Tableau Review - why 4.5 stars?

Shlomi Lavi / updated: Apr 21, 2022

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What is Tableau?

Tableau is a family of data visualization software designed for business intelligence that includes Tableau Desktop, Tableau Online, Tableau Server, Tableau Public and Tableau Reader. The Tableau suite is intended for viewing and understanding business data through interactive data visualization.

Tableau Software, the company behind Tableau solutions, is led by three people. The company was established in 2003 with an application that queries data and generates graphs to be matched with dashboards and shared online.

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Who is it best for?

Tableau is ideal for small to large scale industries, freelancers and nonprofit organizations. It offers solutions that will benefit multiple industries. Tableau recognizes that different industries have various ways to express Key Performance Indicators and thus need to visualize data that makes sense for them. It offers a simple drag and drop interface and empowers each department of an organization to visualize data using its solutions.

Tableau is now used by thousands of companies around the world. Their clients include Citrix, Barclays, Pandora and Deloitte, to name a few.

Main features and functionalities

Any business could explore data and visualize it in minutes through Tableau intuitive products that can be accessed online or mobile. Freelancers and online business owners can easily publish data to the web. Tableau best asset is that it is the fastest data visualization solution, and its drag and drop feature makes it a versatile option that cab benefit all types of industries. After developing data, it can be shared using the Tableau Server and viewed on iOS and Android devices.

What is the actual cost?

• Tableau Creator starts at $70 per user per month billed annually.
• Tableau Explorer starts at $42 per user per month, billed annually.
• Tableau Viewer starts at $15 per user per month billed annually.

ITQlick pricing score is 2 out of 10 (10 is most expensive). Access ITQlick pricing guide for Tableau. You can also find here pricing information from Tableau's website.

Pros

• The software can handle a large number of datasets
• Tableau offers data visualization capabilities
• The reports of users can be updated automatically every day
• The free version allows watching training videos on the company website
• Tableau can work with any type and size of data, from databases to spreadsheets

Cons

• Users complain that most of the features there are not self-explanatory
• Tableau lacks in predictive analytics that can uncover hidden data relationships
• The software also does not have a development kit that is needed for API so it would be more customizable for users
• Some of the software’s complex dashboards still require the expertise of IT personnel to use them accordingly
• Tableau lacks some controls like gauges and dials associated with a dashboard program

How it stacks up?

Access a head to head analysis of Tableau vs alternative software solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Tableau right for you or your business?

Tableau is a good choice for organizations looking for a business intelligence solution with the breadth and depth of capabilities to fulfill the demands of even the most complicated multinational corporations in a smooth, integrated experience. Customers of the software include The University of Texas at Austin, Dubai Airports, Verizon, Health University of Utah, University of Kentucky, Signet Jewelers, NYC Health + Hospitals, ElPasco Independent School District, etc.