The Best Chart Generator Tools You Can Use

Some businesses deal with lots of numbers and pieces of data. These types of activities can be tedious.

That’s the reason why statisticians choose to display their results through beautiful data visualizations. Data thus becomes clearer and more appealing, helping the reader understand the numbers faster. Also, professional charts help the viewers notice patterns that otherwise wouldn’t be visible.

Such principles apply to all niches. By presenting information neatly and nicely, you’ll convey your message more easily.

Now the question is how to build beautiful custom charts. The process is not that easy, and designers can’t simply create pie charts from scratch. Spending hours plotting dots and drawing lines is not an option either.

Luckily, there are several chart generator tools that can help you build bar graphs, line charts, and other data visualization types.

11 Best Chart Generator Tools

There are dozens of applications and tools to create impressive visualizations. You can have the perfect representation of your large data sets through fully featured software.

But every option is different, and you want a chart generator that fits your needs. Some programs are easier to use while others have more features. Here is a list of the best chart generator tools.

Lucidchart

With Lucidchart you can do more than streamline your workflow: you can build beautiful visualizations. Use its diagramming capabilities to convey your message in an innovative way.

Lucidchart brings a unique solution for researchers, helping them retain current viewers while getting new ones.

This software helps you optimize your efficiency by tracking actionable insights. At the same time, you’ll improve your chart design skills.

Strong visualizations like bar charts, donut charts, and line graphs will help your business. They provide an interactive approach that lets you focus on what matters the most for the company.

Features: enhanced clarity, easy styling for shapes, better efficiency through keyboard shortcuts, containers for easy arrangement of charts, and the possibility to insert links.

Pricing: This online chart maker comes with a free plan and paid plans starting at $7.95.

FineReport

This chart generator allows you to build more than graphs; you can also create dashboards and reports for better results. If you want to create a bar chart, a line chart, or other basic chart types, FineReport is right for you. You can even make more advanced visualizations like Gantt, funnel, bubble, and scatter charts.

This is an excellent chart maker for maps, including heat, flow, and custom maps. It also works with GIS alternatives like Google Maps.

Impress your readers with cool effects like auto-rotation and 3D features.

Showcase your statistics quickly from different data sources. For instance, you can export your information from Excel in batches. Then, export your results to various formats like PNG, PDF, and Excel.

Pricing: Individuals who want to provide professional charts can use FineReport for free. It doesn’t have limitations regarding features and time. Business users can access paid versions based on customized quotations.

Tableau (and Tableau Public)

With Tableau, users will find several options. There are different versions of the program, including a server-based platform, an app, and a free option. Feel free to import your data from various sources like Salesforce, Google Ads, and CSV files.

It has the option of multiple chart types and offers plenty of mapping capabilities.

Its public version is free and available for everyone that wants to display their research results through beautiful graphics. Use different settings for clearer visualizations.

You can use Tableau for different purposes, from journalism to personal goals. Either way, this chart maker helps you avoid time-consuming tasks and generate the best graph for your research.

Features: video tutorials, wide mapping capabilities, and nearly 100 different options to import data.

Pricing: Viewer plan for 15, Explorer plan for $42, and Creator plan: $70.

Venngage

If you’re looking for beautiful chart templates, Venngage is your best choice. Convey complex messages clearly and compellingly. Its templates include options like Gantt charts, flowcharts, Venn diagrams, fishbone diagrams, site maps, and wireframe diagrams.

The array of options to choose from is immense. You’ll find line graphs, maps, pie charts, bubble charts, summary charts, and more.

Visualize your data clearly to provide powerful insights. For this, you have plenty of tools. Illustrations, pictograms, canvas designs, and icons are some examples. Everything will be easy thanks to its drag-and-drop usability. With many customization options, choose your templates and simply have fun with the numbers.

Finally, Venngage has 24/7 customer support, including one-to-one consultations.

Access all these templates through four plans: $39 for a Business plan, $16 for the Premium plan, and $499 for the Enterprise plan. All these fees are paid monthly.

Infogram

This is another powerful chart maker to create graphs both for your personal use and your business. This free chart generator comes with 30 niche-oriented chart types. Thanks to Infogram, users have created more than 800,000 graphics to date.

