Best Data Visualization Tools for Businesses: 8 Tools to Consider

Looking for a data visualization tool?

Your search ends here.

Data visualization tools allow businesses to easily turn their data into readable and actionable insights. They also lower the barrier to entry for data-driven decision-making, replacing technical tasks with intuitive, drag-and-drop experiences.

This post covers some of the best data visualization software in the market.

Let's begin.

What is Data Visualization?

Data visualization is the process of converting datasets into graphical representations. This makes data accessible to all data stakeholders, streamlining decision-making across your organization.

Some examples of data visualizations are pie charts, pivot tables, heatmaps, scatter plots, bar graphs, and histograms.

Traditionally, creating data visualizations required technical skills like scripting and design. But with an effective data visualization and dashboard software, any team can bridge these skill gaps and jump straight to the insights they need.

Benefits of Data Visualization Software for Businesses

Here are some of the top benefits of using data visualization solutions:

• Quickly identify patterns and trends. Observing visual charts offers a much faster way of recognizing patterns and trends compared to scanning rows of data. Some data visualization tools also create interactive charts, surfacing deeper insights without the need to explore several pages of information.  
• Automate and accelerate data reporting. Today's data visualization and Business Intelligence (BI) tools automatically pull new data through integrations and update existing dashboards. These can be shared with other members of your team or compiled into downloadable PDF reports.
• Visualize and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Data visualizations make it easy to track KPIs and other essential business metrics. They also enable data stakeholders and decision-makers to track changes over time, evaluate current strategies, and conduct predictive analytics.
• Build a single source of truth for your organization. Most business tools include built-in analytics features, which generate their own datasets and reports you can analyze separately. Rather than hopping between different platforms, you can consolidate all your data into a single data visualization tool to simplify your data management and analysis tasks.

What the Best Data Visualization Tools Have in Common

Here are the key features you should look for when choosing a data visualization tool:

Drag-and-drop or What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) editor

Modern data visualization tools make it possible for anyone to convert raw data into readable graphics — regardless of technical background.

For example, Polymer lets you create and edit data visualizations directly from your dashboard.

There's no need to set things up on a separate page or tab and then preview your chart on another. You can see the results as soon as you make changes.

Ready-to-use data integrations

Integrations let you skip the hectic aspect of pulling data from third-party sources. In most cases, all you need to do is log in to your account, grant the required permissions, and specify parameters for data collection.

Ideally, your data visualization tool has a direct integration with the business software you're using. If not, they should connect to widely-used data management or spreadsheet tools like Google Sheets.

Integrated data management

High-tier data visualization and enterprise Business Intelligence tools often have data management features baked into the software. This can help you clean up, standardize, and deduplicate your datasets without switching to a different platform.

A few data management solutions also come with advanced features, like custom metrics, filters, and bucketing. But at the very least, your data visualization software should have formatting and column header editing options.

This is useful when creating dashboards with blended data.

Chart and report customization

Customization may not be a priority for pure data science teams only looking to extract actionable insights. But for companies that need to present data to stakeholders, like investors and clients, customization options can keep your reports on-brand.

Some examples are custom headers, chart colors, logos, and dashboard layouts. It also helps to have a data visualization tool that makes it easy to apply customizations to speed up your workflow.

Sharing and exporting options

Data visualization reports are meant to be shared. That's why you can't ignore sharing and reporting features when picking a data visualization tool.

Today, the standard sharing and reporting options include:

• Direct dashboard access via links
• Embeddable reports
• Export to PDF or CSV

Other sharing options include scheduled email reports and embed codes for individual data visualizations.

Learning resources

Finally, make sure your data visualization tool offers sufficient learning resources to help you maximize the platform.

This can include anything from "how-to" guides and tutorials for beginners to API documentation for advanced users. Some platforms also include in-app walkthroughs and tooltips for a learn-as-you-go experience.

8 Best Tools for Data Visualization

Now that you know what to look for in a data visualization solution, it's time to get moving.

Here are the top eight options you should explore:

1. Polymer

Polymer is an all-in-one BI platform that has everything you need to leverage the power of data visualizations.

There are three big reasons why you should choose Polymer: intuitiveness, enterprise-level features, and cost-effectiveness.

The Polymer user interface is designed to deliver a fluid and hassle-free data visualization experience. For starters, connecting your data sources and building your first dashboard can be done in a span of minutes — thanks to the distraction-free interface that highlights your next step.

