Top 10 Data Analysis Tools in 2022

The best data analysis tools can drive business intelligence by sourcing, integrating, and visualizing diverse datasets.

Last Updated: September 19, 2022

Data analysis tools do not just make it easier to source, collate, and present information in one place. They can reveal hidden sights by visualizing trends, extrapolating data from other sources, and predicting future possibilities. This article lists the top 10 data analysis tools to use in 2022. It also looks at their key features and pricing. 

Key Features of Data Analysis Tools

Data analysis tools make it easier to source, collate, and present data in one place. They can also reveal hidden insights by visualizing trends, extrapolating data from other sources, and predicting future outcomes.

Key Features of Data Analysis Tools

Key Features of Data Analysis Tools

Data is a vital component of every enterprise activity or decision today. With every click, data is generated and stored in large systems called databases. Raw data in itself is useless and simply exists to fill up stargaze. However, data that has been analyzed can be compelling in predicting trends and making insightful decisions that can grow a business tremendously. Data analysis is essential for every company that wants to survive in the business world. 

Data analysis involves analyzing data sets to gain meaningful information. Such information is then presented using visualization techniques in a format that decision-makers can easily understand. Data analysis is applicable in multiple sectors ranging from transportation, healthcare, education, marketing, logistics, online shopping, etc. It involves a series of steps: data collection and storage, data cleaning, proper data analysis, visualization, and interpretation of results. 

Data analysis and visualization can be carried out with the aid of different tools. A data analysis tool must have five essential features to ensure maximum productivity and functionality. These features include:

1. Demo or free trial

A good data analysis tool should be able to offer a trial version, usually for 30 days. This will enable organizations to assess their compatibility with the tool and know the best plan to work with before making a commitment and paying for it. A demo is slightly different from a trial because the data analysis company only demonstrates the tool and how it works. 

2. Data security

Data analysis tools are often integrated with the company’s database and database management system (DBMS). This means that without proper security, employees across any level can have access to sensitive client data and company information. A good data analytics tool sets measures, permission, and level access controls that safeguard against data breaches. Notwithstanding, data security should not compromise the ability of users to engage with the available data. 

3. Data integration

Data integration is a critical feature that one must consider before deciding on any analytical tool. An organization may have data spread across different locations, including databases and other storage formats. A good tool should be able to import and integrate such data with only a few clicks. Data scientists should spend very little time connecting analytical tools to data sources. 

See More: What Is Data Governance? Definition, Importance, and Best Practices

4. Data visualization

Data visualization is the final step in most data analysis processes. Data scientists and data analysts must be able to share and communicate their findings with other company members, including team members and executives. As such, data analysis tools must have different data visualization techniques, such as graphs and charts, that make it very easy to understand and share data.

5. Dashboards and ease of use

The data analysis tools you select for your organization should have a friendly and interactive dashboard design. They should also be easy to use, whether or not the user is familiar with programming languages. Finally, compatibility with mobile apps for viewing reports is an added advantage. 

See More: Why the Future of Database Management Lies In Open Source

Top 10 Data Analysis Tools in 2022

According to Allied Market Research, the global business analytics market was valued at $61.10 billion in 2020, which could reach $177 billion by the end of this decade. Consequently. There are plenty of options for selecting the right data analysis tool. Here is a roundup of the best alternatives in the market, arranged in alphabetical order. 

Disclaimer: This list is based on publicly available information and may include vendor websites that sell to mid-to-large enterprises. Readers are advised to conduct their final research to ensure the best fit for their unique organizational needs.

1. Apache SupersetOpens a new window

Overview: Apache Superset is a modern data visualization and exploration tool. It is an open-source software application tool that can handle big data. 

Key features: The key features of Apache Superset include: 

  • Demo/free trial: Apache Superset is an open-source and free tool for all users.
  • Security: Superset provides a security model where different users can be granted varying data access levels. 
  • Data integration: Apache Superset can connect and integrate data from any structured query language (SQL)-based data source or database. 
  • Data visualization: Superset offers a wide range of rich visualization models. With the visualization plug-in, you can build custom visualizations directly into Superset. 
  • Dashboards and ease of use: Apache Superset provides interactive dashboards that make it easy to access and view data. 

USP: Apache Superset is an open-source software application that one can modify to suit a company’s needs. It is among the few data analysis tools available to handle big data. 

Pricing:  Apache Superset is free to use. 

Editorial comments: Apache Superset is a free tool that businesses can use to explore and visualize data. However, it does not support NoSQL databases. 

2. GoodDataOpens a new window

Overview: GoodData is a U.S.-based software company that provides infrastructure for data analysis. Founded in 2007, the company currently serves over 30 000 companies. 

