10 helpful tools to easily display complex data

Raw data is at first unimaginative and to some extent not profitable for the inexperienced eye. To understand data, they have to be turned into visible information. With graphs and charts, complex statistics can be presented quickly and effectively. There are so many data visualisation tools out there which do just that. They all differ a bit and offer free and paid models. The goal of all these tools is to make the visual representation of complex data easy for everyone. Hereafter, ten data visualisation tools are presented and described.

#1 QlikView

QlikView is a multipurpose BI (Business Intelligence) tool, which interactive data visualisations, reports and dashboards can be created with. Generally, the Qlik desktop app can be used for personal data exploration, but also for sharing in small groups. Collaboration and sharing with up to five other users is possible with the Qlik Sense Cloud, which is also costless. An advantage is that QlikView is for free and that all data can be saved locally. Data from multiple sources like Microsoft Excel, text files, applications such as salesforce.com or SAP can be linked together and visualised in graphs and tables.

#2 Plotly

Plotly is an online data analytics and visualisation tool and is a high-level declarative charting library. It provides online graphing, analytics and statistic tools, including 20 chart types, 3D charts, statistical graphs and SVG maps. You can create and host visualisations — this is possible from basic charts and scatter plots to statistical graphics like histograms and box plots. With Plotly, interactive visualisations can be created easily. Data can be brought from anywhere with any format, cleaned up fast, analysed or simulated, graphed interactively and then be shared and processed jointly. The program has two special features: Firstly, you can save the charts and data within the own account and create folders to keep track. Secondly, it is possible to create multi-chart visualisations, which can be very helpful for comparing different data sets. In addition, it’s possible to use the technology across a wide variety of platforms.

#3 Tableau Public

Tableau Public is a free software that offers room for customisation and design. You can combine charts into a content document to create interactive dashboards and infographics. Watching a tutorial is very helpful in getting the most out of the tool. In addition, it is possible to drag and drop fields onto the work area – the software then suggests a visualisation type. Labels, tool tips, size, interactive filters and legend display are then customised. Multiple connected visualisations can be combined onto a single dashboard. Last but not least, it is possible to perform calculations on data within the software.

#4 Highcharts Cloud

Highcharts Cloud is a free tool that is very easy to use. It delivers the most popular chart types. However, this data visualisation tool offers only a small degree of customisation. The user has only limited possibilities on how the chart looks like and how the data is displayed. You can drag and drop a CSV file, or copy and paste Excel files or Google Spreadsheet files — if it is another file, you just enter the data directly. With Highcharts Cloud it is possible to share your charts on social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn or Google+, or to integrate it into your blog or website. If you’re looking for a quick and easy visualisation, then Highcharts is just the thing.

#5 D3.js

D3.js is not a tool itself — it is one of the most popular JavaScript libraries to create data visualisations. If you want to use D3.js you need someone with developer skills. Some knowledge about the JavaScript library and web technologies is necessary for operating the software. Designers can create data-based visualisations with a wide range of interactive visualisations on a web-page. As it’s quite powerful and versatile, it’s worth to work with this programme — there are some tutorials for support. Here, coding has no limitations as with other tools. The possibilities are enormous : Everything from simple line charts to completely unique visualisations is feasible.

#6 FusionCharts

FusionCharts also requires an expert or developer who is familiar with visualisations. This is also a JavaScript library, but which is, in difference to the others described, not free. FusionCharts provides more than 90 charts and more than 1000 maps and allows for numerous variations and adjustments. There can be chosen from basic charts like line, column, pie, 2D, 3D and so on to the most complex charts like waterfall, gantt, candlestick or zoomline and can be flexibly customised. As all charts work seamlessly across PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads and Android devices, there is no worry about the browsers and devices FusionCharts will work on. Furthermore, it is more tailored to business and reporting than to content creation.

#7 Chart.js

Cha­­­­­­rt.js is a slim open source tool, but does not have the largest offer, as you can just choose between eight charts. The design is clean and minimalist, which is always a plus in data visualisation. Since this data visualisation tool is based on Javascript, you need developer skills. The charts of Chart.js. even work in mobiles and tablets without any problems. There are six different types of core charts — these are core, bar, doughnut, radar, line and polar area. The interactivity of these charts is not complex but in a nutshell and useful — that’s what you expect from an interactive chart.

#8 Datawrapper

Datawrapper is a data visualisation tool to create excellent charts in a simple way. It is quite easy to upload data and customise your chart with a decent level of design options. There is a good selection of the common charts and opportunities for cartography. Sounds very good so far— but one drawback is the view limit, as the chart will no longer work when your graph reaches 10,000. To continue, you need to get a paid account, which is not a problem for everyone. But if large traffic pages want use this tool then it would be better to consider other options or to choose the paid option.

#9 Infogram

Infogram promises an easy creation of charts and infographics. You can register for the free account with Facebook, your Google Account or your e-mail address. Certain restrictions and extra features are only passable and available on paid packages. The free version entails more than 35 charts with a wide range of customisations. The charts are interactive, can easily be embedded and you can create maps. Infogram works well for reporting and infographics. With the free account, however, the generated graphics can only be shared with colleagues via the web portal or published on the Web.

#10 RawGraphs

As some chart types in RawGraphs may need a bit of data knowledge, a developer can help to get the most out of the tool. This data visualisation tool is free and is built on D3.js. Therefore it is possible to build charts without having to code. As you are able to install your own charts in RawGraphs, you can create completely unique visualisations. The tool aims to provide a missing link between spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers or OpenRefine, and vector graphics editors such as Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape and Sketch. RawGraphs is particularly suitable if you work on large projects.

Keywords

Big data, visualisation, tools

Author: Ida Pichler