10 Best Tableau Alternatives & Competitors in 2019

Tableau is a data visualization tool that can connect to almost any data source. However, its licensing costs could be restrictive.
Here, is a curated list of top 10 tools that can replace Tableau. This list includes commercial as well as open-source automation tools with popular features and latest download link.

1) Sisense:

Sisense is a business intelligence tool which analyses and visualizes both big and disparate datasets, in real-time. It is an ideal tool for preparing complex data for creating dashboards with a wide variety of visualizations.
Features:
  • Unify unrelated data into one centralized place
  • Create a single version of truth with seamless data
  • Allows to build interactive dashboards with no tech skills
  • Query big data at very high speed
  • Possible to access dashboards even in the mobile device
  • Drag-and-drop user interface
  • Eye-grabbing visualization
  • Enables to deliver interactive terabyte-scale analytics
  • Exports data to Excel, CSV, PDF Images and other formats
  • Ad-hoc analysis of high-volume data
  • Handles data at scale on a single commodity server
  • Identifies critical metrics using filtering and calculations

2) Oracle:

Oracle data warehouse software is a collection of data which is treated as a unit. The purpose of this database is to store and retrieve related information. It helps the server to reliably manage huge amounts of data so that multiple users can access the same data.
Features:
  • Distributes data in the same way across disks to offer uniform performance
  • Works for single-instance and real application clusters
  • Offers real application testing
  • Common architecture between any Private Cloud and Oracle's public cloud
  • Hi-Speed Connection to move large data
  • Works seamlessly with UNIX/Linux and Windows platforms
  • It provides support for virtualization
  • Allows connecting to the remote database, table, or view

3) SAS:

SAS is a leading Datawarehousing tool that allows accessing data across multiple sources. It can perform sophisticated analyses and deliver information across the organization.
Features:
  • Activities managed from central locations. Hence, user can access applications remotely via the Internet
  • Application delivery typically closer to a one-to-many model instead of one-to-one model
  • Centralized feature updating, allows the users to download patches and upgrades.
  • Allows viewing raw data files in external databases
  • Manage data using tools for data entry, formatting, and conversion
  • Display data using reports and statistical graphics

4) Pentaho

Pentaho is a Data Warehousing and Business Analytics Platform. The tool has a simplified and interactive approach which empowers business users to access, discover and merge all types and sizes of data.
Features:
  • Enterprise platform to accelerate the data pipeline
  • Community Dashboard Editor allows the fast and efficient development and deployment
  • Big data integration without a need for coding
  • Simplified embedded analytics
  • Visualize data with custom dashboards
  • Ease of use with the power to integrate all data
  • Operational reporting for mongo dB
  • Platform to accelerate the data pipeline

5) QlikView:

Qlik allows creating visualizations, dashboards, and apps. It also allows seeing the entire story that lives within data.
Features:
  • Simple drag-and-drop interfaces to create flexible, interactive data visualizations
  • Use natural search to navigate complex information
  • Instantly respond to interactions and changes
  • Supports multiple data sources and file types
  • It allows easy security for data and content across all devices
  • It shares relevant analyses, including apps and stories using centralized hub
Download link: http://www.qlik.com

6) Dundas BI:

Dundas is an enterprise-ready Business Intelligence platform. It is used for building and viewing interactive dashboards, reports, scorecards and more. It is possible to deploy Dundas BI as the central data portal for the organization or integrate it into an existing website as a custom BI solution.
Features:
  • Easy access through web browser
  • Allows to use sample or Excel data
  • Server application with full product functionality
  • Integrate and access all kind of data sources
  • Ad hoc reporting tools
  • Customizable data visualizations
  • Smart drag and drop tools
  • Visualize data through maps
  • Predictive and advanced data analytics

7) BOARD:

Board is a Management Intelligence Toolkit. It combines features of business intelligence and corporate performance management. It is designed to deliver business intelligence and business analytics in a single package.
Features:
  • Analyse, simulate, plan and predict using a single platform
  • To build customized analytical and planning applications
  • Board All-In-One combines BI, Corporate Performance Management, and Business analytics
  • It empowers businesses to develop and maintain sophisticated analytical and planning applications
  • Proprietary platform helps to report by accessing multiple data sources
Download link: http://www.board.com/en

8) Profitbase BI:

Profitbase is a business intelligence solution that delivers critical business information. It allows companies to monitor and manage their business performance. It is appropriate for many commercial markets, including manufacturing and retail.
Features:
  • It helps make faster decisions based on continuously updated and accurate data
  • It provides visibility into KPIs in finance, sales, AR/AP, as well as performance measures
  • It is modular, scalable, and consists of a data warehouse augmented with OLAP cubes
  • The BI software allows adding new business systems through acquisition or system upgrades
  • It is a module based BI tool so that customers can select the analytic tools best suited for their requirements

9) LongView:

LongView Enterprise is a business intelligence reporting and analytics platform. It allows rapid creation of custom applications like reports, dashboards, etc.
Features:
  • Delivers actionable, contextual knowledge to decision-makers at every level
  • It analyzes information from multiple data sources such as ERP, OLAP, relational databases, and web services
  • Single-sign-on if integrated with Windows or LDAP
  • It is available on all web servers
  • It allows exporting data and reports to Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF
  • It allows users to share ad-hoc reports with other users
  • Live data pulled from server and automatically refreshed in real time
  • Automatic alerts based on thresholds
  • Display data in animation and motion charts
Download link: http://www.longview.com/

10) Birst:

Birst is a web-based networked BI and analytics solution. It connects insights from various teams and helps in making informed decisions. It allows decentralized users to augment the enterprise data model. It also offers a unified semantic layer to maintain definitions and key metrics.
Features:
  • Enable Data as a Service
  • Everyone is Cloud-Connected
  • Helps end users to access and blend their data with IT-owned data
  • Rapidly refine enterprise data
  • Create trusted, governed user data
  • Create corporate wide metrics
  • Create top-down Virtual BI instances
  • Blend corporate and local data
  • It supports individual agility, transparently governed working with trusted corporate and departmental data
Download link: https://www.birst.com/

11) SAP BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE:

SAP BI is an integrated business Intelligence software. It is an enterprise level application for open client/server systems. It has set new standards for providing the best business information management solutions.
Features:
  • It provides highly flexible and most transparent business solutions
  • The application developed using SAP can integrate with any system
  • It follows modular concept for the easy setup and space utilization
  • Allows to create next-generation database system that combines analytics and transactions
  • Provide support for On-premise or cloud deployment
  • Simplified data warehouse architecture
  • Easy Integration with SAP and non-SAP applications

Tableau Connections to Multiple Data Sources & Replacing Data Source


In this tutorial, you will learn-
  • Connecting to various data sources
  • Connection to Text File
  • Connecting to Excel File
  • Connection to Database
  • Connection to Websites
  • Connecting to Tableau Server
  • Data Relationship
  • Data Sorting
  • Replacing Data Source

Connecting to various data sources

Tableau can connect to various types of data sources. It can connect to text files, excel files, PDF files, etc. It can also connect to various databases using its ODBC connector. Tableau has the capability to connect to servers and web connectors. In this tutorial, we will learn about the connection procedures from various data sources.
Following screenshot gives the exhaustive connection types Tableau supports

Connection to Text File

Step 1) Click on the "Text File" option given in the data tab.
Step 2) In the next screen,
1. Select the SuperStore.csv
2. Click on "Open" Option. This will connect the text file into Tableau.
In the left pane you will see the CSV file.

Connecting to Excel File

Step 1) Click on the "Microsoft Excel" option given in the data tab.
Step 2) In the next screen,
  1. Select the SuperStore.xlxs
  2. Click on "Open" Option.
Step 3) It connects the excel file into Tableau. The sheets present in the excel file is shown on the left side of the window.

Connection to Database

Step 1) Click on the required database connection given in the data tab. For example, if you want to connect to MySQL database, click on the "MySQL" Option.
Step 2) This will open MySQL connection window.
  1. You can enter the MySQL server name and edit the "Port" if needed.
  2. Enter the username and password used to connect the database.
  3. Click on the "Sign in" button to connect to the database.
This procedure connects the database into the Tableau. You can select the tables from the database and import it into Tableau. You can join multiple tables by creating a relationship between them.

Connection to Websites

Tableau can connect to websites using web connector. The connection procedure is given as follows.
Step 1) In this window,
  1. Click on "More" option in the data tab.
  2. Select "Web Data Connector" from the list.
Step 2) This will open a Web Data Connector window where you need to enter the web connector details.

