Open source means that software has been made available for modification and use with no charge. Opensource.com published 8 excellent open source data visualization tools in June. The first one mentioned is Datawrapper where you can create charts and maps in just four steps. It can be downloaded or cloud hosted (paid service). It’s a web based graphics user interface(GUI).

The next open source data visualization tool is Chart.js . It provides technical and precise control over the charts but is not user friendly for those not wanting to mess with code. It is HTML5 based and boasts six chart types including interactive. Similarly named, Charted , is a minimal charting tool. The user provides a link to the data and a chart is not only produced, but updated every 30 minutes. No data is stored by this online tool. D3 (data driven documents), a JavaScript library, uses HTML, SVG, and CSS. The user may need to write code and it may not be for everyone. The fifth open source data visualization tool listed by Opensource is Dygraphs . It is also a JavaScript library that can process big data and produces interactive charts. Although it may require some code writing, it is described as easier to use than open source data visualization tools.

Additionally, Raw is a D3.js library that is web based. It is user friendly, requiring users only to paste their data. This tool allows customization and can be exported as SVG or PNG formats. Timeline is available in 40 languages for building, well, timelines. The timelines work on any site or blog and can be interactive. Finally, Leaflet is another JavaScript library for creating interactive maps that are mobile-friendly. Leaflet works with most programs and can be extended with plugins. It also takes advantage of HTML5 and CSS3.

Tableau states that they are “on a mission to help people see and understand data.” The company offers a variety of software options from on-site to online. They advertise faster analytics of any data amount, ease of use, smart dashboards, sharing, and automatic updating. A free trial is available, too, all of which places it among the best data visualization software.

Domo claims to save users thousands of hours with automated reports and visualization, easy access to 100’s of data sources, and the ability to access data anywhere and on any device. Doma made the best data visualization list for many reasons including its ability to collect data from a variety of sources in real time.

Zoho offers a variety of services including data visualization. With a drop-and-drag interface, Zoho reports being able to create a wide variety of charts, tables, reports and dashboards. The Zoho site says its creations can be embedded anywhere and shared easily. Those interested can take a tour or sign up for free. Zoho also offers help creating forms, survey collection, ad free email, social media analysis, document management and much more, winning it a spot on the best data visualization list.

GoodData goes beyond business intelligence to deliver insight and advanced analytics for organizations. This cloud analytic platform makes the best data visualization list for offering big data ready ETL/ELT, warehousing for data, innovative analysis and visualization and self-service data detection. Always available, the site offers a free trial at sign-up.

Pentaho describes itself as a “leading data integration and business analytics company” capable of taking on data of any size. They are among the best data visualization software for helping companies understand and use their data including big data and Internet of things. Data visualizations are tailor-made to meet the needs of each business.

Data visualization software enables data to be transformed into a graph or other visual aid. These visualizations can vary from graphs to charts to geographical maps. Many are interactive or present real-time data, according to Software Advice . The data visualized allows readers to analyze information, insight and recognize trends all at one, using everyone’s time more efficiently because less time is used interpreting numbers.

Although data visualization software is easy to find, choosing the right one for your personal or business needs can become more complicated. One thing to consider is if you want software on your system or a web-based program. Web-based systems provide an easy of use at any location with internet access but most require a monthly subscription fee. Further, make sure the vendor offers Mobile Business Intelligence (Mobile BI) if you plan to use it on a mobile device. Mobile BI software can provide a lower cost, less IT needs and are faster to implement.

Other concerns, according to Technology Advice , include making sure the software is compatible with your data source. Make sure the data visualization software can create the type of graphic visualization necessary whether it is a graphic, treemap, infographic or three-dimensional scatter plot. In addition, researching the software user-friendliness is important if non-technical users will be operating the software. It should have a clean, easy to understand interface.