Free Data Visualization Tools-1
Data literacy has become a need nowadays. One of the easiest and most fun ways of data literacy is data visualization for me. Data visualization, especially due to the increasing amount of data and the need to make this data meaningful; has become an increasingly important discipline and skill in recent years.
The chart below was created with data from Google Trends. In the last 5 years, you can see the popularity of the word data visualization. In addition, according to information from Google, China is the country where this word is searched most.
There are many tools on a topic that is so much sought and important. Besides code-based (Python, R, D3.js) and web-based (Flourish, Palladio etc.) visualization tools, programs that are a standalone like Tableau are also available.In this article, I will talk about free web-based tools and programs that I have tried.
Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel
Since the interfaces and usage mechanics are not very different, I evaluated both together. These two tools can work web-based. Collaboration in real-time from Sheets is possible, but Excel does not have in real-time feature. One of the most important features of Google Sheets provides the opportunity to collaborate on the web. In addition, it offers the possibility of interactive data visualization and the option to embed the site. There are a few such differences.
In addition to being preferred in data visualization, they are also useful tools that are frequently used for data analysis. I habitually use Excel more often. Therefore, I can say that professional visuals can be prepared very easily. You can also analyze the data quickly without the need for macros.
Tableau
How is Tableau free, you might say. Tableau Public is a limited version of Tableau and it’s free. There is also an unlimited free Tableau for students. If you are a student, you should definitely take this opportunity. Tableau is a Data Visualization tool that is widely used for Business Intelligence but is not limited to it. It helps you create interactive charts and graphs in the form of dashboards and worksheets to get business-related information. And all this is possible with drag and drop.
It is one of the easiest and most professional tools I have used. It is possible to do almost anything you can think of with very simple moves.
RAWGraphs
RAWGraphs is an open web tool to create custom vector-based visualizations. It allows you to get the data from a url. After loading the data, you can choose one of the complex graphics or create a chart yourself. You can find the graphic you created with drag and drop method at the bottom of the page.
The beauty of this web based visualization tool is that you can download the image you create in svg, png, html or json format.
Plotly Chart Studio
This web-based application makes it easy to create, distribute and share interactive web applications, graphics and visualizations in any programming language.
After loading the data, it is possible to choose different themes of the Plotly package used in Python. Do not be afraid that the word Python is mentioned, no coding is done. You just have to choose.
Apart from Plotly, it is also possible to make visualizations from Ggplot2 and Seaborn packages. The advantage of this package, as I mentioned above, is that it provides you with visualizations normally made by coding.
Knightlab
In this web-based application, the interface of which is a bit more complicated than the others, you can create wonderful storytelling examples. Although storytelling and data visualization are very similar, they are not the same. A handy tool that works for you if you want to create a story lines, VR scenes, inline audios, story maps and time lines.
I hope it was a useful article. If you have suggestions, I can review and add to this series. Do not forget to share your opinions with me!
