Google Data Studio

Interactive dashboard reporting and data visualization tool

About Google Data Studio

Google Data Studio, a free and cloud-hosted application, allows users to create interactive dashboards and professionally styled reports from a wide variety of data sources. Deployed with a view to presenting the kind of insights useful for informing business decisions, the solution provides built-in and partner connectors that facilitate connections to most data sources. Data Studio reports are therefore able to leverage data from one or more possible sources. Possible data sets include Google Analytics, Google Sheets, Google Ads, Google Cloud Storage, Google Search Console, Google Attribution 360, and YouTube, with Google Drive also used to store generated reports for broader sharing purposes. Additional connectors cover BigQuery, SQL databases, Campaign Manager, plus CSV upload for Excel spreadsheets.

Data Studio's web-based reporting tools allow data to be transformed into "visualization art" and used to build interactive, real-time reports or dashboards. The drag-and-drop report editor offers configurable charts and tables such as line charts, bar charts, pie charts, geo maps, area/bubble graphs, paginated data tables, pivot tables, and more. Viewer filters and date range controls make reports interactive, while report templates can be created from standard reports through the data control tool. Custom text and images allow reports to be rebranded or annotated along with the application of links, clickable images, styles and color themes. Sharing and collaboration features are supported by centralized Google Drive storage of saved reports and data sources, with reports also able to be embedded within websites. When users elect to share a particular report or a data source with other editors, those authorized users are able to work on the same file together in real time.

Pricing starting from:

Not provided by vendor

  • Free Version
  • Free Trial
  • Subscription

Top 5 alternatives to Google Data Studio

Key benefits of Google Data Studio

  • Google Data Studio offers a free online solution for connecting multiple data sources to create interactive dashboards and stylized professional reports leveraging a variety of visualizations including graphs and pie charts.

  • Users can generate reports wholly from scratch or utilize a gallery selection of customizable report templates for popular data visualization purposes.

  • CSV file upload allows Excel spreadsheet data to be imported and incorporated, with generated reports stored centrally on Google Drive for convenient sharing.

  • Google Data Studio also connects to data sets including Google Analytics, Google Sheets, Google Ads, and Google Drive, along with BigQuery and other SQL databases, Search Console, Campaign Manager, Attribution 360 and YouTube.

  • Google Data Studio's Data Sources tool promises to facilitate those data connections without requiring any programming or specialist knowledge.
  • Typical Customers

    • Freelancers
    • Small Businesses (2-50)
    • Mid-size Companies (51-500)
    • Large enterprises (500 and more)

    Deployment

    • Cloud-based
    • On-premise

    Markets

    United States

    Supported Languages

    English

    Pricing starting from:

    Not provided by vendor

    • Free Version
    • Free Trial
    • Subscription

    Top 5 alternatives to Google Data Studio

    Images

    Google Data Studio Software - Access interactive dashboards and engaging reports
    Google Data Studio Software - Data can be accessed via over 110 connectors from Google, a growing number of Data Studio partners, and those from the open source community
    Google Data Studio Software - An example dashboard report displaying an overview for Facebook Ads, using data from SuperMetrics
    Google Data Studio Software - The main Google Data Studio home screen showing available templates and new blank report button, plus a chronological quick launch list of previous reports or data sources
    Google Data Studio Software - An example marketing template for a YouTube Channel Report detailing views, watch time, video shares, and additional core metrics
    Google Data Studio Software - The drag-and-drop report editor showing the start of a new blank report and the popup panel shown below for creating a new data source to be added
    Google Data Studio Software - Reports can be shared with others via a sharable URL link that can be copied and pasted, or sent to contacts via email
    View 9 more
    Google Data Studio video
    Google Data Studio video
    Google Data Studio Software - Access interactive dashboards and engaging reports
    Google Data Studio Software - Data can be accessed via over 110 connectors from Google, a growing number of Data Studio partners, and those from the open source community
    Google Data Studio Software - An example dashboard report displaying an overview for Facebook Ads, using data from SuperMetrics
    Google Data Studio Software - The main Google Data Studio home screen showing available templates and new blank report button, plus a chronological quick launch list of previous reports or data sources
    Google Data Studio Software - An example marketing template for a YouTube Channel Report detailing views, watch time, video shares, and additional core metrics
    Google Data Studio Software - The drag-and-drop report editor showing the start of a new blank report and the popup panel shown below for creating a new data source to be added
    Google Data Studio Software - Reports can be shared with others via a sharable URL link that can be copied and pasted, or sent to contacts via email