In terms of features, Polymer's drag-and-drop editor provides a robust range of visualizations for presenting, explaining, and customizing your data. Create bar charts, line plots, scorecards, funnels, pivot tables, pie charts, scatter plots, bubble charts, heatmaps, and more.

You also get to include interactive and branding elements for building personalized, data-rich dashboards. This includes ROI calculators, correlation charts, headers, and embedded videos through Loom.  

When creating data visualizations with Polymer, you just need to specify a data source and choose the required parameters — often through a drop-down menu. Data visualizations also have a variety of options you can modify to accommodate your data analysis goals.

While you set up your visualization, Polymer automatically updates your dashboard in the background and in real time. This allows you to preview your changes and ensure everything is set up properly.

It's also easy to resize and organize data visualizations within your dashboard. Just drag and drop the elements to the right positions until you have a layout that's perfectly suited to your needs.

Extra Polymer features you should know

• AI tools — Use AI-driven suggestions and the PolyAI chatbot to build data visualizations in seconds.
• Style and branding options — Switch up your dashboard's colors, logo, and interactive features to create personalized experiences for viewers.  
• Streamlined data management — Set standardized column headers, formatting rules, custom metrics, and filters in minutes instead of hours.
• Ready-to-use templates and auto-generated boards — Save time with customizable templates for various reporting purposes or create an AI-generated board that automatically brings out valuable insights from your datasets.

Polymer pricing

Anyone can try the free trial, and plans start as low as $5/month. Learn more about Polymer pricing here.

2. Power BI

Power BI features, security, and seamless integration with Microsoft 365 products.

The Power BI platform operates through three tools:

• Power BI Desktop — Enables data scientists and analysts to build visualizations and reports.
• Power BI service — Allows stakeholders to access and analyze data through the cloud.
• Power BI mobile app — Allows everyone in the organization to check reports on the go.

While Power BI is an obvious choice for companies that use Microsoft 365, it's worth noting that it supports over 120 third-party data sources as well. As for its data visualization features, create the usual bar graph, funnel, scatter pilot, stacked area chart, and a host of visuals submitted by third-party providers.

Extra Power BI features you should know

• Auto-generated visuals — Power BI can also automatically generate a report by analyzing your data.
• Third-party apps — Apart from visuals, Power BI also utilizes data integrations and other apps from third-party services.
• Comprehensive learning center — Power BI fosters self-learning through sample reports and extensive documentation, while also offering guided training through webinars and workshops.

Power BI pricing

Pro plan starts at $10 per user per month.

3. Looker Studio

Looker Studio is one of the best free data visualization tools on the internet. As a Google product, it boasts a long list of third-party integrations — perfect for highly software-dependent businesses that process a lot of data from a wide-ranging software stack.  

Bear in mind that Looker Studio is different from Looker, which is an enterprise BI solution that also comes from Google.

Looker Studio is purely a data visualization tool with a flexible lineup of data visualizations. It can turn your data into scorecards, bubble charts, pivot tables, pie charts, geo charts, and other useful components.

You can also take advantage of third-party report templates and visualizations to breeze through the dashboarding process, making Looker Studio a viable Power BI alternative. Do note that its collection of sourced visuals fit very specific purposes, like monitoring flight paths or creating choropleth maps.

Extra Looker Studio features you should know

• "Explorer" mode — Looker Studio's Explorer feature lets you build and test data visualization and dashboard configurations in a private sandbox, ensuring you get everything right before pushing changes live.
• Deep pool of data integrations — Use Looker Studio with 1,000+ data integrations, which is the most out of all the data visualization tools on this list.
• Interactive dashboard controls — Enrich your reports by inserting control elements like input boxes, advanced filters, checkboxes, and sliders.

Looker Studio pricing

Free (learn pricing-specific information by reading Looker Studio vs Power BI.

4. Tableau

Tableau is another popular BI platform for experienced data professionals with strong attention to detail. It has a smooth learning curve, but a high ceiling for organizations that rely on crunching data to make strategic decisions.

Looking at Tableau's user interface, non-technical users may take some time to use and be productive with the dashboard builder. But thanks to the wealth of learning resources, you should be able to turn rows of data into interactive area charts, treemaps, Gantt charts, combo charts, scatter plots, and more.