One of its best capabilities is the possibility to embed and share your graph so that it reaches the right audience. Your options include slides, maps, reports, dashboards, and social media charts. Responsiveness is one of the key features you should look for in any software. Infogram runs on web platforms and mobile devices.

Pricing: You’ll find a free plan plus three paid ones (from $19 a month to $149 a month).

EdrawMax

Here is an ideal online chart maker for teamwork. It comes with all the features you need to build beautiful custom charts. Based on functioning workspaces, EdrawMax allows you to work together with your team to prepare your project. Some of the included graphics options are diagrams, Gantt charts, interactive graphs, and infographics. There are over 1,500 beautiful chart templates to choose from. It also comes with 26,000 symbols to customize your visualizations.

Sharing has never been easier thanks to EdrawMax’s social media export capabilities. Let your audience access the information as soon as it’s ready.

Pricing: EdrawMax is based on subscriptions. There are three plans available: Education, Individual, and Team & Business. Also, each of them has a subscription plan with prices starting at $99/year and reaching $245/year.

Creately

With Creately, you can prepare any type of graph without installations. Build your visualizations in real-time collaboration with this online chart maker. If you want to work offline, you can download Creately’s desktop app.

It integrates seamlessly with the most popular drawing software. These intuitive tools will help you maximize your project and its capabilities.

Features: visualization of your ideas to improve the final result, real-time collaboration with edits and inputs, professional layout, and more than 1,000 chart templates available.

Pricing: Public and free versions plus paid plans. These are the Starter ($5) and the Business plan ($89).

ChartBlocks

One of the most time-consuming tasks is data import. With this online chart maker, you can import information from various sources, including spreadsheets and APIs. Naturally, there’s also the possibility to enter the data manually. You can output graphs in different formats, such as PDF, PNG, and SVG.

The app comes packed with plenty of customization options to give the final visualization exactly the look that you want and includes a wizard that makes the process easier. Choose the exact data before importing the numbers.

Besides being responsive, ChartBlocks is flexible, allowing you to share your charts easily on Facebook and Twitter. Its embedding capabilities also help you share your project with the right people. And you can adapt your graphs to all types of screens with D3.js.

Pricing: free plan for individuals, $20 plan for professionals, and $65 plan for elite users. The free plan allows you to build up to 50 graphics.

Datawrapper

Datawrapper was built for a specific purpose: to add maps and charts to your written stories. These tools were specifically geared so that you can embed them into your news website.

When it comes to data sources, this chart generator is limited, as it only allows you to copy and paste.

But once you enter the data, the rest is easy. With one click you can prepare great graphs. There are different kinds available, including scatter, area, donut, bar, line, and column charts. Also, check out its locator and symbol maps.

The results are similar to what you would find in famous newspapers like The Boston Globe or the New York Times. Actually, popular publications like Fortune, Jones, and The Times use Datawrapper.

Pricing: It has a useful free plan that allows you to embed charts on sites with limited visitors; if you want the full version you’ll have to stretch your budget considerably as it costs $599 a month.

Canva

As its name suggests, this chart maker is the perfect option to create beautiful canvas-like visualizations. This is why it includes lots of free beautiful chart templates. Simply enter the information and the platform will automatically develop your graph. What’s most interesting is that this feature is free. The possibility to switch from one chart type to the other is a big plus. Swap between line and bar charts while keeping your data intact.

Its template library is impressive. All you have to do is type “graphs” in the search bar, and you’ll access a wide array of resources. Canva offers lots of template options: Venn diagrams, doughnut charts, pie charts, T-charts, strategy maps, comparison charts, cycle diagrams, SWOT analysis, and more.

Pricing: The free option is ideal for beginners, providing limited access to all tools. The Pro plan for individuals costs $12.99 a month, and the Business version costs $14.99.

ChartGo

With ChartGo, you can include additional features and colors in each graph. Choose the most suitable template and build your visualizations easily. You can also start from scratch. There are many options, including Excel charts, CSV files, pie charts, and stock charts. Teachers can give ChartGo great use by helping their students understand information more effectively.

With plenty of tools, you can generate powerful visualizations intuitively. Use ChartGo’s guidelines and demo videos to work faster and achieve better results.

