Top 9 Data Visualization Tools for Non-Developers in 2023

In today‘s fast-paced, data-driven world, the ability to effectively visualize and communicate insights from data has become a critical skill for professionals across industries. However, the idea that data visualization requires deep technical expertise and coding skills is quickly becoming obsolete. A new generation of powerful, intuitive data visualization tools is empowering non-developers to create stunning, interactive visualizations and dashboards with ease.

As a full-stack programming expert and data visualization enthusiast, I‘ve seen firsthand how these tools can democratize data insights and enable more people to participate in data-driven decision-making. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share my top 9 picks for the best data visualization tools for non-developers in 2023. We‘ll dive deep into the key features, strengths, and use cases of each tool, as well as explore some real-world examples and expert tips.

1. Datawrapper

Datawrapper is a web-based data visualization tool that has gained a reputation for its simplicity, flexibility, and storytelling-focused features. Used by major news organizations like The New York Times and The Guardian, Datawrapper allows users to create a wide range of interactive charts, maps, and tables optimized for embedding and sharing.

Key features:

• Intuitive, step-by-step interface for uploading data and creating visualizations
• Wide range of chart types, including bar, line, area, scatter, and choropleth maps
• Customizable design options, including themes, colors, and fonts
• Responsive, embeddable charts optimized for storytelling and social sharing
• Option to create locator maps with custom markers and tooltips

Pricing: Datawrapper offers a free plan with core features, with paid plans starting at $599/month for teams.

Ease of Use: 4.5/5
Flexibility: 4/5
Best for: Journalists, bloggers, and content creators looking to create engaging, shareable data visualizations.

2. Tableau Public

Tableau is a powerful, industry-leading data visualization platform used by organizations of all sizes. Tableau Public is a free version that allows anyone to connect to a spreadsheet or file and create interactive visualizations that can be published and shared online.

Key features:

• Connect to a wide range of data sources, from spreadsheets to databases
• Vast library of maps, charts, graphs, and dashboards
• Ability to create custom calculations and formulas
• Interactive filtering, highlighting, and drill-down capabilities
• Active community and support resources

Pricing: Tableau Public is free, but all visualizations created must be public. Paid versions of Tableau start at $70/user/month.

Ease of Use: 3.5/5
Flexibility: 5/5
Best for: Data analysts, researchers, and students who want to create powerful, interactive data visualizations and don‘t mind the learning curve.

3. Infogram

Infogram is a user-friendly, web-based platform that allows non-developers to easily create engaging charts, infographics, reports, and social media visuals. With a strong focus on design and storytelling, Infogram offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and a wide range of customizable templates.

Key features:

• Library of over 550 pre-designed templates and 35 interactive chart types
• Collaborative, real-time editing and commenting features
• Ability to add animations, videos, and interactive elements to infographics
• Integration with popular tools like Google Analytics, Dropbox, and social media platforms
• Built-in analytics to track engagement and performance

Pricing: Infogram offers a limited free plan, with paid plans starting at $19/month for individuals and $67/month for teams.

Ease of Use: 4.5/5
Flexibility: 4/5
Best for: Marketers, PR professionals, and anyone looking to create visually stunning infographics and data-driven stories.

4. Google Data Studio

Google Data Studio is a free, web-based business intelligence and data visualization platform that integrates seamlessly with Google‘s suite of tools, such as Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Google Sheets. With Data Studio, users can create interactive dashboards and reports that consolidate data from multiple sources.

Key features:

• Connect to and blend data from a wide variety of sources
• Pre-built and customizable templates for common use cases
• Ability to create custom metrics, dimensions, and calculated fields
• Collaborative editing and sharing features
• Customizable branding and design options

Pricing: Google Data Studio is free.

Ease of Use: 4/5
Flexibility: 4.5/5
Best for: Marketers, business owners, and analysts who want to create interactive dashboards to track key metrics and performance.

5. Flourish

Flourish is a powerful, web-based data visualization and storytelling platform that allows non-developers to create interactive, animated, and engaging data stories. With a wide range of unique visualization templates and an intuitive interface, Flourish makes it easy to bring your data to life.

Key features:

• Wide range of unique, interactive chart types, including 3D scatter plots, network diagrams, and more
• Powerful animation and scrollytelling features to create engaging data stories
• Customizable design options, including fonts, colors, and layouts
• Ability to import data from various sources, including CSV, Excel, and Google Sheets
• Responsive, embeddable visualizations optimized for the web

Pricing: Flourish offers a free plan for public projects, with paid plans starting at $59/month for private projects and additional features.

Ease of Use: 4/5
Flexibility: 4.5/5
Best for: Journalists, researchers, and storytellers looking to create unique, engaging data visualizations that stand out.

6. Chart.js

Chart.js is a free, open-source JavaScript library that allows developers to create interactive, customizable charts and graphs for web projects. While it does require some basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, Chart.js is designed to be accessible and easy to use for developers of all skill levels.

Key features:

• Wide range of chart types, including line, bar, radar, pie, and more
• Highly customizable, with options to control every aspect of chart appearance and behavior
• Responsive, animated, and interactive charts optimized for the web
• Extensive documentation, examples, and community support
• Lightweight and fast, with no external dependencies

Pricing: Chart.js is free and open-source.