Connecting to Tableau Server

Tableau Server can store extracted data sources and database connections. In enterprise level, it is important to keep all the required data connections in Tableau Server. It helps all the users of the enterprise to connect to the data source easily. The data sets in the Tableau Server can connect to Tableau Desktop by following the given procedures.
Step 1) Select the "Tableau Server" option given in the data tab.
Step 2) This opens the Tableau Server Sign in window. Click on 'Tableau Online' option.
Step 3) It opens Tableau Online Sign In Window.
  1. Enter the registered email id and password.
  2. Click on 'Sign In' button.
Step 4) This will connect Tableau Server into Tableau Desktop.
  1. Select the data set as shown in the figure.
  2. This will import the dataset into Tableau.

Data Relationship

A relational Database/Excel file consists of multiple Tables/sheets. These multiple tables/sheets can be connected to each other in Tableau. This connection is established by 'Join' or 'Union' feature present in Tableau. The relationship between data in two or more tables needs to be specified while joining tables.
Joins:
Tableau can "join" tables. It can join up to 32 tables in a data source. While joining, the relationship between two or more tables can be specified. The tables present in the data source can be related to each other using the joins such as inner join, left join, right join and outer join. The functionalities of Join types are explained in the table below,
Inner Join
Left Join
Right Join
Outer Join
It joins all the common records between two tables or sheets. The joining condition can be given based on the primary key. One or more joining conditions can be specified to join the tables. Many tables can be joined together in Tableau for visualization.
A left join is used to join all the records from a left table and common records from the right table. One or more join conditions can be specified to left join two different tables.
A right join is used to join all the records from a right table and common records from left table. Based on the requirements, one or more joining condition can be set.
An Outer join is used to join all the records from both left and right table. Joining conditions can be set to join common records.
Let's see an example of Join
Step 1) Once an Excel is connected, Drag the required sheet into data window as shown in the figure.
Step 2) You can connect multiple sheets by dragging the sheets into the data window. The relationship between the sheets can be given by connecting the data fields.
Step 3) In the data sheet
  1. Click on the "Join" option as shown in the figure. By default, Tableau joins two tables by connecting a relationship between common column present in it.
  2. You can edit the relationship by selecting the required joining Condition.
  3. You can add one or more data relationship between the sheets or tables.
Union
Union is used to append the data from two or more tables. In most of the cases, tables with same headers are appending together using union function. Joining conditions are not required while union two or more tables. The procedure to union tables are given as follows.
Step 1) Drag any of the sheet into data window as shown in the figure.
Step 2) Right click on the sheet and select "Covert to Union" option.
Step 3) In the data union window.
  1. Drag other sheets which need to be union.
  2. Click on 'OK' to append or union all the sheets present in the window.
A data relationship is not needed to union sheets present in the data source.

Data Sorting

Data present in the data source can be sorted based on the user requirement. It can be sorted using data source order, ascending, descending, ascending per table and descending per table.
Once the data is connected to Tableau, data sorting can be done using the "Sort Fields" option. The option is present in the "Data Source" tab.

Replacing Data Source

Tableau can connect multiple data sources in a single workbook. The different data sources can be used to build various sheets and dashboards in Tableau. In some cases, data sources need to be replaced with updated file. Tableau has a data source replacing feature which can replace data sources. This feature does not affect the already built visualizations using the old data source. It is important to keep or replace all the used dimensions and measures while replacing the data source.
The data source connected in Tableau can be replaced with another data source. The procedure for replacing data source is given as follows.
Step 2)
  1. Select the Data Source to be replaced.
  2. Right-click on the data source and select "Replace Data Source" option.
Step 3) It opens the data source replacement window.
1. Select the current
2. Select replacement data source.
3. Click on "OK" to replace the data source.

Summary

  • Tableau can connect to various data sources like Excel, databases, and websites.
  • It can join various sheets or tables present in the data source.
  • The joining conditions used in Tableau are an inner join, right join, left join and outer join.
  • Tableau can connect and join various sheets present in an excel file.
  • The database can be connected to Tableau by connecting the database server.
  • Tableau can connect websites by using web connector.
  • Data sorting is available in the Tableau's data source Tab.
  • Tableau Server can be connected to Tableau Desktop.

