Best Free Tableau Resources & Tutorials

Many professionals are eager to learn Tableau but hesitate because of the perceived up-front costs. The good news is that Tableau Reader and Tableau Public are both free, and Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server each offer free trials. In addition, there are a variety of affordable, if not free, learning resources currently available to help beginners get the hang of this exciting program.

Read on to learn more about the different types of free resources and tutorials available to help you learn Tableau. 

What is Tableau?

Tableau is a data visualization tool used for data analytics and business intelligence. It was designed to help individuals and organizations make better data-driven solutions. This software can simplify raw data into an accessible dashboard format that incorporates visual depictions of raw data from datasets, which can then be understood by various professionals working within a company, regardless of whether they come from a technical background. One of the main benefits of working with Tableau is that it performs fast data analysis and can create stunning visualizations based on data findings.

Tableau provides users with many helpful data analysis and visualization features, such as real-time analysis, data blending, and collaboration capabilities. It allows Data Analysts to manipulate live datasets and devote their efforts more to analysis rather than data wrangling. In addition, Tableau doesn’t require programming or technical skills, making it an accessible, effective tool for data analytics.

Read more about what Tableau is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Tableau?

Tableau has a variety of professional uses. Ultimately, the more you know about Tableau, the more data-driven insights you can bring to your organization. Tableau can bring together various data sources into a single point of truth. For example, suppose you’re working with data in Microsoft Access and Excel, as well as in SQL databases and cloud-based applications such as Salesforce. In that case, Tableau can help you bring these data together with just a few mouse clicks. This provides one central source that can be used for all types of business reporting and doesn’t require you to have any coding knowledge to set up. 

Tableau also provides a way to efficiently perform ETL operations (extract, transform and load). With the help of Tableau’s automated data reshaper tool, you can transform any data you want to use into the necessary format by splitting fields, eliminating header and white space, and changing data formats. Instead of spending a whole day extracting, transforming, and loading data using apps such as Excel, you can do it in just seconds in Tableau. In addition, Tableau’s automated reporting feature allows you to easily create a report, then set it to focus on a specific dataset so that the data will automatically refresh without requiring any coding know-how or additional time commitment.

One of Tableau’s most remarkable features is its visualization capabilities. Even for those new to visually presenting data insights, Tableau comes with built-in best practices to help you present information clearly, effectively, and engagingly. This helps ensure that data is delivered to internal and external stakeholders through eye-catching and informative reports.

Free Online Tableau Resources 

Suppose you are interested in starting to learn Tableau but worry about the cost of study. In that case, there are many excellent free Tableau resources, such as videos and tutorials, available online from top educational providers:

• Udemy’s Learn Tableau desktop for Accurate Business Analysis is a free course that covers the basics of Tableau Desktop. Instruction is offered on how to create workbooks with new data source connections, as well as how to publish and share work. All students receive workbooks, tools, video lectures, and supporting notes to help with their studies.
• Tableau itself has video resources available for those interested in learning data visualization. Free training content about Tableau basics, such as preparation, analysis, and sharing, as well as tips for publishing work, are all covered on this site. In addition, an instructor-led training room is available that provides virtual instruction offered by Tableau experts.
• NYIM Training’s Tableau Blog offers free tutorials and resources that teach students how to use Tableau for data visualization. Information is provided on how to install Tableau Public, work with table calculations and parameters, and make maps in Tableau. 
• Coursera’s Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau is geared toward those who are new to data visualization and have no experience working with Tableau. Those enrolled work with Tableau’s library to learn how to create data-driven stories, create esports, and make decisions based on data findings.
• Noble Desktop also has more than 50 articles on Tableau. You can learn more about the different Tableau products, creating advanced visualizations, using Tableau for automation, and the importance of data scrubbing.

Learn Tableau with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop provides several great Tableau learning opportunities. For those new to Tableau, Noble’s Tableau Level 1 covers core Tableau tools and skills, such as creating various charts and data visualizations. Students receive an introduction to Tableau Public, a free version of Tableau, and learn how to create and edit graphs and charts.

In addition, Noble’s Tableau Bootcamp is a program that teaches students the fundamental components of data visualization. Those enrolled explore Tableau Public’s different tools to connect to datasets, analyze, filter, and structure the data to make visualizations. By course completion, students will know how to customize, manipulate, and publish various data visualizations. This class comes with the option of a free retake for students who wish to revisit course material.

For those seeking a more rigorous learning environment for learning Tableau, Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate is a great option. In addition to providing hands-on training with Tableau in the small classroom environment, those enrolled in this certificate study also gain industry-relevant training with other data analytic skills, languages, and programs, such as SQL, Excel, and Python. Expert instructors ensure that those enrolled receive training to become Data Analysts or Business Analysts. One-on-one mentoring is provided for all students.

In addition, for those interested in learning more about Tableau, Noble’s Tableau Resources page has more than 50 articles to help you learn more about this powerful data visualization tool.

Key Takeaways

• Tableau is a versatile tool that can be used for data analysis, storytelling, and data visualization.
• If you are new to Tableau and don’t want to spend a lot of money learning the basics of this tool, many online resources are available to help with your studies.
• Top educational providers, such as Udemy, NYIM Training, and Coursera, offer free online Tableau tutorials and classes.
• A great way to learn more about Tableau is to sign up for one of Noble Desktop’s in-person or live online Tableau classes.