Ease of Use: 3.5/5
Flexibility: 5/5
Best for: Web developers and data enthusiasts who want complete control over their visualizations and don‘t mind working with code.

7. RAWGraphs

RAWGraphs is an open-source, web-based data visualization tool that specializes in creating unique, unconventional chart types. Designed for data visualization experts and enthusiasts, RAWGraphs offers a powerful way to explore and present complex data sets without writing any code.

Key features:

• Wide range of non-conventional chart types, such as alluvial diagrams, circular dendrograms, and voronoi tessellations
• Customizable design options, including colors, fonts, and layouts
• Ability to import data from CSV, TSV, and DSV files
• Export visualizations as vector images (SVG) for print or web use
• Open-source and free to use

Pricing: RAWGraphs is free and open-source.

Ease of Use: 3.5/5
Flexibility: 4.5/5
Best for: Data visualization experts and enthusiasts looking to create unique, eye-catching visualizations that push the boundaries of traditional charts and graphs.

8. Visme

Visme is a comprehensive, web-based design and data visualization platform that allows users to create a wide range of visual content, including presentations, infographics, reports, and social media graphics. With a user-friendly interface and extensive library of templates and assets, Visme makes it easy for non-developers to create professional-looking data visualizations.

Key features:

• Drag-and-drop interface for creating various types of visual content
• Over 50 chart and graph types, including maps, funnels, and Gantt charts
• Extensive library of templates, images, icons, and fonts
• Collaborative editing and sharing features
• Ability to animate objects and create interactive presentations

Pricing: Visme offers a limited free plan, with paid plans starting at $15/month for individuals and $29/month for teams.

Ease of Use: 4.5/5
Flexibility: 4/5
Best for: Marketers, business owners, and educators who want to create engaging, professional-looking visual content and data visualizations.

9. Grafana

Grafana is an open-source, web-based data visualization and monitoring platform that specializes in creating interactive dashboards for real-time data. While primarily used by developers and IT teams to monitor systems and infrastructure, Grafana can also be a powerful tool for non-developers looking to visualize and analyze real-time data streams.

Key features:

• Connect to a wide range of data sources, including databases, APIs, and cloud services
• Create custom queries and dashboard panels to visualize data in real-time
• Wide range of chart types, including time series, heatmaps, and geomaps
• Set up alerts and notifications based on data thresholds
• Extensive plugin ecosystem and community support

Pricing: Grafana is free and open-source, with paid enterprise options available.

Ease of Use: 3/5
Flexibility: 5/5
Best for: Developers, system administrators, and data analysts who need to monitor and visualize real-time data streams and metrics.

Choosing the Right Data Visualization Tool

With so many powerful data visualization tools available, choosing the right one for your needs can be a challenge. Here are some key factors to consider:

1. Ease of use: If you‘re new to data visualization, look for tools with intuitive interfaces and step-by-step tutorials.
2. Flexibility: Consider the types of data sources you‘ll be working with and the level of customization you need.
3. Output and sharing options: Think about how you‘ll be sharing your visualizations and whether you need features like embeddability, interactivity, and offline access.
4. Budget: While many tools offer free plans, some may require a subscription for advanced features or enterprise-level support.

Developing Data Literacy with Visualization Tools

Data visualization tools aren‘t just about creating pretty charts and graphs; they‘re also powerful tools for developing data literacy and promoting a data-driven culture within organizations. By empowering non-developers to explore, analyze, and communicate data insights, these tools can help break down silos and foster collaboration across teams.

However, it‘s important to remember that data visualization is just one part of the data literacy equation. To truly derive value from these tools, organizations must also invest in data education, governance, and strategy. This means providing training and resources to help employees understand how to interpret and use data effectively, as well as establishing clear guidelines for data quality, security, and privacy.

The Future of Data Visualization

As data continues to grow in volume, variety, and velocity, the need for effective data visualization will only become more pressing. Fortunately, the tools and technologies available to non-developers are evolving rapidly to meet this demand.

Some key trends to watch in the coming years include:

• The rise of augmented analytics and AI-powered insights
• Increasing adoption of immersive and interactive data experiences, such as virtual and augmented reality
• Greater emphasis on data storytelling and narrative-driven visualizations
• More seamless integration with data mining and web scraping tools to enable end-to-end data workflows

As Nate Silver, statistician and founder of FiveThirtyEight, puts it: "Data visualization is a critical part of data analysis, not just the last step where you sprinkle some graphics on top to make things look pretty. It‘s an integral part of the process that allows us to explore, understand, and communicate data in ways that words and numbers alone cannot."

Conclusion

Data visualization is no longer the sole domain of developers and data scientists. With the right tools and mindset, non-developers from all backgrounds can harness the power of data to drive better decisions, uncover new insights, and tell compelling stories.

The 9 tools highlighted in this guide – Datawrapper, Tableau Public, Infogram, Google Data Studio, Flourish, Chart.js, RAWGraphs, Visme, and Grafana – represent some of the best options available for non-developers looking to create stunning, interactive data visualizations in 2023. By exploring these tools and finding the ones that best fit your needs and skill level, you can take your data communication skills to the next level and make a greater impact in your organization and beyond.

As a full-stack developer and data visualization enthusiast, I‘m excited to see how these tools continue to evolve and empower more people to explore, understand, and communicate with data. By leveraging the power of data visualization, we can all make better decisions, solve complex problems, and create a more data-literate world.