Key features: The key features of GoodData include: 

  • Demo/free trial: The solution has a free plan and paid plans. There is a 30-day free trial and demo version on request for the paid plans. 
  • Security: GoodData offers standard protection for all plans and additional enterprise security for the enterprise plan. 
  • Data integration: GoodData integrates with data warehouses, databases, and manually uploaded CSV files, among other sources. 
  • Data visualization: With GoodData, you can create charts to visualize data and easily share reports with others. 
  • Dashboards and ease of use: GoodData analytics is well optimized for different devices. 

USP: The GoodData analytics platform can be used to embed dashboards with options for coding and no coding. 

Pricing: The Growth of GoodData plan costs $20/month/workspace. The Enterprise plan has custom pricing.

Editorial comments: GoodData embedded analytics is an essential tool for software as a service (SaaS) platforms to bring insights and visuals directly to the end users. However, it might be challenging to use for beginners. 

3. LookerOpens a new window

Overview: Looker is a business intelligence, data visualization, and data analysis tool that is part of the Google Cloud platform, thanks to a recent acquisition. It was founded and released in 2012 but became a Google subsidiary in 2019.

Key features: The key features of Looker include: 

  • Demo/free trial: Looker supports a demo version on request. They also support free trials. 
  • Security: Looker offers enterprise-class security. This means you can manage and control access to data as far as the end-user level. 
  • Data integration: Data integration spans over 60 SQL data sources, including Oracle, Google Big Query, etc. With Looker, you can access and write SQL into the database. 
  • Data visualization: Data visualization goes as far as and beyond your imagination. Apart from already existing templates, you can build custom visuals. 
  • Dashboards and ease of use: Looker has an interactive and dynamic dashboard that allows you to delve deep into data analysis. 

USP:  Looker provides embedded analytics for users, speeding up the creation of data-driven applications. 

Pricing: Looker Enterprise can cost up to $5,000 per month. 

Editorial comments: Looker is a cloud-based data analysis platform that can provide medium to large-sized companies with all they need for data analysis. However, Looker is limited to working with SQL databases. 

See More: Top 10 Data Governance Tools for 2021

4. Microsoft ExcelOpens a new window

Overview: Microsoft Excel is an early spreadsheet application program that was developed by Microsoft as part of the Microsoft Office suite of software. You can use it for calculations and data visualization. 

Key features: The key features of Excel include: 

  • Demo/free trial: Microsoft Excel trial period for personal or business use lasts a month. The trial is a part of the Microsoft 365 package.
  • Security: Microsoft 365 offers inclusive protection for employee data and customer information. Business Premium subscription offers all-around data security. 
  • Data integration: You can connect to Power BI and integrate data from there and from Azure and databases. 
  • Data visualization: With Excel, you can create charts and graphs to understand data better. Sharing is also easy. 
  • Dashboards and ease of use: Excel is an easy software to use with mobile, desktop, and web versions available, but it lacks full-fledged dashboards. 

USP: Microsoft Excel allows directly adding analog data from a picture to a fully editable format in Excel. 

Pricing: Microsoft 365 Business Basic subscription costs $6/user/month.    

Editorial comments: Microsoft Excel is a very efficient tool for most businesses in processing and conducting calculations on data. However, Excel is relatively old, which means limited features in terms of visualizations and dashboards. 

5. Power BIOpens a new window

Overview: Power BI is a Microsoft-owned data visualization and business intelligence software. Power BI tools work together to transform raw data into a readable format that you can easily understand. 

Key features: The key features of Power BI include: 

  • Demo/free trial: Power BI has an individual free trial to test out the various tools lasting for 60 days. 
  • Security: Power BI protects your data at different levels by applying sensitive labels or through the Bring Your Own Key Option. 
  • Data integration: Power BI offers excellent data integration from Excel, Microsoft Azure, databases, and other sources.
  • Data visualization: With Power BI, you can create and share interactive data visualizations across the globe.  
  • Dashboards and ease of use: Power BI is easy to use. The mobile app available for iOS and Android is used for viewing reports and dashboards.

USP: Power BI is owned by Microsoft and, as such, has excellent compatibility with Microsoft Excel, which is a top-rated tool for data analysis. It is also highly extensible.

Pricing:  Power BI Premium costs $27.5 per month for each user.

Editorial comments: Power BI is a powerful tool produced by Microsoft and has proven itself as a powerful data analysis tool. However, its best features are seen within the Microsoft ecosystem, which may limit its use. 

6. SAS Business IntelligenceOpens a new window

Overview: Statistical Analysis System (SAS) is a statistical software suite used to manage and perform in-depth data analysis. This data analysis tool was released over 50 years ago and is currently very much in use. 