Another great feature is the possibility of uploading an Excel document and generating charts.

Pricing: It’s 100% free, allowing you to add multiple features and colors to every creation.

Microsoft Visio

If you’re looking for a simple solution, this is it. Microsoft Visio user-friendly platform where creating diagrams, flowcharts, and floor plans is a walk in the park. Collaboration features are important for teams, and this chart maker won’t disappoint you. Use this tool to work with colleagues in real-time.

Both the browser and the app versions work outstandingly. Either way, you’ll have a great user experience. Its pre-built chart templates will be quite handy. Finally, Visio is available for anyone with its Accessibility Checker, Narrator, and Support.

Pricing is available in two ways: Plan 1 costs you $5 a month and Plan 2 costs $15 a month.

Visme

Any non-designer can work with Visme as you don’t need any special knowledge. Its intuitive interface allows you to prepare more than 30 diagrams and charts. Also, you can choose from a variety of chart templates and use interactive features and live data integration. Sharing is easy, and you can download your project with a few clicks.

Thanks to these features, Visme is the ultimate tool to engage your audience. Check out its wide array of infographics and pre-made presentations. A unique feature is on-spot addition or editing which provides a fully immersive experience.

Since safety is important, Visme allows you to download each project to keep it safe. The easy share feature is also a great plus.

Pricing: free version, Standard version ($12.25/month if paid annually), and Pro version ($25/month if paid annually).

FusionCharts

This software is based on JavaScript and runs both on browsers and mobile devices. It comes with more than 1,000 types of maps and 150 charts. It’s quite flexible integrating with various frameworks, too. Possible integrations include React, JQuery, Angular, and Ember, as well as languages like Django, Java, and PHP.

It comes with pre-made codes to apply on each chart or map. Thus, embedding visualizations into a website becomes easy even if you’re not a programmer. FusionCharts is designed to create dashboards rather than simple visualizations. All in all, it’s the most expensive chart generator on this list. However, the features you get in return are top-notch.

Pricing: from $499 to $2499 a year.

RAWGraphs

This is a powerful option that allows you to visualize complex pieces of data easily. Create a graph from various sources and customize it. You can choose from Excel, TextEdit, Google Spreadsheets, and others. Try RAWGraphs if you are looking to visualize the data from delimiter-separated values like TSV or CSV files.

Initially designed for visualization enthusiasts and designers, RAWGraphs fills a gap between spreadsheet applications (Apple Numbers, Excel, OpenRefine) and vector editors (Inkscape, Adobe Illustrator, and Figma).

This chart maker lets you work with chart templates or prepare your own. If you have programming knowledge, you can develop and customize different chart types.

Pricing: Available for free.

Miro

Many designers want their graphs to be not only informative but also beautiful. Miro gives you that special boost so that you can propel your project forward.

It comes with a comprehensive, user-friendly chart builder with plenty of details. Simply choose your template and start working. Thus, Miro helps everyone that wants to present professional charts, including marketers, students, business people, and teachers.

With advanced editing capabilities, Miro improves your storytelling and design. It has managed to build a community where users can find support, and it provides a library of templates. The best part is that you can use Miro without having any special knowledge or previous experience.

All in all, Miro lets you develop anything that you want when it comes to visualizations. Add labels and variables to build strong graphs.

Another plus is the possibility to collaborate with others easily. Its tools allow you to work with multiple users in real-time.

Pricing: one free plan and two paid options ($8 per month and $16 per month).

Google Charts

Google Charts is a tool that helps you create interactive chats to embed online. The charts will be rendered in SVG or HTML formats. This assures compatibility across browsers and platforms both for iOS and Android. It comes with VML support for older browsers such as Explorer 6.

Google Charts works with dynamic data using outputs based on SVG and HTML. This allows you to run them in browsers without downloading additional plugins. It also works with the following data sources: SQL, Google Fusion Tables, Salesforce, and Google Spreadsheets.

You can choose from different chart types like scatter, column and bar, area, and pie charts. Histograms, timelines, treemaps, and gauges are also available. There are plenty of customization options through CSS.

Finally, Google Charts is free.

FAQ on Chart Generator Tools

What’s the real deal with these chart generator tools?

