This article will explore two of Tableau’s products, Tableau Viewer and Tableau Reader, to see which one is the better product to help with your data analytic needs.
What is Tableau?
Tableau is the leading analytics platform for business intelligence on the market. It allows users to simplify raw data into a format that’s easy to access and understand by those working at any level of an organization. Even non-technical Tableau users can create customized dashboards and worksheets with the help of this versatile tool. Some of Tableau’s most remarkable features include its capacity for data blending, real-time analysis, and data collaboration. It can be installed directly onto one’s hardware from a web download and be operational in just twenty minutes.
The Tableau product suite is used by many companies, like Skype, Wells Fargo, Nike, and Coca-Cola, for their data visualization needs. In fact, thousands of companies and organizations use Tableau for their data analytic and visualization needs.
What is Tableau Viewer?
Tableau Viewer is an application designed for those who wish to gain access to data insights in order to complete their job functions but wish to work with content that others created. Decision-making can be done based on dashboards Tableau Explorers or Tableau Creators made without having to risk the data’s security. This governed platform of published and managed content provides Tableau Viewer users with access to quality data without the need to export it or email it, which can compromise security.
Tableau Viewers come from a variety of backgrounds; they may be team members relying on data to execute daily tasks, managers in charge of overseeing a team’s performance, or CEOs who rely on complex metrics to gain an overview of the health of their business.
Those working with Tableau Viewer can use the platform to distribute analytics to all team members within an organization. It is also a powerful tool for presenting data-based campaign results to stakeholders. When dashboards and workbooks are shared across a company, this helps to streamline the way various teams handle data. It also ensures the protection of the integrity of the data being shared. In addition, this app makes it possible to subscribe to important visualizations and establish alerts to notify you of any updates or changes.
Benefits of Using Tableau Viewer
The following are some of the main benefits Tableau Viewer users cite about working with this application:
- Tableau Viewer makes it possible to scale analytics to every corner of an organization.
- Alerts and subscriptions provide users with current information on how their business is performing.
- Tableau Viewer content can be accessed from the mobile app, browser, subscriptions, and alerts.
- All of the necessary tools for effectively acting on data are managed and provided by Tableau Viewer, which means that users can devote their efforts to action rather than analysis.
- Because Tableau Viewer is embedded into the systems already being used, this means that content and dashboards are smoothly integrated into the business applications even non-technical users rely on to perform their jobs.
- It provides users with access to embedded, web-based content, as well as mobile content, and also makes it possible to interact with this content.
- Tableau Viewer can download data visualization summary data.
- It can receive data-driven alerts and subscriptions, and create subscriptions as well.
- Tableau Viewer allows users to comment on dashboards or visualizations, and download visualizations in the form of image files like PDFs or PNGs.
- Augmented analytic capabilities allow Viewers to execute light analysis by posing natural language questions in the dashboard and receiving automatic explanations about the drivers behind a given value.
- A license for Tableau Viewer costs $15/month.
What is Tableau Reader?
Tableau Reader was created in Tableau’s early days. It was designed so that Content Creators and Data Analysts could share the content they created in Tableau Desktop. At this time, Tableau Server wasn’t available to organizations, which meant it wasn’t an option that could be used to share content; using Tableau Reader was the only way content could be shared across an organization whose members did not have access to Tableau Desktop.
Tableau Reader isa desktop application that can open and interact with extracted sources of data and packaged workbooks that were made in Tableau Desktop. Tableau Reader is able to open dashboards and facilitate interaction with them, but does not allow users to edit formulas or charts. This application does not have the security or governance features, or the administration capabilities, that are required for critical production deployments within Tableau. Those working with Tableau Reader are able to access and make changes to local workbooks only. While these limitations mean that this product isn’t perfect for all users, such as those who need to deploy analytics at scale for an entire organization, it’s a good option for other types of projects, such as proof-of-concept work.
Tableau Reader users are able to read file types using this product. Those who are working on collaborative projects and wish to share their workbook can do so by sending a file. The receiver must have a Tableau Reader to open the document. In instances where the recipient does not have Tableau Reader, the sender can still share the file, but must do so by converting the workbook into a PDF or electing to share it publicly.
In terms of pricing, Tableau Reader is free to download but those who are using it instead of Tableau Server must pay for deploying and maintaining it. In addition, anyone interested in using Tableau Reader should also be aware of the possibility of costly compliance issues that could arise due to this product’s lack of governance. Those deploying Tableau Reader must have source files that can be shared or locally accessed.
Benefits of Using Tableau Reader
The following are several benefits of working with Tableau Reader:
- It is free to download.
- Users don’t need to uninstall their prior version of Tableau Reader when upgrading. That means that Tableau Reader 9.0 and 10.0 can both be installed on the same computer without causing any problems.
- For those who are new to creating data visualizations and also new to the workings of the Tableau suite, Tableau Reader provides a straightforward way to view a data visualization. Although editing is not possible in Tableau Reader, those who simply wish to share visualizations or view them can do so with this tool.
- Tableau Reader is able to open dashboards and perform actions such as tooltip and filtering.
- It provides a good option for those who may be reluctant to invest in Tableau Server. It’s a good first-step product for organizations that are getting their feet wet in the data analytics world.
- When compared to Tableau Public, Tableau reader provides a more private data analytics experience. This makes it a good option for users who have sensitive or proprietary data in their visualizations. Publishing to Tableau Reader is more secure than doing so in Tableau Public’s community forum.
- It is a helpful resource for Data Analysts and Business Analysts who are already working with Tableau Desktop to gain a footing and initial momentum as they work to create interactive dashboards.
- Unlimited rows of data can be read in Tableau Reader when it is in Static View.
Which One is Right for You?
When deciding between Tableau Viewer and Tableau Reader, it’s important to consider a few factors. For users who need to create or edit data visualizations, stories, or graphs, Tableau Reader is not the best option. However, for users on the go who simply need to view data visualizations, Tableau Reader provides a convenient, easy-to-navigate option.
In terms of price, Tableau Reader is free to download, though there may be additional costs involved with deployment or maintenance, as well as the potential for expensive compliance issues. On the other hand, a license for Tableau Viewer costs $15/month. Both products allow users to interact with dashboards and visualizations. However, it’s only possible to comment on dashboards or visualizations or to receive data-driven alerts using Tableau Viewer. Unlike Tableau Reader, Tableau Viewer offers users governed, server-based deployment, which ensures that data will be kept safe.
The bottom line is that for those who need to monitor analytics rather than create their own dashboards, Tableau Reader is the better option.
Hands-On Data Analytics & Tableau Classes
An important first step toward a career in data analytics is enrolling in one of Noble Desktop’s data analytics classes. These beginner-friendly courses are currently available in topics such as Excel, Python, and data science, among other skills necessary for analyzing data. In addition, more than 170 live online data analytics classes are also available from top providers. Courses range from three hours to nine months and cost from $229 to $60,229. Students can study from the comfort of their own home or office space and still receive industry-relevant data analytics training in topics like FinTech, Tableau, and Python Machine Learning.
For those who want to learn how to create stunning and engaging data visualizations, maps, charts, and graphs, Noble Desktop’s Tableau classes provide a great option. These small group classes are available in-person in NYC, as well as in the live online format. These Tableau-focused courses teach students skills like how to spot the most optimal datasets to connect to, as well as how to analyze, filter, structure, and visually represent data.
Those who are interested in finding nearby Tableau classes can use Noble’s Tableau Classes Near Me tool. This handy tool provides an easy way to locate and browse more than three dozen of the best Tableau classes currently offered in the in-person and live online formats so that all interested learners can find the course that works best for them.