Understanding data is crucial in today’s data-driven world, and data visualization plays a crucial role in uncovering underlying patterns and layers. Would you rather look at an appealing and descriptive bar chart or a tedious spreadsheet conveying the same data?
As humans are inclined towards visual aids, data visualization charts such as bar charts, scatter plots, line charts, and geographical maps are crucial. They provide information with a mere glance, eliminating the need to read spreadsheets or text reports to comprehend data.
Data Visualization
Data Visualization refers to the visual representation of information or data, which involves the use of different types of visual aids such as graphs, charts, maps, and tools to effectively organize and analyze the data.
Furthermore, utilizing a data visualization tool enables the information to be displayed in a distinctive and comprehensible format, allowing individuals without technical knowledge to easily grasp all information.
Data Visualization Tools
1. Tableau
Data analysts, scientists, statisticians, and other professionals can utilize Tableau as a data visualization tool to gain a precise perspective through data analysis.
Tableau has gained significant notoriety due to its ability to quickly generate the necessary data visualizations from inputted data. Furthermore, it is recognized for its exceptional security, promptly addressing any security concerns discovered by users.
Users of Tableau can utilize its data preparation, cleaning, and formatting features to create visualizations that yield useful insights, which can then be shared with other users. The software may be used by individual analysts or scaled up for team and organizational use. A free trial period of 14 days is offered, after which users may opt to pay for the full version.
2. Looker
Looker is a powerful data visualization software that allows for comprehensive analysis of data in order to gain valuable insights.
Looker enables businesses to access real-time dashboards of data for comprehensive analysis, allowing them to instantly make informed decisions using the visualizations obtained. Additionally, Looker offers connections to Redshift, Snowflake, and BigQuery, and supports over 50 SQL dialects to enable seamless connectivity with multiple databases.
Sharing Looker data visualizations is feasible with any tool and exporting them is feasible in any format at once. Additionally, Looker extends customer support services for addressing any inquiry, and by submitting a form, one can attain a cost estimation.
3. Zoho Analytics
In just a few minutes, Zoho Analytics, a software for Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, can assist you in producing visually appealing data representations from your data.
By gathering data from various sources and merging it, you can generate multidimensional data visualizations that enable you to analyze your company’s data across different departments. Zia, an intelligent assistant that employs artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing, is available to assist you with any inquiries.
With Zoho Analytics, you have the ability to share and publish your reports with your associates and participate in discussions or leave comments as needed. Additionally, you can export Zoho Analytics files in a wide range of formats such as MS Word, Excel, Spreadsheet, PDF, PPT, and more. There are different pricing options available for this software including a basic plan that starts at around A$34.1 per month which is billed annually.
4. Sisense
Sisense is a data visualization system rooted in business intelligence that equips data analysts with several tools to streamline intricate data and uncover valuable insights for both internal and external stakeholders.
According to Sisense, all businesses will eventually become data-driven and incorporate data into their products. As a result, Sisense strives to offer a range of data analytics tools to assist business teams and data analysts in creating data-driven enterprises of the future.
Sisense can be easily set up and learned, taking only a minute to install. Analysts can quickly perform their tasks and obtain instant results.
With Sisense, users can conveniently export their files to various formats including PPT, Excel, MS Word, PDF, and more. In addition, Sisense offers constant customer support to assist users with any problems. To receive a price estimate, simply fill out a form.
5. IBM Cognos Analytics
Among other features, IBM Cognos Analytics is a business intelligence platform powered by Artificial Intelligence, which facilitates data analytics.
IBM Cognos Analytics enables you to both visualize and analyze your data, and share actionable insights with everyone in your company. This tool is user-friendly even if you have minimal or no experience with data analytics, because it interprets the data on your behalf and delivers useful insights in clear language.
In addition, it is possible to collaborate with several users by sharing your data via cloud and exchanging visual content through email or Slack. Furthermore, it is feasible to merge relevant data sources into one module by importing data from diverse origins such as spreadsheets, cloud, CSV files, or local databases. A free trial of IBM Cognos Analytics is available for 30 days, after which you can choose a plan starting at around A$20.87 monthly.
6. Qlik Sense
By offering an associative data analytics engine, an advanced Artificial Intelligence system, and a flexible multi-cloud architecture that enables deployment in a variety of options such as SaaS, on-premises or a private cloud, Qlik Sense is a valuable data visualization tool that can aid organizations in evolving into data-driven entities.
Regardless of its size, your data can be conveniently combined, loaded, visualized, and analyzed on Qlik Sense. The data’s charts, tables, and other visualizations are interactive, and they instantly adjust to the present data context.
By using drag and drop, the Qlik Sense AI is capable of supplying you with data insights and aiding you in constructing analytics. You have the opportunity to test out Qlik Sense Business free of charge for a 30-day period before upgrading to a paid version.
7. Domo
Domo is a consolidated platform for conducting data analysis and creating interactive data visualizations using various data visualization tools, thereby enabling easy comprehension of your data findings by other parties.
The Domo dashboard allows you to blend cards, text, and images, enabling you to lead individuals through data while constructing a data narrative.
If you have any uncertainty, you may utilize their pre-designed dashboards for rapid data analysis. Domo provides a free trial opportunity to help you determine if this platform is suitable for you. Should you require assistance from customer service, Domo is accessible Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 6 PM, and you can test it out for free before purchasing the paid version.
8. Microsoft Power BI
The main focus of Microsoft Power BI is to establish a culture of business intelligence that relies on data, which it achieves through its Data Visualization platform, providing self-service analytics tools that enable users to analyze, aggregate, and disseminate data in a relevant way.
