Tableau

Tableau, part of Salesforce, is a visual analytics tool for exploring data and publishing interactive dashboards. Analysts drag fields onto a canvas in Tableau Desktop or the browser to build charts, prepare data with Tableau Prep, and share results through Tableau Cloud or a self-managed Tableau Server. Tableau Pulse sends metric summaries, and the Tableau Agent assistant is included in the higher Cloud editions.

It suits analysts and data teams in mid-sized and large organisations that need governed, shareable dashboards across many users. Individuals who only want to analyse local files can use the free desktop edition, though it cannot publish or share work online.

Tableau Desktop Free Edition costs nothing and works with local files and databases. Tableau Cloud requires an annual contract: Standard starts at $15 per user per month and Enterprise at $35, both billed annually, and every deployment needs at least one Creator licence. Cloud+ and the Tableau+ bundle are priced through sales.