, Polymaps is a free, open-source JavaScript library for creating interactive, dynamic maps, using CSS to design and SVG to display your data through numerous types of visual presentation styles.

You can use the CSS mechanism to customize the visuals of your maps, after which you can easily embed them onto any website or apps.

The software supports large-scale and rich data overlays on interactive maps and SVR-rendered vector files, along with powerful graphical operations like compositing, geometric transformations, and image processing.

Apply styling via CSS operations, and utilize the CSS3 animations and transitions.

The software provides a factory method for constructing the required objects internally which results in shorter code and faster execution when compared to the traditional JS constructors.

Polymaps is 100% free.

• Large-scale data overlays
• CSS3 animations and transitions
• Private members can hide the internal state
• Refine the geometry to display greater details when zooming in
• Compositing, geometric transformations, and image processing
• Shorter code and faster execution
• Compatible and robust API

Polymaps is known for its speed when loading large amounts of data in full range, allowing it to run compositing, image processing, and geometric transforms, as well as supporting and processing of rich data on dynamic maps.

23. Microsoft Power BI

Best data visualization tool for fostering a data-driven culture with business intelligence for all..

Microsoft's Power BI is a data visualization and business intelligence tool combined into one that allows you to convert data from various data sources into interactive, engaging, and story-presenting dashboards and reports.

Providing reliable connections to your data sources on-prem and in the cloud, Power BI is ready to equip you with data exploration through natural language querying and real-time updates on the dashboard.

Save time and make data prep easier with modeling tools, and reclaim hours in a day using the self-service power query, ingestion, transforming, and integration tools.

Dig deeper into data and find patterns that lead to actionable insights, and use features like quick measures, grouping, forecasting, and clustering.

Activate the powerful DAX formula language and give advanced users full control over their models.

Power BI Pro is $9.99 per user per month.

• Access data from Dynamics 365, Salesforce, Azure SQL DB, Excel, SharePoint, and hundreds of other supported sources
• Pre-built and custom data connectors
• Natural language querying
• Real-time dashboard updates
• Design your reports with theming, formatting, and layout tools
• Quick measures, grouping, forecasting, and clustering
• Assign full control over models to advanced users through the DAX formula language
• Sensitivity labeling, end-to-end encryption, and real-time access monitoring

In Power BI, you can handle everything from managing reports using SaaS solutions to engaging in data exploration using the natural language query while accessing reliable data sources, which you can easily convert into interactive dashboards and reports that you can share across the whole organization.

Types of Data Visualization Methods

Starting with the most familiar one, column charts are a time-efficient method of showing comparisons among different sets of data.

A column chart will contain data labels along the horizontal axis with measured metrics or values presented on the vertical axis.

With column charts, you can track monthly sales figures, revenue per landing page, and similar information, while you can use the pie charts to demonstrate components or proportions between the elements of one whole.

You can find many more chart types like the Mekko, bar, line, scatter plot, area, waterfall, and many more.

Plots are data visualization methods used to distribute two or more datasets over a 2D or 3D space to represent the relationship between these sets and the parameters on the plot.

Scatter and bubble plots are some of the most commonly used data visualization methods, while the more complex box plots are more frequently utilized for visualizing relationships between large volumes of data.

A bubble plot is an extension of the scatter plot used to look at the relationships between three numeric variables.

Box plot is a data visualization method used for expanatory data analysis, visually displaying the distribution of numerical data and distortion through displaying the data quartiles and averages.

Maps allow you to locate elements on relevant objects and areas, which is where we can start to divide them into geographical maps, building plans, website layouts, and the most popular map visualization types include heat maps, distribution maps, and cartograms.

Heat maps are graphical representations of data where values are depicted by different colors.

Distribution maps are data visualization arrangements used to indicate the distribution of a particular feature in an area, and they can be qualitative that explore qualities or characteristics, quantitative where the value of data is shown in the form of counts and numbers.

The distribution of continuous variables like temperature, pressure, rainfall are represented by lines of equal value.

4. Diagrams and Matrices

Diagrams are used to illustrate complex data relationships and links, and they include various types of data in one visualization.

They can be hierarchical, network, flowchart, Venn, multidimensional, tree-like, etc.

Matrix is one of the advanced data visualization techniques that help determine and process the correlation between multiple continuously updating datasets.

What to Look for In Data Visualization Software Tools

Before getting into the specific functionalities, let's establish the fundamentals required when purchasing a data visualization tool.

1. Ease of Use

Any data visualization software you choose must have easy-to-use features and a user-friendly interface for the less technically skilled employees.

While there are code-heavy data visualization tools packed with advanced features, these tools need to be well balanced if your team consists of both seasoned IT users and less-experienced workers.

Tableau has a steeper learning curve than other platforms on this list, for example, but this is balanced out with an extremely user-friendly design and a l arge community of users.