Tableau also grays out any visualization that isn't applicable to the data you select. While it doesn't make for a very intuitive experience, this can help beginners become familiar and proficient with the tool's capabilities.

Extra Tableau features you should know

• Desktop version — Download Tableau's desktop version to take advantage of its data visualization features without opening a browser tab.
• Device-specific layouts — Optimize the size and layout of your dashboard for a specific display or paper size (for printing).
• Flexible workbook controls — Layer new sheets, dashboards, and stories on top of each other to organize your data visualizations.

Tableau pricing

Starts at $75 per user per month (including data visualization tools).

5. Klipfolio

Klipfolio is a data visualization tool created to help organizations democratize data and foster a data-driven culture. It comes in two versions: Klips for small businesses and PowerMetrics for large enterprises.

The key difference between Klipfolio Klips and PowerMetrics is the support for internal data warehouses, semantic layer integrations, and APIs. For smaller organizations, all you need is Klips and its gallery of templates for commonly-used data sources.

Klipfolio combines the data management and visualization aspects of dashboarding in one interface. It also includes a decent range of visualizations in its kit, including bubble charts, funnels, sparklines, gauges, and tables.

Extra Klipfolio features you should know

• Create and manage variables — Specify or modify unique variables for your dashboard to enable advanced data analytics techniques, like predictive analytics and advanced KPI tracking.
• Add interactive components — Add HTML snippets, buttons, date pickers, and drop-down menus to your dashboard without writing code.
• Direct source code access — Instantly access, save, and share your dashboard's source code with one click.

Klipfolio pricing

Starts at $190 per month.

6. Zoho Analytics

Zoho Analytics is a self-service data analytics tool with a beginner-friendly interface and AI features. It has quite a handful of strengths, including over 75 data visualization options, in-depth collaboration features, and a reasonable price tag.

Easily compile data from a host of sources — from social media websites to HR analytics software. With all your data in one place, convert them into word clouds, line charts, geo maps, and dozens of other visualization types.

Extra Zoho Analytics features you should know

• Granular access control — Fine-tune the access permissions of users to streamline their experience while improving data security.
• Collaboration features — Aside from viewing or editing dashboards, users can also leave comments in reports for clarifications, feedback, and other remarks.
• Robust data governance tools — Assign admins for your team or individual workspaces while also utilizing backups, API logs, and other security features.

Zoho Analytics pricing

Starts at $24 per month (maximum of two users).

7. Domo

Domo markets itself as a "data experience" platform that goes beyond data visualizations and into analytics app creation. It's one of the few data visualization tools that matches Looker Studio in terms of integrations with 1,000+ data connectors.

After importing your data, you instantly gain access to Domo's visualization tools — encompassing bar charts, pie charts, tables, heatmaps, lollipop charts, progress bars, gauges, and other components.

Extra Domo features you should know

• Annotation tool — Explain or provide more context to visualizations by directly inserting annotations in specific areas of your report.
• Communication-based collaboration — Use the "Buzz" tool to leave messages, share links, and flag threads to collaborate with stakeholders in-app.
• Visual app builder — Turn dashboards into interactive data exploration apps with Domo's drag-and-drop app creator.

Domo pricing

Usage-based pricing.

8. Flourish

Flourish focuses on the storytelling aspect of data visualization — and that is more than just a tagline. It allows you to incorporate interactive elements and animations into data reports, giving your stakeholders a better sense of what happened and how events unfolded over time.

A good example would be a "bar chart race," which starts every row at zero and rearranges them as the values grow over time.

Of course, Flourish also includes traditional data visualizations like line charts, geo maps, and tables. But it's in data-driven storytelling where Flourish really shines.

Extra Flourish features you should know

• Ready-to-use animated visuals — With Flourish, you don't need to write code or create animations frame by frame to bring your data visualizations to life.
• Responsive reports — Present your reports anywhere on any device, including tablets, laptops, and smartphones.
• Learn as you go — Access FAQs and other essential tutorial information without leaving your dashboard.

Flourish pricing

Quote-based.

Try Polymer for Free

There's no one-size-fits-all solution in data visualization — but you definitely can't go wrong with Polymer.

Apart from the pricing and unparalleled usability, Polymer also has the most advanced implementations of AI out of all the tools in this list. Get AI-powered suggestions, generate AI-based explanations, and turn your data questions into visuals directly via the PolyAI chatbot.

Try Polymer for free today.