Data Analytics Tools

2022 reviews of top data analysis software. This guide provides an in-depth comparison of the top data analysis software and offers practical advice to help you select the right solution for your organization.

Business Intelligence tools: Power BI vs Qlik vs Tableau

What Are Data Analytics Tools?

Data Analytics Tools Comparison: The 3 Gartner Leaders

In their 2023 report, Gartner Magic Quadrant for Analytics & BI, Gartner named only three vendors as Leaders: Qlik, Power BI and Tableau. That’s because the best data analysis tools include software and SaaS applications that bring together and process data from a wide variety of sources into a single platform that supports a variety of use cases for users of all skill levels, such as data visualization, embedded analytics and augmented analytics.

Compare Power BI vs Tableau vs Qlik on key capabilities across four key categories:

1. Infrastructure & Data Management

Modern data analytics tools should allow you to deploy in any environment and should support an agile, IT-enabled workflow where all data and analytic content use data management capabilities which are self-contained in the platform. Here we compare the tools on four key capabilities.

Cloud Options

The best data analytics tools have a platform-agnostic, multi-cloud architecture that enables you to deploy in any environment. They should not require that you build new infrastructure, limit your cloud analytics strategy options or lock in your data.

Diagram depicting the flexibility of cloud services, public/private cloud, and on-premises

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

Data Integration

Today’s data analysis tools must be a holistic platform. This platform begins with enterprise data integration to make all data accessible to all users and a business-ready data catalog that helps all users find this data.

A diagram depicting data flow from source data to a data lake/warehouse with automation, then branching to a governed data catalog and data analytics applications.

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

Scalability

Uncovering insights works best when users have a complete, up-to-date view of all relevant data. This requires big data analytics tools to integrate and combine data from any source, as close to real-time as possible. To do that successfully, you need data analysis software that’s built to handle data at any scale without compromising performance or driving up costs.

Bar chart depicting increased users, data scale, and analytic complexity

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

Governed Self-Service

You want to be able to trust your data. But you also want self-service analytics where all users can generate insights without help from IT or an analyst. That’s why top data analytics tools should enable you to securely administer your data with a centralized management capability that uses rules-based governance to control publishing, sharing and user access to apps and data.

A woman in a green dress stands against a backdrop of bar and line charts, looking up thoughtfully at the graphical display on a dark blue background.

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

Abstract image features vertical blue lines of varying opacity and a few floating squares, creating a layered pattern against a darker blue background.

Analytics & BI Tools Comparison Kit

Essential resources for selecting the best tool for your organization, including an evaluation checklist, a TCO comparison report and analyst findings.

2. Data Analysis

As stated above, dashboards and data visualizations are basic expectations for modern data analysis software. The best data analysis software goes beyond, offering any user the ability to freely explore data and to do it with the help of advanced AI and from any device.

Dashboard Data Exploration

The heart of all data analytics tools is the data engine. The old school, query-based approach limits the data you can explore so it limits the discoveries you make. A modern approach combines an unlimited number of data sources and lets you freely explore them all, directly from within the dashboard. This lets you uncover connections you might not have queried or just couldn’t find at all with a query-based data analysis tool.

Diagram depicting a modern associative model versus an old school linear BI

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

Interactive Data Visualizations

Many data analytics tools allow you to create graphs, charts and maps. Modern tools go beyond, using AI to automatically suggest new visuals, reveal the shape of your data and pinpoint outliers. And the best tools allow you to explore all your data, in any direction, from within the visualization itself.

Laptop with a rich Qlik Sense dashboard on the screen

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

Augmented Analytics

Augmented analytics leverages the scale and speed of machine intelligence to amplify the power of human intelligence to provide better insights, faster. The best data analysis tools offer self-service intelligent alerting and advanced statistical trending and outlier evaluation that immediately notifies users of material changes in the data.

Screenshot of a dashboard showing how augmented analytics can make suggestions for your data based on searched terms

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

Mobility

Top data analytics tools should provide a fully functional mobile app that allows you to deeply explore data and gain insights wherever you are and on any device.

Image of a laptop and mobile phone showing graphs and charts

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

Image of a computer and smartphone screen displaying Qlik software dashboards. The dashboards include various charts and graphs related to sales performance and lead status.

Modern Analytics Demo Videos

See how to explore information and quickly gain insights.

  • Combine data from all your sources

  • Dig into KPI visualizations and dashboards

  • Get AI-generated insights

3. Ease Of Use

Advanced analytics capabilities are only useful if they’re actually used. The best data analysis software should make it easy for anyone to explore data, create interactive dashboards and visualizations, and get data-driven insights in minutes. Three key factors that bring ease of use are:

  • Embedded Analytics: Putting full analysis capabilities within the apps and workflows people regularly use.

  • Broad Use Cases: Being able to perform all data analysis use cases using the same interface, on any device.

  • Data Literacy: A blend of training, processes and technology that ensures a data-driven culture.

Embedded Analytics

Embedded analytics, also known as OEM or white label analytics, puts actionable analytics and data within other applications, portals and processes. This allows employees, suppliers, partners and customers to explore data within their current workflow and thereby make better decisions faster. Big data analytics tools should provide open API’s and an extensible platform to embed full analytics capabilities across your entire enterprise ecosystem.

A laptop screen displaying a financial dashboard with charts, graphs, and transaction details.

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

Broad Use Cases

A modern data analytics platform should support the full range of analytics use cases—like exploring data, embedding analytics, or creating interactive dashboards—for all types of users, such as analysts, engineers and businesspeople. Your tool should allow all users to carry out all data analytics use cases using the same platform and data.

Diagram depicting all use cases versus one use case

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

Data Literacy

Most big data analytics tools will educate users on how to use their product. The best tools help all levels of users learn how to become data literate, empowering them to work with, analyze and communicate with data.

A group of men and women around a table discussing prints of charts and graphs

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

4. Total Cost of Ownership

Total cost of ownership (TCO) goes beyond the cost of the software to include all expenses over a 3 to 5 year period such as infrastructure, systems setup and app development, and systems admin and support. Some data analytics tools companies are more transparent than others regarding the total financial and time commitment required to use their tool.

A line graph showing the total cost of ownership between Qlik Sense and Power BI over a 3-year period

Qlik Sense

Power BI

Tableau

FAQs

What is data analytics software?

How do businesses use data analytics tools?

Businesses use data analytics tools to obtain actionable insight into their business operations, customers, and competitors. For example, analytics tools can be used to optimize staffing schedules and pricing structures, enhance supply chain efficiency, improve the performance of digital marketing campaigns, inform product development, detect fraud, and forecast sales revenue.

How is AI used in data analytics tools?

AI is employed in data analytics tools to help users process and analyze data faster, thereby shortening time to insight. Machine learning is used to automate data preparation and insights discovery while natural language processing is used to make analytics accessible to more types of users. AI-powered data analytics tools enable users to extract insights from large and complex data sets faster by automating mundane and time-consuming tasks and exposing the user to insights they might otherwise miss.

See modern analytics in action