That's not to say Tableau doesn't require substantial training, but the completeness of the tool in all aspects makes the training process worth the effort.

Similarly, Sisense will appeal to seasoned BI users while potentially causing frustration with the newcomers.

Apart from the natural language query in the third-party apps, Sisense's UI doesn't match the level of user-friendliness needed to satisfy less-knowledgeable users.

Online training systems with well-organized support teams have helped battle this significantly.

Most importantly, Sisense provides phenomenal data visualization service and equips their target intermediate and highly-skilled business analysts with transparency, and lifts most of their burden without having to buy additional tools.

2. Data Connectivity

Quality data visualization software will equip you with the capability to connect with or extract important information from external sources when you encounter data absence problems.

If you want to import data from both online and PC sources while being able to download infographics in HD quality and connect with numerous file types like PNG, JPG, PDF, GIF, HTML, and more, Infogram could be the comprehensive data connectivity solution you need.

What if you want good data connectivity for free?

Thanks to D3.js , this is possible as well, with the tool being the perfect JavaScript library for manipulating documents based on data, letting you access data through HTML, SVG, and CSS.

All this flexibility comes with additional benefits of the tool being extremely fast, supporting large datasets and dynamic behaviors for interaction and animation.

Adding on the themes in the previous paragraphs, D3.js accommodates this robust data connectivity with apps like NVD3 that non-programmers can use to still get good results in the library.

When you search for a tool that supports the SVG and HTML5 outputs, yet enables you to work in browsers without additional plugins, it's hard to rival Google Charts as it allows you to extract data from Google Spreadsheets, Google Fusion Tables, Salesforce (and Salesforce alternatives ), and other SQL databases.

3. Employee Skill Level

Now that you have determined the fundamentals you look for in the tool, you should turn inward and see what your team can offer to the tool.

Not only will you avoid sudden training costs during the learning process, but knowing the limitations of your employees will help you select a data visualization tool to get you the results you strive for and challenge the employees to develop faster.

4. Let's Talk Refinements

• Data visualization – Analyze data in visual form, such as patterns, charts, graphs, maps, trends, correlations, and so on.
• Role-based access management – Regulate access levels for individuals, including data and administration.
• Historical snapshots – Create snapshots of your data samples and workspace and access them as records later in the process.
• Template creation – Save previously used color schemes and combinations as templates and reuse them again in future projects.
• Visual analytics – Analyze enormous amounts of data through powerful and interactive reporting capabilities.
• Visual discovery – Find patterns, sequences, and outliers in datasets through visual analysis without necessarily creating data models.
• Data cleansing – Filter through the redundant and inaccurate residual information from various formats, and keep your database pure.
• In-place filtering – Filter off specific data by value, type, category, or other criteria with dropdowns, checkboxes, radio buttons, sliders, and more.
• Email reporting – Receive constant information and visual statistical reports about your data through scheduled emails.
• Mobile user support – Access your data and monitor ongoing operations outside of the working environment.

Which Data Visualization Tool Should I Choose?

Do you want a tool that will give you access to an enormous collection of data connectors and visualizations, allow you to create maps and public-facing visualizations that stand out, generating the most accurate forecasts and statistical summaries?

Of course, you do.

Everyone looking for a data visualization solution wants those things, and there is no better tool today to help you master self-service business intelligence like Tableau .

Maybee empowering your employees to perform better is at the top of your priorities, and you would like to engage your employees in an alternative way.

Plecto is a tool that will let you add data from all SQL databases, including Zapier and REST-based API, and allow you to integrate with an unlimited number of them while proactively motivating your team to improve through gamification and other unique features.

If you want to construct complex data models but you want to do it quickly with a tool that will help you attain data from various sources and even advise you on the best practices for chart creation, association recommendation, and data preparation, look no further than Qlik .

Just like Jumpeau, with Sisense , you know you are getting the cream of the crop from picture, graph, chart, and map visualizations and high-volume dataset management, reaching the depth of insights through the actionable visualizations that is unrivaled.

Was This Article Helpful?

Martin luenendonk.

Martin loves entrepreneurship and has helped dozens of entrepreneurs by validating the business idea, finding scalable customer acquisition channels, and building a data-driven organization. During his time working in investment banking, tech startups, and industry-leading companies he gained extensive knowledge in using different software tools to optimize business processes.

This insights and his love for researching SaaS products enables him to provide in-depth, fact-based software reviews to enable software buyers make better decisions.

Present Your Data Like a Pro

by Joel Schwartzberg

Summary .   

With so many ways to spin and distort information these days, a presentation needs to do more than simply share great ideas — it needs to support those ideas with credible data. That’s true whether you’re an executive pitching new business clients, a vendor selling her services, or a CEO making a case for change.

Partner Center