    Features

    Total features of Google Data Studio: 24

    • Ad hoc Reporting
    • Charting
    • Collaboration Tools
    • Customizable Branding
    • Customizable Dashboard
    • Customizable Reports
    • Customizable Templates
    • Dashboard Creation
    • Dashboard Software
    • Data Connectors
    • Data Management Software
    • Data Visualization Software
    • Drag & Drop
    • KPI Monitoring
    • Multiple Data Sources
    • Real Time Analytics
    • Real Time Reporting
    • Reporting & Statistics
    • Reporting/Analytics
    • Search/Filter
    • Self Service Data Preparation
    • Single Page View
    • Statistical Analysis Software
    • Visual Analytics

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    Reviews

    Overall rating

    4.5 /5
    (270)
    Value for Money
    4.8/5
    Features
    4.3/5
    Ease of Use
    4.1/5
    Customer Support Software
    3.6/5

    Already have Google Data Studio?

    Software buyers need your help! Product reviews help the rest of us make great decisions.

    Showing 5 reviews of 270
    Neels
    Overall rating
    • Industry: Information Technology & Services
    • Company size: 2–10 Employees
    • Used Daily for 2+ years
    • Review Source

    Overall rating

    • Value for Money
    • Ease of Use
    • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

    Amazing Value At No Cost

    Reviewed on 05/08/2022

    Before DataStudio I had to prepare dashboards and reports in spreadsheets and documents and compile...

    Before DataStudio I had to prepare dashboards and reports in spreadsheets and documents and compile the raw data into reports in a manual way.
    I saved a tremendous amount of time by setting up the data flows and report/dashboard structures once in DataStudio and then just scheduling regular reports to go out automatically

    Pros

    The most impactful features of DataStudio are the wide range of visualizations you have access to in order to present your data in the most engaging and insightful way. Coupled with the wide range of data connectors that are available natively and also third-party connectors, which expands the scope widely.
    Once you have understood the overall way of working, the tool is very easy to use. There are lots of training videos available and lots of support available over the internet, in case you get stuck.
    Integration into my business practises was easy because of the flexibility in data input sources. If a specific connector does not exist, then you can always fall back on file imports.

    Cons

    The most important missing feature for me personally is a native (free) data connector to Facebook Ads. One has free access to all the Google platforms and I have a constant struggle to get a decent data connector to Facebook ad platform data.
    One improvement that I suggest is to add the functionality to do processing on calculated fields to do for instance 7-day moving average calculations on the platform itself. Now I have to do those calculations on a Google Sheet first and then import the results into the DataStudo reports. Or even make that a built-in function?

    Kevin
    Overall rating
    • Industry: Marketing & Advertising
    • Company size: 11–50 Employees
    • Used Daily for 2+ years
    • Review Source

    Overall rating

    • Value for Money
    • Ease of Use
    • Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10

    Flexible and does the job

    Reviewed on 17/08/2022

    Google Data Studio has allowed us to create interactive Dashboard reporting for a number of users...

    Google Data Studio has allowed us to create interactive Dashboard reporting for a number of users in the organization, as well as automating the updating of reporting, saving us countless hours that were dedicated to production. This frees up our team to spend more time on analysis and insights, which has immediate benefits to our customers (internal and external).

    Pros

    Google Data Studio provides a great option for creating dashboards that present your basic data, particularly if that data resides in a Google tool (Analytics, Analytics360, even Google Sheets, etc.) The learning curve for this tool is not extensive before you are ready to build dashboards and reports. The template library is useful to learn what ways you can style your data.

    Cons

    With any data tool there is a learning curve, and the documentation provided by Google is not extensive. Fortunately there is a large offering of YouTube user generated content that covers almost every possible question you may have to get the desired result out of the platform, making it one of easiest Data Visualization tools to learn and get current information.

    Alternatives Considered

    Trello, Tableau, and monday.com

    Reasons for Switching to Google Data Studio

    Cost, needs and requirements for the data that was central to our reporting.
    Virgil
    Overall rating
    • Industry: Nonprofit Organization Management
    • Company size: 10,000+ Employees
    • Used Weekly for 6-12 months
    • Review Source

    Overall rating

    • Value for Money
    • Ease of Use
    • Customer Support Software
    • Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10

    A viable option for business intelligence automation when your software budget is near zero

    Reviewed on 04/02/2021

    Overall, after coming to terms with the constraints of DS as a business intelligence automation...

    Overall, after coming to terms with the constraints of DS as a business intelligence automation tool we were a le to design great products for our teams that wouldn't have been possible otherwise. Being able to automate analysis because of the ubiquity of Google sheets connectors made this an incredible free option for a non profit organization.

    Pros

    It seems that every third party SaaS that collects data online has native synchronization support for Google sheets. And this is how Google Data Studio makes itself the best option for non profits and small businesses in need of automated business intelligence.

