Dashboards are becoming more popular. This post will discuss the best free and open-source dashboard software that specializes in project management, marketing, and TV display. You are invited to use it!
I will be reviewing free and open-source dashboard software in depth. These two categories must be clarified before I can proceed.
- First, I’ll introduce the free dashboard software. Some offer free versions, while others charge a fee. This software is simple to learn and easy to use. This software is ideal for those who are just starting out or want to create dashboards in a more efficient and direct way.
- Next, I’ll introduce open-source dashboard software. Developers have greater freedom to modify the software and distribute it. Open-source software is more flexible. Open-source software has the disadvantage of a steep learning curve. This makes it less suitable for those with technical skills.
What is Dashboard Software?
Dashboard software is a data visualization tool that gathers and displays business information in interactive and custom visualizations that allow users to analyze processes and track KPIs. They also enable them to identify actionable insights.
Your team can instantly create professional business dashboards and charts, and then share them with the appropriate decision-makers. Each member of the team can find, visualize, present, share, and discuss data in whatever way they feel is relevant.
These dashboards combine data from all areas, including sales trends to inventory levels and project progress. It pulls data from data warehouse tools, databases, and structured and unstructured data. They are often updated in real-time, which allows the team to continuously monitor data trends.
Choose the dashboard software for small business
It can be a tedious process to choose the right dashboard software for your company. It is important to consider many factors, including budgets, usability, adaptability, customizability, buy-ins from decision-makers, etc. It is difficult to get the approval of all members of your team. Here are some things to consider when choosing dashboard software for small businesses.
Cost
Small businesses face many problems when it comes to money. A dashboard software purchase should include costs for training, installation, support fees, and license. All these should be discussed with the vendor in advance.
After-sale service
The technical support provided by dashboard software vendors is crucial if your IT team has limited resources or the software is complicated. Pay attention to the support hours, languages and methods of any software vendor you’re considering. It is best to have the supplier provide real-time support and language translations in your region.
Training and learning curve
Software that is easy to use by your employees is what you want. It is better to avoid high learning costs by using dashboard software.
Also read: Social Media Dashboard: What It Is and How to Build It
Customizability
Do you prefer simplicity or customization? It’s a trade-off. Small businesses may need to pay a higher price for customization and have to go through a more complicated process. Additionally, large vendors might not be willing to compromise on customization requests or think it isn’t profitable enough. We recommend you select vendors who are involved in your industry and are willing or able to offer customized services.
What are the benefits of dashboard software?
Dashboard software is more efficient than traditional spreadsheets in terms of data connection, integration, and visualization.
Top free dashboard software allows business users to create visually appealing reports from multiple metrics and data sources. These business intelligence dashboard tools use different visual elements to provide dashboard reporting and easily digestible visualizations of complex data analytics.
8 Best Free Dashboard Software
1. Google Data Studio
Google Data Studio is an online dashboard software that supercharged version of the Google Analytics Dashboard. This tool transforms your data into informative dashboards that can be shared, customized, and easy to understand. Once the data source is connected, the underlying dimensions, metrics, and calculations are immediately available.
Highlights:
- Live data connection and support for over 220 connectors
- You can customize reports and visuals to your liking, adding pages or charts as you wish.
- Dynamic controls and report page-level filters
- Advanced formulas like calculated fields and calculated metrics are available.
2. FineReport
FineReport is a Business Dashboard Software that is Free for Personal Use with no Time or Function Limits. This dashboard is able to be displayed on large screens and the TV dashboard. HTML5 charts in FineReport can be displayed on different sizes of screens because they are self-developed.
FineReport also allows you to import data from Excel in batches. It is therefore easy to convert Excel data into dashboards using visually appealing elements. FineReport’s real-time visualization is another amazing feature. Through the data entry feature, you can write data back into the database and view the most recent data.
Highlights:
- Allows you to combine data from different systems and databases
- Open APIs to customize
- Dynamic charts
- HTML5 charts
- Task Scheduler
- Mobile App
- Dashboard Management
- User Management
3. Dasheroo
Dasheroo is 100% free dashboard software. It helps you to organize all your critical KPIs for web analytics, business analysis, sales, marketing, and more in one place. A prebuilt dashboard with curated insights makes it easy to get started.
