Tableau is a business intelligence software for data analysts and data engineers to work on data projects, and dashboards, and is one of the common reporting tools for business users. This blog post reviews the top 12 alternatives to Tableau that offer additional features and capabilities.
What are some challenges with Tableau?
Although Tableau is a business intelligence software for a data analyst to work on reporting and dashboards, it lacks some common functionality such as real-time collaboration, a flexible and intuitive coding environment to access SQL databases and Python, chart commenting, and native integrations with other tools to handle big data.
Nonetheless, Tableau is a popular business intelligence solution due to its data visualization capabilities used for business analytics to transform complex data to extract valuable insights. It is used by data analysts, business intelligence professionals, and data scientists.
Tableau’s high cost and complexity can be a deterrent for small businesses, non-profits, and individuals. Fortunately, there are several Tableau alternatives available that are free and open source. In this article, we will discuss the 12 best Tableau alternatives in 2023.
An Overview of Tableau, a Data Visualization Tool
Tableau is one of the data visualization solutions that allow users to create embedded analytics connected to a wide range of data sources, create interactive dashboards, and share insights with others. It offers a variety of features such as drag-and-drop functionality, real-time data analysis, and data blending. Tableau has a user-friendly interface and can be used by both technical and non-technical users. However, it is expensive and may not be suitable for small businesses, non-profits, and individuals.
Why do you need a Tableau Alternative?
Tableau is an excellent reporting tool, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. There are several reasons why you may need a Tableau alternative. Some of these reasons include:
- Cost: Tableau is an expensive tool, and the licensing costs may be too high for small businesses, non-profits, and individuals.
- Complexity: Tableau can be complex, and it may require extensive training to use it effectively.
- Open-source software: Some users prefer to use open-source software as it is free and customizable.
- Data Source: Raw data can be difficult to handle with Tableau when coming from multiple data sources. Loading data or handling processes such as data extraction from other BI tools into Tableau is not possible. Data comes in different shapes and forms (structured and unstructured data). From data storage such as relational databases, to data preparation such as the need to use Python and not only SQL to query data.
- Data Visualizations: Complex data such as clickstream and funnel can’t be visualized correctly in Business intelligence tools. For instance, Noteable has a set of unique visualization capabilities allowing to the creation of custom funnel charts. For instance, extracting data from google analytics and visualizing it in Noteeble is possible.
- Big Data: Tableau is great for embedded analytics, but there is a limit to the size and shape of the data that it can handle which usually requires complex data pipelines.
What is Data Analytics & Data Analysis?
Data analytics and data analysis are related fields that involve examining and interpreting large sets of raw data to draw meaningful insights and conclusions.
Data analytics typically involves using statistical and mathematical tools (e.g. Noteable, as a free cloud-based jupyter notebook) to analyze data in order to identify patterns, relationships, and trends. This process often involves cleaning and transforming the data, exploring it using visualizations, and applying machine learning algorithms to make predictions or recommendations.
Data analytics is often used in business, healthcare, finance, and other industries to improve decision-making, optimize operations, and identify opportunities for growth.
Data analysis, on the other hand, is a more general term that refers to the process of examining and interpreting raw data to draw conclusions or make decisions. It can involve various techniques, such as statistical analysis, regression analysis, and exploratory data analysis, depending on the type of data and the research question.
Data analysis is often used in scientific research, market research, and social sciences, as well as in business and industry to support decision-making. The goal of data analysis is to extract insights from data that can inform actions or strategies.
What are the business intelligence tools?
There are many reporting tools available in the market today for business users, ranging from simple spreadsheets to complex softwares. These customizable interactive tools are designed to help businesses of all sizes to collect, analyze, and interpret data to make better decisions and improve performance.
A list of The Best Tableau Alternatives for 2023
We list below a couple of alternatives to Tableau that focus on enabling work with multiple data warehouses, and data models, and provide similar interactive visualizations to improve data discovery and ad hoc analysis across your company.
QlikView
QlikView is a business intelligence platform that helps users to create interactive visualizations and reports using a drag-and-drop interface.
Pentaho
Pentaho is an open-source business intelligence software that allows users to extract, transform, and load data from various sources. It offers a variety of features such as reporting, data integration, and analytics. Pentaho is user-friendly and can be used by both technical and non-technical users.
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI is a cloud-based business intelligence tool that allows users to connect to various data sources, create interactive reports, and share insights with others. It offers a variety of features such as data modeling, data visualization, and real-time data analysis. Microsoft Power BI is easy to use and can be used by both technical and non-technical users.
Noteable
Noteable is a collaborative data notebook to combine code (SQL, Python, & R), and interactive visualizations. It bridges the gap between Analytics, Science, & Engineering in a unique Data Workspace. Modern data teams use Noteable to explore, collaborate, and share data. Noteable’s features include data integration from various sources, data transformation and cleaning, data visualization, reporting, and collaboration tools. The platform can also be customized to meet the unique needs of different industries and business functions.