Key features: The key features of SAS Business Intelligence include: 

  • Demo/free trial: SAS offers free trials and demo versions lasting an average of 30 days. 
  • Security: The SAS software security framework is set to apply best practices in data security and privacy and remains compliant with GDPR. 
  • Data integration: SAS is well integrated with other applications and databases in data collection and sharing of insights. 
  • Data visualization: SAS helps you create compelling visuals that aid rapid understanding of a data set. 
  • Dashboards and ease of use: SAS is made easy for anyone to use with the drag-and-drop feature and mobile versions.  

USP: SAS is a complete package that can be used in data analysis, from basic statistics to advanced data analysis. 

Pricing:  SAS costs start at $8,000 per year for businesses. 

Editorial comments: SAS is a great data analysis and BI tool that offers maximum functionality and is easy to use for all user roles. However, the price may deter small businesses. 

7. TableauOpens a new window

Overview: Tableau is an integrated business intelligence, data analytics, and visualization software used by mid-sized to large organizations. It is a U.S.-based company, founded in 2003 and was eventually acquired by Salesforce in 2019. 

Key features: The key features of Tableau include: 

  • Demo/free trial: Tableau boasts of a 14-day free trial version that allows you to explore key functionality of the software. 
  • Security: Tableau is shielded by enterprise-grade security, ensuring that data never enters the wrong hands, even during scaling. 
  • Data integration: Tableau effortlessly blends and integrates data from different sources, creating a one-stop point for all your company data.
  • Data visualization: Tableau boasts of the best visualization tools and report generation, which you can easily share on the Tableau server. 
  • Dashboards and ease of use: Tableau is designed to meet the skill level of all users with a highly interactive dashboard. 

USP: Tableau has a wide range of features that promote data integration from any source. 

Pricing: Tableau Creator licenses cost $70/month, while the Explorer license costs $42/month per user.

Editorial comments: Tableau is a highly recommended tool with many features and a simplified pricing system. However, it has been reported to have suboptimal customer support and can be complex for beginners. 

8. Qlik SenseOpens a new window

Overview: Qlik Sense is a data analysis tool developed by Qlik, an international, U.S.-based software company. Qlik has over 38,000 customers and has been recognized for its role in analysis and BI.

Key features: The key features of Qlik Sense include: 

  • Demo/free trial: Qlik Sense has a free trial period of 30 days that requires only a Qlik account. You can also extend the business trial by 15 days.  
  • Security: Qlik Sense boasts of different security features like a role-based security model, report-level access control, multi-factor authentication, etc. 
  • Data integration: Qlik Sense fully supports data integration from databases, files, cloud services, and enterprise applications. 
  • Data visualization: Data visualization with Qlik is automatic and smart, updating itself based on the current context.
  • Dashboards and ease of use: Qlik Sense has a powerful, interactive dashboard that lets you notice important information quickly. 

USP: Qlik Sense prides itself on going beyond query-based analytics, allowing a user to explore data without a specific query. 

Pricing:  Qlik Sense business is priced at $30/user/month. 

Editorial comments: Qlik Sense is a highly sophisticated data analysis tool with optimal data integration and interactive features. However, there is a need to improve the mobile versions of the software. 

See More: What Is Enterprise Data Management (EDM)? Definition, Importance, and Best Practices

9. KNIMEOpens a new window

Overview: The Konstanz Information Miner (KNIME) is an open-source platform for integrating, analyzing, and reporting data. It was initially released in 2006 and used heavily in pharmaceutical research. 

Key features: The key features of KNIME include: 

  • Demo/free trial: KNIME software is readily available and free to use. 
  • Security: KNIME has a strict software engineering standard to make the software safe for users. The company then tests its security compliance regime with the software. 
  • Data integration: The open-source nature of the software allows for data integration for every data type and all data sources. 
  • Data visualization: KNIME supports data visualization using many tools.
  • Dashboards and ease of use: KNIME’s graphical interface is built such that knowledge of programming languages is not necessary to make predictive models or analyses. 

USP: KNIME is an open-source tool that allows you to build or manipulate the software to fit your company goals. 

Pricing: KNIME is a free data analysis tool.

Editorial comments: KNIME is a valuable tool that is freely accessible and can be modified due to its open architecture. However, there is a lack of learning materials and a need for better visualization.

10. Zebra BIOpens a new window

Overview: Zebra BI is add-on software that promotes data reporting and visualization in Microsoft Excel and Power BI by adding several value-generating features. 2400+ companies use the Slovenia-based software company to improve their businesses and existing features. 

Key features: The key features of Zebra BI include: 

  • Demo/free trial: Zebra BI has a free version and a pro version. The pro version also has a 30-day free trial. 
  • Security: Zebra BI was created to work with Microsoft and fully relies on Microsoft security policies.  
  • Data integration: Zebra BI was created to work with Excel and can be easily imported into it for immediate use. 
  • Data visualization: Zebra BI provides stunning visuals that put data in the proper perspective. It uses advanced variance charts, difference highlights, etc., to create better reports. 
  • Dashboards and ease of use: Zebra BI is straightforward to use and does not require training or prior programming knowledge. 

