This document discusses and compares 6 free or low-cost interactive data visualization tools: Adobe Acrobat Pro, BEAM, Power BI, Invision, D3.js, and datamatic.io. It provides a brief overview of each tool's capabilities, ease of use, learning curve, design control, data sources, and cost. The document encourages readers to consider these options when looking for a tool to meet their evaluation reporting needs, skills, and resources.

1. 6 low- or no-cost6 low- or no-cost interactive dataviz tools to considerdataviz tools to consider
melissasullivan schoolsofhealthevaluation ucdavis msullivan@ucdavis.edu >>>thankstoflaticon.comandfreepikforthefreeawesomevisualgoodies!
YOUR REPORTING ARSENALYOUR REPORTING ARSENAL
Interactive visualization greatly enhance both engagement and understanding by supplying critical information in a format that is
easy to manipulate without compromising on design. Here are some promising new tools on the market today that will not break
your pocketbook. Read futher to find a tool that works for your evaluation reporting needs, skillset and resources.
Adobe
Acrobat Pro
BEAM
(Venngage)
Power BI
(Microsoftl) datamatic.ioInvision D3.js
web-based
visible on ipad
learning curve
visible on smartphone
end user ease
effort vs result
design control
cost
data source(s) any any gmail SQL, Excel, var-
ious apps
gmail and/or
code (D3.js)
code (D3.js)
Free-$25/mo$15/mo Free-$19/mo Free-$10/mo Free-$9/mo Free
ughugh okayokay yayyay awesome!awesome!legend:legend:
(PRO)
Agreatoptionforqualitative-andwithcarefulplanningcanalso
beusedforquantitative-data.Usingpop-uptechnology,readers
areabletobothmanipulatedataandgetadditionalinfo,whichcan
helpdrive theirunderstanding.Youmayalreadyhaveitinstalled!
Drawbacks:
CreatinginteractivityonAcrobat isadelicate-andattimes
frustrating-processoflayeringimagestoproducehovering
pop-ups.Planaheadsothatprintingdoesn’tobscureyourdata.
Alternative: Invision
IfyouwanttoavoidAdobeAcrobatPro,orjustpreferamoreuser
friendlyweb-basedapplication,checkoutInvision’swebapp.
IntendedforUXdesign,iteasilyprovidesthefunctionalityoflinking,
navigatingthroughthedocumentandtooltips,likeAcrobatProbut
withlessheadache.
Drawbacks:
LikeAcrobat,yourchartisanimageandyou’llneedtoman-
uallysetupyourreaders’analyticaloptionsbylayer.
Alternative: AdobeAcrobatPro
IfPlot.lyandCanvahadalovechild,BEAMwouldbethatchild.The
appwascreatedtosharechartsacrosssocialmedia.Assuch,the
easeofuseisoutanding,muchlikeCanva,butdatafriendlylike
Plot.ly.Whilethecharttypesonthefreeaccountareabitbasic,the
sheeramountoftemplates,vectorsandformattingoptionsmore
thanmakeupforit.
Drawbacks:
DataisGoogleSpreadsheets/Gmailonly.
Alternative: Infogr.am

Ifyou’reanExcellover,you’llenjoythesuper-sizedExcelofPower
BI.Chordcharts,heatmapsandasterplotscanbeeasilydigested
(bigdatafriendly!)andeasilyshared,andallonatoolthatlooks
justlikehome.It’sreallylikeacross betweenExcelandTableaubut
withoutthesupersizecost.
Drawbacks:
Ifyou’renotusedtoworkingwithinpivots,theinitiallearning
curvecanberathersteep.
Alternative: TableauPublic
TheHolyGrailofinteractivedataviz,D3isanopensourcesublibrary
oftheJavascriptprogramminglanguageandwasbuiltspecifically
toworkwithdata.It’sfairlynew-ishandtherearemoreawe
inspiringexamples(withcode!)postedonlineeveryday.Andwhile
thiswilltakeawhiletolearn,itshouldprovidemaximumcreative
controloveryourreporting.
Alternative: GoogleDeveloperCharts(usesD3),Python
Drawbacks:
Startingfromscratchandhostingyourvisualizationslocally.
datamatic.io
Drawbacks:
Thedefaultformattingoptionsseemalittledated,butthegood
newsisthatyoucancodearoundthisifyouhaveadecenthand
atbasicprogramming.
Includessomeofthemorespecializedcharttypes(rose,SNA,tree
mapsforbasicaccounts,andevensmallmultiplesanddualcharts
forprofessional). UsestheGoogleAPItopublish,solinkingand
embeddingthechartsareprettyeasy.
Alternative: Raw

read on for more inforead on for more info