The Microsoft Power BI platform comes equipped with numerous data visualizations, as well as integrated Artificial Intelligence features and seamless Excel integration, all at an affordable cost of $9.99 per user per month for the Microsoft Power BI Pro version. Additionally, customers have access to various support resources, including frequently asked questions, forums, and live chat with support staff.
9. MetricsGraphics
MetricsGraphics is a D3.js-based charting library that is specifically designed to effectively visualize and organize time-series data. Its focus is mainly on five types of charts, namely line charts, scatterplots, bar charts, histograms and data tables. However, these limited chart types are executed with exceptional proficiency.
Metrics Graphics, a product from Mozilla, is comparable to Google Charts in that it offers abundant helpful documentation and sample code on their website, making it accessible for newcomers to get started. Despite being a simplified option, it is lightweight and easily comprehensible, primarily due to an intriguing, interactive example they presented (regarding UFO sightings).
10. FusionCharts
FusionCharts is compatible with vanilla JavaScript as well as other commonly used libraries and frameworks such as jQuery and Angular. Compared to Google Charts or MetricsGraphics, it offers a much more comprehensive solution with over 90 charts and 1000 maps. Consult the technical specifications to view the complete selection of charts offered.
It is crucial to bear in mind that choosing an incomplete data visualization tool when contemplating the scalability of your app or web page could have negative consequences. FusionCharts is trusted by Microsoft, Google, and IBM, among other companies, making it a highly scalable tool that can meet enterprise demands.
11. Epoch
Epoch was developed utilizing d3.js to provide a means for developers to incorporate live graphs into their applications or websites. Additionally, the tool boasts a well-documented interface and is completely free and open source, making it a viable choice for those who prefer not to invest in a more resource-intensive solution.
While Epoch falls short when compared to more comprehensive tools such as FusionCharts or Highcharts due to the limited number of chart types available for basic and real-time options, it does offer a superior method for presenting real-time data in an uncomplicated and user-friendly manner.
12. ECharts
The unparalleled functionality of Baidu’s ECharts lies in its Drag-Recalculate feature which enables users to effortlessly transfer data segments from one chart to another, thereby recalculating the charts in real-time.
In addition, it should be noted that ECharts is designed to handle large amounts of data and can quickly generate a graph with up to 200,000 data points on a Cartesian plane, utilizing ZRender, a minimal canvas library developed exclusively for ECharts.
13. D3.js
Although it may not be the easiest tool to use, d3.js is undeniably powerful in the realm of JavaScript charting. Other libraries have built upon it due to its encompassing range of features, compatibility with HTML, SVG, and CSS, and vast collection of user-created contributions. While it doesn’t provide pre-made charts, there are abundant resources available.
Given the level of difficulty in learning D3.js, it is advisable to explore the course on data visualization and D3.js, which provides a comprehensive overview of the basics.
14. Sigma
Compared to other tools on this list, Sigma has a specific focus on graph drawing and could be considered somewhat specialized. It utilizes Canvas and WebGL technology and boasts a public API, which has resulted in a variety of useful plugins created by the GitHub community. To give an idea of its capabilities, here is an example of what can be achieved with Sigma js:
Sigma is fully responsive, touch interactive, and allows developers to directly add their own functions to the scripts and render nodes and edges exactly to spec.
15. Highcharts
With the ability to develop interactive charts without depending on plugins, Highcharts has become a highly sought-after tool. Its versatile charting API has been adopted by major corporations including Nokia, Twitter, Visa, and Facebook. While non-commercial use of Highcharts is free, commercial users will need to purchase a developer licence, which is priced at $590 and includes support.
16. dc.js
Ideal for creating interactive dashboards, dc.js is a JavaScript library for dimensional charting that is open source. The charts exhibit a relational nature, resulting in the rest of the dashboard reacting accordingly when one segment is interacted with, enabling the user to drill down to a specific data point. Consider this instance as an illustration:
The library mainly relies on this example for teaching, with only a few online courses available. Through their documentation, you can learn how to create your own version. Although dc.js may not offer the variety of chart types found in tools like ECharts or Google Charts, it excels at exploring large, multidimensional datasets – its unique selling point.
17. dygraphs
Dygraphs, a data visualization tool that originated at Google, is a fantastic resource. Although its design has been slightly modified, it is still used on Google Correlate today. Its minimalist design can be forgiven due to its ability to plot millions of data points without delay, making it ideal for complex projects.
Dygraphs, which was originally used only within Google, is now publicly supported and developed by the community, with its source code available for viewing on GitHub.
18. Vega
Vega is a library that utilizes d3.js, which allows for the design, sharing, and storage of data visualizations. It comprises toolkits and systems that are just as powerful as d3, but coding is not required. JSON can be transformed into SVG or HTML5 graphics by Vega, which may not be extravagant, but is certainly efficient.
Vega is an excellent option for those who don’t possess programming skills but can modify values in a JSON file, as it provides the same features as d3 minus the intricate nature.
19. NVD3
The ultimate item mentioned herein is d3-based and serves as the predecessor of several available open source visualization tools for data. NVD3 equips programmers with components for constructing charts that are reusable. One may access a range of demonstrations and corresponding code samples on the NVD3 examples section, which is also the optimal approach to mastering this tool.
NVD3’s aesthetic is somewhat more polished than that of its predecessor.
It is compatible with all modern browsers and IE10 onwards, and has the capability to support 11 different chart types, such as area, line, bar, bubble, pie, and scatter.