    On top of the plug'n'play integration experience, data studio has a unique approach to interactive chart and dashboard design that lets you position elements as if you were working in Adobe Photoshop. You can add shapes, layer elements on top of each other, add text or objects anywhere. This means you can produce the most beautiful and intuitive dashboards and reports ever (or the least if you're more of a Picasso).

    Cons

    It really is the poor man's business intelligence automation tool. Some key setbacks for data scientists is that data studio can only do 1 type of join/blend (outter left) and when using blended data to create calculated fields it really feel more like art than science, and not always working out. There is also no way to create unions across all data sources or make a file directory a data source.

    All this means that you really need to do a lot of data prep in Google sheets and find a way to do some automatic data blending in Google sheets as well in some cases. This will keep the complexity of your needs in Data Studio minimal, which seems to work best.

    Alternatives Considered

    Tableau and Microsoft Power BI

    Reasons for Choosing Google Data Studio

    Power BI doesn't have a connector for Google sheets (while all our data sources have native synchronization support for Google sheets) and third party data integration options to pull from Google sheets into PowerBI/MS OneDrive added complications and reduced reliability.

    Switched From

    Microsoft Power BI

    Reasons for Switching to Google Data Studio

    Free, easy to use, ideal Integration support for my case and can be deployed with an ability to grant access permissions to individuals outside my organization (partners).
    Anastasios
    Overall rating
    • Industry: Research
    • Company size: 11–50 Employees
    • Used Daily for 2+ years
    • Review Source

    Overall rating

    • Ease of Use
    • Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10

    Great tool for reporting and dashboards

    Reviewed on 04/01/2023

    Great product for live dashboards. Great functionality and connectivity! Definitely recommended.

    Great product for live dashboards. Great functionality and connectivity! Definitely recommended.

    Pros

    Great range of data source to connect to your dashboard! The filter functionality is good. Customised and great range of graphs. Easy to merge different data sources. It is a real live dashboard and you can modify the refresh rate of the data harvesting.

    Cons

    A bit slow and requires a very good graphics card in your computer to run smoothly, especially when you plan to build a multipage dashboard. Missing some more advanced graphs. Learning curve might be a bit steep in the beginning.

    Alternatives Considered

    Tableau and Microsoft Power BI

    Reasons for Switching to Google Data Studio

    We use different tools for different purposes
    Verified Reviewer
    Overall rating
    • Industry: E-Learning
    • Company size: 201–500 Employees
    • Used Daily for 2+ years
    • Review Source

    Overall rating

    • Value for Money
    • Ease of Use
    • Customer Support Software
    • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

    Google Data Studio will handle my needs?

    Reviewed on 20/06/2022

    I had a big concern that I would no be able to use Microsoft Power BI (budget issue), but in the...

    I had a big concern that I would no be able to use Microsoft Power BI (budget issue), but in the end of the road Google Data Studion was a good surprise. Good price, everything you need to put a high quality data project running. No issues. In another company for example, it would be my choice.

    Pros

    Once it's build your data sources, it's easy to build your dashboards even they don't have the best data viz options. It's in the Google tech stack, that makes easy to your team keep running. Would like to have Microsoft Power BI? It was my concerto too! But yes, Google Data Studio will deliver all info you need in a beautiful interface - don't worry. Good price, clear and light interface, access from any device. Your data project will meet the needs.

    Cons

    Different from Microsoft Power BI for example, you don't have a on screen calculation, easy to work on. Many times you need to create new fields, build cases with calculations to have the field to use on. You need an administrator/builder with more tech skills. But any doubt that I found, I had case or example in the web to search and use. But once it's build the base, it's easy to build dashboards, deploy, upgrade and so one.

    Alternatives Considered

    Pentaho

    Reasons for Choosing Google Data Studio

    We need a onde piece solution for data, where all data sources get together. In many times, price here, lack of features there were a problem. Now, we have a single source of truth.

    Reasons for Switching to Google Data Studio

    Already part of Google tech stack (our choice), price, fast and easy.
    Showing 5 reviews of 270 Read all reviews

    Google Data Studio FAQs

    Below are some frequently asked questions for Google Data Studio.

    Google Data Studio offers the following pricing plans:

    • Pricing model: Free Version
    • Free Trial: Not Available

    Google Data Studio is available for free.

    Google Data Studio has the following typical customers:

    2–10, 11–50, 51–200, 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,001–5,000

    Google Data Studio supports the following languages:

    English

    Google Data Studio supports the following devices:

    Google Data Studio integrates with the following applications:

    Google Ads, Google Analytics 360, Google Campaign Manager 360, Google Cloud SQL, Google Sheets, MySQL, PostgreSQL, YouTube

    Google Data Studio offers the following support options:

    Email/Help Desk, Knowledge Base Software

    Related categories

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