The best dashboard software pulls numbers from your apps, spreadsheets and databases into live charts your team can read at a glance, so nobody has to rebuild the same report every Monday. Small teams usually want quick connectors and simple KPI screens, while larger firms want full business intelligence. Ten tools follow in no particular order.
Most businesses already have the numbers they need. They're just scattered across the CRM, the accounts package, the ad platforms and a dozen spreadsheets. By the time someone has gathered them into a report, the week has moved on.
Dashboard software fixes that. The ten tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from free reporting tools to full business intelligence platforms, and every description comes from the vendor's own site, read this week. If you'd rather start with a ready-made layout, my marketing dashboard template is a good first step.
Dashboard tools side by side
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free edition, a free account or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it or book a demo.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Databox | Analytics and dashboard platform for teams | Agencies reporting to many clients | Not stated |
| Domo | Data platform with dashboards and apps | Larger firms building data apps | Trial only |
| Geckoboard | Live KPI dashboards for teams | TV dashboards for support and sales | Trial only |
| Grafana | Open dashboards for metrics and logs | Technical teams visualising system data | Yes |
| Klipfolio | Customisable dashboards and reports | Spreadsheet-savvy teams building custom views | Not stated |
| Looker Studio | Google's dashboard and reporting tool | Free reports on Google marketing data | Yes |
| Metabase | Open source analytics and dashboards | Self-serve questions on your own database | Yes |
| Plecto | KPI dashboards with motivation features | Motivating sales and service teams | Not stated |
| Power BI | Microsoft's analytics and dashboard platform | Microsoft 365 organisations | Not stated |
| Tableau | Business intelligence and analytics software | Analysts building rich visual dashboards | Not stated |
Ten dashboard tools to try
Databox
Best for: Agencies and small teams that want marketing and sales data from many tools pulled into shareable dashboards and reports.
Domo
Best for: Larger organisations that want dashboards plus data connections, governance and apps built on top of the same platform.
Geckoboard
Best for: Support, sales and ops teams that want simple live KPI dashboards on an office TV or shared screen.
Grafana
Best for: Technical teams that want flexible dashboards over metrics, logs and databases, self-hosted or in the cloud.
Klipfolio
Best for: Teams comfortable with spreadsheet-style formulas that want highly customisable dashboards connected to hundreds of services.
Looker Studio
Best for: Marketers who mainly report on Google data such as Analytics, Ads and Sheets and want free, shareable interactive reports.
Metabase
Best for: Startups and small data teams that want open source dashboards where non-technical colleagues can ask questions of the database.
Plecto
Best for: Sales and contact centre managers who want KPI dashboards with leaderboards and targets to keep teams motivated.
Power BI
Best for: Organisations already on Microsoft 365 that want a full analytics platform with dashboards their colleagues can open in familiar tools.
Tableau
Best for: Analysts and larger businesses that want deep visual exploration of data and polished dashboards for leadership.
If Tableau is on your shortlist, our Tableau trial guide explains what the trial covers and what stays free.
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What government analysts say about readable charts
The UK Government Analysis Function's guidance on charts says to keep it simple. It lists things to avoid, including shaded backgrounds, unnecessary borders, boxes around legends, patterns, textures and shadows, 3D shapes and thick or dark gridlines.
Most dashboard tools can add every one of those things in two clicks, and many templates do it for you. So when you trial a tool, don't judge it on how flashy the demo looks. Judge it on how easily you can build a plain, readable chart that answers one question clearly.
KPI screens versus business intelligence
KPI dashboard tools connect to your apps and show a handful of live numbers, often on a TV in the office or a shared link for clients. Business intelligence platforms go deeper, letting analysts model data, combine sources and explore it in detail.
Plenty of businesses need only the first kind. If your questions are "how many leads did we get" and "are we on target", a simple KPI tool will serve you better than a platform that needs an analyst to run it.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Does it connect directly to the apps and spreadsheets we use?
- How often does the data refresh?
- Can people outside the business view a dashboard without logging in?
- Can we build a chart without writing formulas or code?
- Who can edit dashboards, and who can only view them?
- Can we schedule reports to arrive by email?
Signs you've outgrown spreadsheet reports
- Monday mornings start with exports. Reports are built by hand.
- Every team quotes different numbers. There's no single view.
- Clients ask for updates by email. Nothing is shared live.
- Problems show up weeks late. Nobody's watching the trend.
Do you make dashboard tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing dashboard software
Write down the five numbers your team checks every week, then build a dashboard with just those in each trial. The tool that gets you there fastest, with the clearest charts, is usually the right one. Extra features won't help if the basics take an afternoon.
Resist the urge to put everything on one screen. A dashboard that tries to answer every question answers none of them well. If you report on Google data, my dashboard build checklist walks through a simple setup.
Frequently asked questions
What is dashboard software?
Dashboard software connects to your data sources and turns the numbers into live charts and tables, so you can track performance without building reports by hand.
Are there free dashboard tools?
Yes. Some reporting tools are free to use and some open source tools can be self-hosted. Check the free plan column in the table above.
What's the difference between a dashboard and a report?
A dashboard shows live numbers at a glance and updates on its own. A report is usually a fixed snapshot for a period, often with more explanation.
What makes a good dashboard?
A good dashboard answers a few clear questions, uses simple charts, avoids clutter such as 3D effects and shaded backgrounds, and updates without manual work.
Do I need business intelligence software?
Not always. If you want a handful of live KPIs, a dashboard tool is enough. Business intelligence platforms suit teams that need to model and explore data in depth.
Can dashboards update automatically?
Yes. Most tools refresh data on a schedule or in near real time once they're connected to your apps, databases or spreadsheets.