These tools? They’re the go-to for anyone looking to turn numbers into stories without getting tangled up in a web of complex software. Think of ’em like your personal data whisperer, transforming rows and columns into pie charts, bar graphs, or even interactive dashboards that make your audience go “Aha!”

And the best part? You don’t need to be a data scientist to get the hang of it.

Can I whip up something fancy without spending a dime?

Absolutely, my friend. The internet’s brimming with free graphing software that’s just itching to take your data for a spin.

Whether you’re in the mood for a simple line chart or a snazzy infographic, there’s a free tool out there that’s got your back. Just remember, “free” sometimes comes with a side of “limited features,” so if you’re looking to dive deep, you might eventually want to look at some paid options.

How user-friendly are these chart-making wizards?

Most online plotting tools these days are all about drag-and-drop, point-and-click simplicity. You don’t have to wrestle with complex interfaces.

It’s all about making your experience as smooth as butter. And if you do hit a snag, there’s usually a bunch of tutorials or a friendly customer support team to bail you out.

Can I get my charts to dance and dazzle?

Dance? Maybe not. Dazzle? Oh, you bet! Interactive chart builders are the new kids on the block, and they’re all about making your data come alive.

You can create charts that let viewers drill down into the specifics, hover for more info, or even change what they’re looking at on the fly.

What if I’m all thumbs with design?

No worries! You don’t have to be the Da Vinci of data to create a masterpiece.

Many chart generator tools come with a buffet of pre-cooked templates and themes. So, you can pick a style that tickles your fancy, feed your data into it, and voilà – you’ve got yourself a chart that looks like a million bucks, with minimal fuss.

Are my Excel skills enough to get by?

Excel’s like the granddaddy of chart tools, right? If you can whip up a chart in Excel, you’ve got a solid head start.

But here’s the kicker: these modern tools often take it up a notch with more bells and whistles than a carnival. They can handle more data, offer more chart types, and let you customize things in ways Excel might not. But yeah, your Excel skills are a good foundation.

What about my data? Is it safe out there in the cloud?

That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? With web-based charting platforms, you’re often uploading your data to their servers. Reputable providers take your data’s security seriously, with encryption and all that jazz.

But it’s like leaving your bike locked up in public – there’s always some level of risk. Always check out their privacy policy and maybe keep your top-secret stuff for desktop tools.

Can I share my charts with the world?

Oh, for sure! That’s half the fun. Once you’ve created your chart, these tools often let you share it with a click – embed it in a website, post it on social media, or just send a link to your mates.

Some tools even offer live-updating charts, so if your data changes, your chart does too, in real time. It’s like having a little bit of magic at your fingertips.

Will these tools play nice with my other software?

Most of the time, yeah, they’re like the friendly neighbors of the software world.

Many chart generator tools can import data straight from spreadsheets or databases, and some even buddy up with other apps, pulling data in real-time. And when you’re done, exporting your chart to slide into a presentation or report is usually a breeze.

What if I need to go beyond pretty pictures and do some serious data analysis?

Well, you might be stepping into the realm of business intelligence tools there.

While chart generators are great for visualizing data, when you need to dig deeper, you might want something more robust. Look for tools that offer data analysis features, or consider upgrading to a platform that specializes in heavy-duty data crunching.

Final Thoughts on the Best Chart Generator Tools

You can prepare data visualizations in various forms, including bubble diagrams or flow charts. The key is that readers can easily understand the concept.

There are so many chart generator tools out there that picking one may seem overwhelming. Moreover, they offer different functionalities for individuals and teams. Here are a few things to keep in mind, to help make your choice easier.

Choosing the tool with the most advanced features is not always the best option. You have to consider other factors like the learning curve. In some cases, a simpler option will give you exactly what you need in only a few hours. However, the online chart maker is only one part of the equation: as a graphic designer, you must consider the quality of the data, your audience, and the purpose of the graph.

Most of the tools on this list include free trials. This gives you the possibility to try out several options before choosing the right one.

If you liked this article about chart generators, you should check out this article about financial charts and graphs.

There are also similar articles discussing interactive charts, creating interactive charts, comparison chart makers, and comparison charts.

And let’s not forget about articles on React chart libraries, javascript chart libraries, examples of good graphs, and animated charts.