How to Download & Install Tableau Desktop: Workspace, Navigation


Tableau is available in 2 versions
  1. Tableau Public (Free)
  2. Tableau Desktop (Commercial)
Here is a detailed comparison between the two
Tableau DesktopTableau Public
PricingPersonal Edition - $35 per month Professional Edition - $70 per monthFree and Open Source
Data Source ConnectionConnect to any data source files including databases, web applications and moreConnect to Excel and text files
Publish/SaveCan be saved as a local file and can be published in Tableau Server and Tableau OnlineCan be published only in Tableau Public profile
OSWindows and MacWindows and Mac
SecurityData and Visualizations are securedData and visualizations are not secured as it is available in public
Usage DetailsProfessional and Enterprise levelPersonal level
Data ExtractData can be extracted from various data sources and stored as Tableau extract fileData cannot be obtained from different data sources as it is limited to connect only excel and text files.
To execute the examples in these tutorials, you will need access to Tableau Desktop. We will go through the steps the install Tableau Desktop on a Windows Machine. It has a 14-day trial.
In this tutorial, you will learn
  • Tableau is available in 2 versions
  • Download and Install Tableau Desktop
  • Tableau Desktop Workspace
  • Tableau Navigation

Download and Install Tableau Desktop

Step 1) Go to https://www.tableau.com/products/desktop on your web browser.
Step 2) Click on the "TRY NOW" button shown in the top right corner of the website.
Step 3) It will redirect to the page where you need to enter your email id and click on "DOWNLOAD FREE TRIAL" button.
Step 4) This will start downloading the .exe file for Windows by default, and you can see the downloading process in the bottom left corner of the website.
Step 5) Open the downloaded file. Check in to accept the terms and conditions and click on "Install" button.
Step 6) A optional pop-up message will be shown to get the approval of Administrator to install the software. Click on "Yes" to approve it. Installation of the Tableau Desktop on Windows system starts
Step 7) Once the installation is completed, open the Tableau Desktop software.
Step 8) In the Registration window
  1. Click on Activate Tableau and entire your license details
  2. If you do not have a license, enter your credentials
  3. Click on Start Trial now
Step 9) Wait for registration to complete
Step 10) Start Screen of Tableau is shown
Now you are all set to use the Tableau Desktop in your windows system.

Tableau Desktop Workspace

In the start screen, go to File > New to open a Tableau Workspace
The Tableau Desktop Workspace consists of various elements as given in the figure:
Menu Bar:
It consists of menu options such as File, Data, Worksheet, Dashboard, Story, Analysis, Map, Format, Server, and Windows. The options in the menu bar include features such as file saving, data source connection, file export, table calculation options, and design features for creating a worksheet, dashboard, and storyboard.
Toolbar Icon:
Toolbar icon present below the menu bar can be used to edit the workbook using different features such as undo, redo, save, new data source, slideshow and so on.
Dimension Shelf:
The dimensions present in the data source can be viewed in the dimension shelf.
Measure Shelf:
The measures present in the data source can be viewed on the measure shelf.
Sets and Parameters Shelf:
The user-defined sets and parameters can be viewed in the sets and parameter shelf. It can also be used to edit the existing sets and parameters.
Page Shelf:
Page shelf can be used to view the visualization in video format by keeping the relevant filter on the page shelf.
Filter Shelf:
The filters that can control the visualization can be placed on the filter shelf, and the required dimensions or measures can be filtered in.
Marks Card:
Marks card can be used to design the visualization. The data components of the visualization such as color, size, shape, path, label, and tooltip used in the visualizations can be modified in the marks card.
Worksheet:
The worksheet is the place where the actual visualization can be viewed in the workbook. The design and functionalities of the visual can be viewed in the worksheet.
Tableau Repository:
Tableau repository is used to store all the files related to tableau desktop. It includes various folders such as Bookmarks, Connectors, Datasources, Extensions, Logs, Mapsources, Services, Shapes, TabOnlineSyncClient and Workbooks. My Tableau repository is usually located in the file path C:\Users\User\Documents\My Tableau Repository.

Tableau Navigation

The navigation of workbook is explained below.
Data Source:
The addition of new data source of modification of existing data source can be done using the 'Data Source' tab present at the bottom of the Tableau Desktop Window.
Current Sheet:
Current Sheet can be viewed with the name of the sheet. All the sheets, dashboards and story board present in the workbook can be viewed here.
New Sheet:
The new sheet icon present in the tab can be used to create a new worksheet in the Tableau Workbook.
New Dashboard:
The new dashboard icon present in the tab can be used to create a new dashboard in the Tableau Workbook.
New Storyboard:
The new storyboard icon present in the tab can be used to create new storyboard in the Tableau Workbook.