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601 West Lombard Street
Baltimore MD 21201-1512

Reference: 410-706-7996
Circulation: 410-706-7928

Data Visualization: Tool Comparison

Point-Click Tools


  Microsoft Excel Google Sheets Datawrapper Flourish RawGraphs Voyant Tools
Pricing Free (web version) Institutional Subscription Free Free Free Free Free
Open-Source No No Yes No Yes Yes
Sign-Up Requirement Required Required No Required No No
Access Options Web & Desktop Web Web Web Web Web

Programming Tools

  R/RStudio Python Plotly
Pricing Free Free Free
Open-Source Yes Yes Yes
Sign-In Requirement None None None
Access Options Desktop Desktop Desktop

Design Tools

Learn more about the HSHSL's Data Visualization Service


  Adobe Illustrator Affinity Designer InkScape Adobe Creative Cloud
Pricing Paid Paid Free Paid
Open-Source No No Yes No
Sign-In Requirement Required Required None Required
Access Options Web & Desktop Desktop Desktop Web & Desktop

Dashboard Tools

  Microsoft Power BI Tableau Public Tableau Academic Looker Studio
Pricing Institutional Subscription Free Paid Free
Open-Source No No No No
Sign-Up Requirement Required Required Required Required
Access Options Web & Desktop Web & Desktop Desktop Web

Mapping Tools

  ArcGIS QGIS Mapbox Google Maps
Pricing Paid Free Free Free
Open-Source No Yes No No
Sign-In Requirement Required None Required None
Access Options Web & Desktop Desktop Web & Desktop Web & Desktop

Network Analysis Tools

  Gephi VOSViewer Citespace Cytoscape
Pricing Free Free Free Free
Open-Source Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sign-In Requirements None None None None
Access Options Desktop Desktop Desktop Desktop