Highlights:
- Chat and comment in real-time right from Dasheroo
- You will receive instant group notifications when a metric you select exceeds or falls below a threshold.
- Slideshow mode lets you set your time and watch your dashboard display.
- You can import custom or internal data sources using Push API Webhooks and JSON.
4. Cyfe
Cyfe is a cloud-based dashboard software that allows users to monitor all marketing channels using different integrated sources such as SEO, SEM and email marketing web analytics, social media, and more. Data sources include Google Analytics and Salesforce, Google Ads. MailChimp. Facebook. Twitter.
Although the free module provides all functionality, it limits you to only two dashboards per user. The dashboard can only store a 30-day history.
Highlights:
- Rich prebuilt and custom widgets
- Support multiple marketing sources
- Support for 15 languages
- It lets you project dashboards onto a TV with an Amazon Firestick.
5. DataBox
DataBox is a marketing dashboard program that offers a free version. All standard features can be added to a free account. It only supports three data connections, which is a limitation of the free version.
It offers a cloud-based interface that allows marketers, CEOs, and analysts to track market activity and generate reports. It allows you to set, assign and track progress toward SMART Goals from one place. This makes it easy for everyone to see how your company is doing. It’s also simple to calculate metrics, conversion rate, and ROI such as signup-to-pay rate and visit-to-signup rate. This helps you quickly identify important trends.
Databox’s free module is limited to three data sources and three dashboards. It also provides only one daily refresh.
Highlights:
- It can be deployed through the SaaS, Cloud, and the internet.
- Mobile applications are available for Android and iOS.
- Use Slack to share important performance updates
- All your data can be viewed live
- Stream Dashboards to Your Smart TV
Also read: Top10 Free and Open Source Reporting Tools
Best open source dashboard software
6. MetaBase
Metabase is an open-source dashboard software. It allows you to monitor KPIs, track bugs, and file records. You can also create dashboards using simple SQL statements. It can handle multiple data sources such as Google BigQuery and Amazon Redshift, Teradata Snowflake, Teradata, Teradata, Snowflake, Mongo, and Teradata.
Metabase makes it easy for users to ask questions about data formats and get answers in a variety of ways. These include tables, line graphs or pie charts, bar charts, charts, maps, and more.
The best part is that the free version has full functionality. The online community allows users to share their feedback and fix bugs and provides new features and interface improvements.
Highlights:
- The Notebook Editor allows for visual joins, multiple aggregates, and filtering.
- To create interactive visualizations you can add variables to queries.
- It can be hosted on cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, and Azure.
- It can send data via Slack, email, or on a scheduled basis with Pulses.
7. Mozaïk
Mozaik is an open-source dashboard software that lets users create and customize interactive dashboards in real-time, is called Mozaik. Mozaik is built upon the JavaScript triples Node, React, and D3. This allows for a high level of customization. It also allows you to connect to information from other programs like Slack, Github, and so forth.
This is a great tool for creating dashboards that can be used across multiple devices using the adaptive layout. Mozaik allows users to create their dashboard layout using a grid system.
Highlights
- Multiple dashboards that seamlessly transition between them.
- You can customize your themes
- Scalable layout
8. Query2Report
Query2Report provides an open-source platform for building dashboards and reports that can be used to aid in business analytics and enterprise reporting. It transforms many SQL queries into beautiful Google charts. It provides real-time reporting and automatic refresh.
Highlights:
- Integrates with any RDBMS by using JDBC
- Auto-refresh for real-time reporting
- Single Page Application using responsive user interface built using Angularjs
- Role-based access
- Forecast and Data Analytics
- Workspaces for public and private reports
Last Thought
A dashboard is an innovative tool that shows all important data and KPIs in one place. This dashboard uses visualization to simplify information and make them more appealing. To create such dashboards, you need efficient dashboard software.