Apache Superset
Apache Superset is an open-source business intelligence platform that allows users to create interactive dashboards, charts, and reports. It offers a variety of features such as real-time data analysis, data visualization, and data exploration.
Knime Analytics Platform
Knime Analytics Platform is an open-source data analytics tool that allows users to create workflows, automate data analysis, and visualize data. It offers a variety of features such as data preprocessing, data blending, and machine learning.
TIBCO Software
TIBCO Software is a business intelligence and analytics platform that allows users to connect to various data sources, create interactive dashboards, and share insights with others. It offers a variety of features such as data visualization, real-time data analysis, and predictive analytics.
SAP Business Intelligence
SAP Business Intelligence is a business intelligence and analytics platform that allows users to connect to various data sources, create interactive dashboards, and share insights with others. It offers a variety of features such as data modeling, data visualization, and predictive analytics.
GoodData
GoodData is a cloud-based business intelligence and analytics platform that helps organizations turn data into actionable insights. The platform allows businesses to connect, process, analyze, and visualize large amounts of data from various sources, including internal databases, third-party applications, and external data providers.
Domo
Domo is another alternative to Tableau that provides business intelligence and data visualizations for organizations. It allows users to connect, analyze, and visualize data from various sources in real-time, making it easier to gain insights into business operations and make data-driven decisions.
Sisense
Sisense is a business intelligence and analytics platform that allows users to connect to various data sources, create interactive dashboards, and share insights with others. It offers a variety of features such as data visualization, real-time data analysis, and predictive analytics. According to Trevor.io, Sisense is one of the best Tableau alternatives.
ToughtSpot
ThoughtSpot is an enterprise search and data analytics platform that helps businesses to analyze large and complex data sets quickly and easily. It provides a self-service platform that enables users to search and analyze data without requiring advanced technical skills or knowledge.
The Data Integration drawback of every Data Visualization Tool
One of the main drawbacks of these Tableau alternatives (e.g. Power Bi, Domo, or Sisense) is the lack of technical support and extensibility. While some of these tools are free, open source, or have a free trial, they may not have the same level of technical support as data notebooks such as Noteable or Databricks. Additionally, some of these tools may not have all the features that data notebook offers in terms of Python, SQL, and R support. One of the other drawbacks of using Tableau and its alternatives is the lack of solutions to integrate data from different sources.
How to choose the best alternative to Tableau?
The best Tableau alternative for your business depends on your specific needs and budget. If you are looking for a free open-source tool, then Pentaho Community Edition or Apache Superset may be a good fit. If you are looking for a free cloud-based tool, then Noteable or AWS SageMaker may be a good fit. If you are looking for a paid tool, then SAP Business Intelligence, Noteable Dedicated Deployments, or TIBCO Software may be a good fit.
When choosing a BI tool to try out a new analytics solution, businesses need to consider their specific needs and requirements. Some platforms offer more advanced features, while others are more user-friendly or cost-effective. Additionally, businesses should consider factors such as data security, scalability, and customer support when selecting a platform.
In conclusion, Tableau is a powerful tool for data visualization, but it is not the only option available. There are several Tableau alternatives available that offer a variety of features and benefits. Whether businesses choose a cloud-based platform or an open-source solution, they can find a platform that meets their needs and helps them turn data into actionable insights.
The Best Free Tableau Alternative?
Noteable is the best alternative to Tableau to perform ad hoc analysis, build interactive data apps and create embedded dashboards with an intuitive user interface and visualization tool. It has the most comprehensive set of features to combine multiple data sources that any data science team or data team will ever need. In addition, Noteable, as one of the jupyter notebook alternative, has the security features and integrations that are a must-have requirement for enterprise data science notebooks. Data Collaboration is hard and Noteable makes it easy.
Moreover, with interactive visualization and collaboration features and the ability to use a programming language of choice, Noteable bridges the gap between data practitioners and stakeholders bringing them together to work on the same platform.
This saves time, and frustration and ensures that data teams don’t have to hop between multiple tools like SQL editor, Python IDE, BI tool, and Slideshow tools to deliver business analytics end to end.
What are Jupyter Notebooks?
Jupyter Notebooks and BI tools have different strengths and use cases. Jupyter Notebooks (Noteable’s Open Source Technology) are better for complex analyses, reproducibility, and collaboration, while BI tools are better for creating simple reports and dashboards for end-users. Ultimately, the choice between Jupyter Notebooks and BI tools depends on the specific needs of the organization and the users involved. We recommend Noteable free version, available at app.noteable.io, to ease into data notebooks. Visit our pricing page to learn more about our enterprise offering.