USP: Zebra BI visuals can automatically calculate and visualize data, making report building faster than ever, regardless of data science knowledge. 

Pricing: Zebra BI Pro version costs $4.02/user/month. 

Editorial comments: Zebra BI is a powerful data visualization tool that is easy to use with a free version. However, its use is limited as it works basically as a Microsoft solution add-on. 

See More: What Is a Data Catalog? Definition, Examples, and Best Practices

Comparison of the Best Data Analysis Tools in 2022

Now that we have discussed the best data analysis tools in 2022, let us quickly glance through their highlights for comparison:

Tool USP Pricing Verdict
Apache Superset It is an open-source software application, meaning it can be modified to suit a company’s needs. It is among the few data analysis tools available to handle big data.  Apache Superset is free to use.  Apache Superset is a free tool businesses can use to explore and visualize data. However, it does not support NoSQL databases. 
GoodData The platform can be used to embed dashboards with options for coding and no coding.  The Growth of GoodData plan costs $20/month/workspace. The Enterprise plan has custom pricing. GoodData embedded analytics is an essential tool for software as a service (SaaS) platforms to bring insights and visuals directly to the end users. However, it might be difficult to use for beginners. 
Looker Looker provides embedded analytics for users; speeding up the creation of data-driven applications.  Looker Enterprise can cost up to $5,000 per month. Looker is a cloud-based data analysis platform that can provide medium to large-sized companies with all they need for data analysis. However, Looker is limited to working with SQL databases. 
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel allows the direct addition of analog data from a picture to a fully editable format in Excel.  Microsoft 365 Business Basic subscription costs $6/user/month.    Microsoft Excel is a very efficient tool for small businesses in processing and conducting calculations on data. However, Excel is relatively old, which means limited features in terms of visualizations and dashboards. 
Power BI Power BI is owned by Microsoft and, as such, has excellent compatibility with Microsoft Excel, which is a highly popular tool for data analysis. Power BI Premium costs $27.5 per month for each user. Power BI is a powerful tool produced by Microsoft and has proven itself as a powerful data analysis tool. However, its best features are seen within the Microsoft ecosystem, which may limit its use. 
SAS Business Intelligence SAS is a complete package that can be used in data analysis, from basic statistics to advanced data analysis.  SAS costs start at $8,000 per year for businesses. SAS is a great data analysis and BI tool that offers maximum functionality and is easy to use for all user roles. However, the price may be a deterrent to small businesses. 
Tableau Tableau has a wide range of features promoting data integration from any source.  Tableau Creator licenses cost $70/month, while the Explorer license costs $42/month per user. Tableau is a highly recommended tool with a wide range of features and a simplified pricing system. However, it has been reported to have suboptimal customer support and can be complex for beginners. 
Qlik Sense Qlik Sense prides itself on going beyond query-based analytics, allowing a user to explore data without a specific query.  Qlik Sense business is priced at $30/user/month. Qlik Sense is a highly sophisticated data analysis tool with optimal data integration and interactive features. However, there is a need to improve the mobile versions of the software. 
KNIME KNIME is an open-source tool that allows you to build or manipulate software to fit your company goals.  KNIME is a free data analysis tool.  KNIME is a valuable tool that is freely accessible and can be modified due to its open architecture. However, there is a paucity of learning materials and a need for better visualization.
Zebra BI Zebra BI visuals can automatically calculate and visualize data, making report building faster than ever before, regardless of data science knowledge.  Zebra BI Pro version costs $4.02/user/month. Zebra BI is a powerful data visualization tool that is easy to use with a free version. However, its use is limited as it works basically as a Microsoft solution add-on. 

See More: What Is Data Security? Definition, Planning, Policy, and Best Practices

Takeaway 

Data analysis is a required field of study, investment, and operation for most organizations today. Indeed, a data analytics career path can prove highly lucrative, catering to the growing demand for this role. The best data analysis software and tools will make your job easier and accelerate the pace at which you can obtain actionable insights from diverse datasets. 

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Chiradeep BasuMallick
Chiradeep is a content marketing professional, a startup incubator, and a tech journalism specialist. He has over 11 years of experience in mainline advertising, marketing communications, corporate communications, and content marketing. He has worked with a number of global majors and Indian MNCs, and currently manages his content marketing startup based out of Kolkata, India. He writes extensively on areas such as IT, BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, and financial analysis & stock markets. He studied literature, has a degree in public relations and is an independent contributor for several leading publications.
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