Data Visualization is a method of presenting data in a visual format. The pictorials and graphs help decision-makers comprehend information.
Data visualization recognizes patterns, concepts, and trends in large data sets. Data visualization is a process that helps businesses of all sizes and industries.
Open Source Data Visualization tools have tremendously impacted the corporate world. In this article, we will learn about various open-source data visualization tools.ย
Here are a few benefits of businesses using free and open-source Data Visualization tools:
- Open Source Data Visualization tools would help in decision-making. It will fulfill tasks such as presenting data patterns, correlations, and trends using graphic elements.
- There are multiple ranges of tools available. Each has features and functions to support user objectives.
- The tools ensure data accuracy and protect vital information. The tools are said to collaborate with security solutions to maintain data security.
- The tools alert and notify users about the completion of tasks. They also send out notifications in case a task is missed.ย
- The tools comprehend data and provide suggestions to improve business performance.
- The tools help small businesses by reducing costs as they are free and open source.
Top 15 Open-Source Data Visualization Tools and their Key Features:
Tableau Public
Tableau Public is a free and open-source data visualization tool. It is a platform that allows users to freely share and explore data visualizations publicly.
They provide Data Visualization, or โvizzes,โ as they call them, to help users comprehend data under any public topic.ย
Key Features:
- It allows users to share visualized data publicly.ย
- It provides over 3 million interactive data visualizations created by 1 million global users.
- It is a fully hosted tool that can manage millions of viewers and infrastructure.
Google Charts
Google Charts is a simple and free data visualization tool. It is a cloud-based tool that provides a library of data charts.
It provides multiple default charts but also allows limitless customization. It connects users in an online Google Charts forum where they support one another to create visualized data.
Key Features:
- It allows users to access charts and data tools from any web browser without plug-ins.
- It allows users to create multiple dashboards and also helps match the chart colors as per the website or business.
- It manages the content on the charts and connects real-time data using data connection and protocol tools.
Leaflet
Leaflet is an open-source JavaScript library. It enables users to create mobile-friendly interactive maps.
Developers use the variety of mapping features already embedded in the tool.ย
Key Features:
- It is a simple and lightweight tool with a size of only 38 kb of JavaScript.
- It provides multiple plugins to add features and customizations.
- It works well on mobile and desktop platforms.
- It offers visual, user interaction, and performance features zoom, drag panning inertia, keyboard navigation, hardware acceleration, etc.
- It provides mapping controls like zoom buttons, attribution, layer switcher, and scale.
D3.js
D3.js is a JavaScript library that develops and manipulates documents based on data. D3 stands for Data-Driven Documents that manipulate Data Object Model (DOM).
Key Features:
- It visualizes data for users with HTML, SVG, and CSS.
- It uses the full capacity of a browser to develop visualizations without tying to a proprietary framework.
- It connects users to a DOM and applies data-driven manipulations to documents.
Plotly
Plotly is an open-sourced, browser-based data visualization tool. It is an interactive solution built on d3.js visualization libraries.
Key Features:
- It allows users to create d3.js visualizations by simply uploading Excel files or connecting the SQL database.
- It enables users to work with R or Python to create charts.
- Comparing datasets becomes easier with its multi-chart visualization.
- It creates and displays complex charts on dashboards and websites.
- It allows users to collaborate and share data with different teams and members.
Charted
Charted is a free and open-source tool that automatically visualizes data. The Product Science at Medium created the tool in 2013.
It focuses only on visualization and does not transform format or store data.ย
Key Features:
- It only requires a CSV file or Google Sheets link to create visualizations.
- It analyzes and displays discoveries with the data science team.
- The tool comes with integrated components that help with visualizations.
- It also supports tab-delimited files and Dropbox links and requires no training for users.
Datawrapper is an open-sourced tool that is mobile-friendly. It provides users with simple, accurate, and embeddable visualizations within minutes.
The tool was created by a team of 15 developers in 2011. It is widely used by journalists, although it is comprehensive enough for data scientists and researchers.
Key Features:
- It provides free and paid versions for users.
- It provides interactive charts for viewers to comprehend underlying values.
- It helps create charts and reports within minutes.
Polymaps
Polymaps is an open-source JavaScript library. It creates dynamic and interactive maps in modern web browsers.
It is another tool that uses SVG functionality to facilitate styling through CSS, which enables interactivity.ย
Key Features:
- It displays multi-zoom datasets over maps for users.
- It leverages SVG to display and uses CSS to enable users to define the design.
- It loads a full range of data to showcase information from the country level to states, cities, neighborhoods, and individual streets.
Candela
Candela is an open-source web visualization tool from Kitwareโs Resonant platform. It is a full suite of interoperable data visualization components.
It focuses on creating rich and scalable visualizations. Its API is used in real-world data science applications.
Key Features:
- It creates rich and scalable visualizations for users.
- It provides a normalized API to apply in real-world data science scenarios.
- It enables installation through standard package repository systems or from a source.
Dygraphs
Dygraphs is a flexible open-source JavaScript charting library. It enables users to explore and understand complex data sets.
Key Features:
- Its primary feature includes handling heavy data sets and plotting millions of data points without getting bogged down.
- It displays strong support for error bars and confidence intervals.
- It is a customizable tool, and this flexibility allows it to work well with all browsers.
RAWGraphs
RAWGraphs is an open-source data visualization platform. The tagline on the website states โmissing link between spreadsheets and data visualizationsโ.
The user can simply cut/paste data, upload, or provide a link for the data sets to access a variety of charts.
Key Features:
- It provides users with multiple unconventional visualization models.
- It is built on the D3.js library and is designed for technical as well as non-technical users.
- It builds links between spreadsheets and vector graphics editors.
- It is a web-based platform and handles data through browsers.
OpenHeatMap
OpenHeatMap is a basic online mapping tool. It enables users to upload CSV, excel, or Google Sheets files to create maps.
It uses data to build static or animated maps. It enables users to view the data in different locations and visualize changes.
Key Features:
- Developers can use the tool to access mapping functionalities of their own website.
- It helps users to communicate through interactive maps that may be static or animated.
- It provides customer demographics data according to zip codes.
Palladio
Palladio is a free web-based tool that visualizes complex, historical, and multidimensional data. It allows users to visualize data from CSV, TAB, and/or TSV files.
It is a product created in Stanford Universityโs Networks in History.
Key Features:
- Its graph view enables users to visualize relationships between data dimensions.
- Its list view feature helps users arrange the data in customized lists.
- It easily visualizes complex historical data.
Databox
Databox is a cloud-based business data dashboard tool. Users can easily connect a data source and choose attributes to auto-populate the dashboard.
Key Features:
- It collaborates with data sources like HubSpot CRM, Google Analytics, Instagram, and Facebook Ads.
- It has a DIY Dashboard creator that allows users to choose from multiple templates and design dashboards without a designer or a coder.
- Its key performance indicator scorecards, advanced data modeling, and goal tracking allow data analysts to predict business performance.
Mode
Mode is a free, interactive, and cloud-based platform. It analyzes complex datasets and provides reports.
It is a browser-based data visualization tool that streamlines data for users.ย
Key Features:
- It provides a top-level and analytical workflow for users.
- It provides a unique URL to each project which makes it easier to share the links among teams and members.
- It works with servers like Microsoft Azure SQL, Amazon Redshift, Oracle, MySQL, SQL, etc.
- It provides free courses for users to learn online.
Conclusion:
Open Source Data Visualization tools are an important aspect of data analytics. Businesses that use data visualization tools leverage actionable information from the analyzed data.
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