When it comes to helping customers view and understand their data, Tableau is among the most popular business intelligence and data visualization software options available to businesses of all kinds. However, it may not be the most cost-effective choice for many teams due to its tiered pricing mode. This article entails everything you need to know about Tableau server pricing. We also added the differences between Looker vs Tableau Pricing for you to make the right choice. Let’s dive in!
What is Tableau?
Tableau is a program that helps businesses see and use difficult data by showing it in a way that is easy to understand. Businesses from a variety of industries, including those in the banking, retail, and healthcare sectors, use it to analyze data and make wiser decisions. Tableau allows users to connect to a wide variety of data sources, develop custom dashboards and reports, and distribute them around their organization.
Tableau is also a tool for visualizing data that makes it easy to make dynamic reports, dashboards, and visualizations without having to write any code. The dashboard supports a simple drag-and-drop interface for users to import data from many sources, including spreadsheets, databases, and cloud data warehouses. With this user-friendly interface, even team members without much technical training can create compelling data visualizations that tell compelling stories. Connectivity with other systems, such as Salesforce, SAP, and AWS, increases Tableau’s utility.
It can also be used as a desktop tool for people or as a cloud-based solution for businesses. Both choices allow users to quickly and easily explore data on their own and share what they find, allowing them to make more informed decisions more quickly. Companies that want to better utilize data insights often turn to Tableau because of the software’s ease of use and robust visualization and collaboration features.
Tableau Server Pricing
Creator, Explorer, and Viewer are the three Tableau pricing tiers. Here are the basic prices and features of each plan, but more in-depth information is available here:
#1. Tableau Creator license
Tableau Creator License is one of the Tableau server pricing options you can go for. With a paid Tableau Creator license, customers gain access to all of the program’s bells and whistles. The cloud version costs $70 per month (paid yearly), whereas the on-premises version costs $35 per user per month (also billed annually).
Features and Price of Tableau Creator?
Tableau Creator is made for data experts who want to make dashboards and share them with colleagues. Creator subscribers have access to both Tableau Desktop and Tableau Prep. The Tableau Creator license is $70 in 2023, regardless of whether you use the software on your own computer or with others in a Server or Cloud setting.
Work can be shared on server platforms like Tableau Server or Tableau Online with a Creator license. In this situation, in addition to the creator license, the user must also have a valid, write-enabled Tableau Server or Cloud account.
Among the most notable aspects of this license are:
- Possibility of building and sharing dashboards and other visual representations
- Tableau Prep Builder is used for data cleaning and preparation.
- Integration and dissemination of data from multiple sources
- Controlling the Tableau Server, including administering data sources and permissions
#2. Tableau Explorer License
Tableau Explorer License is one of the Tableau server pricing options you can go for. The Tableau Explorer license has fewer features than the Tableau Creator license, but it still allows users to collaborate and manage their data. The cloud version of Explorer costs $42 per user per month (paid yearly), up from $35, while the on-premises version costs $20 per user per month (billed annually).
Features and Price of Tableau Creator?
Tableau Creator is made for data experts who want to make dashboards and share them with colleagues. Creator subscribers have access to both Tableau Desktop and Tableau Prep.
Work can be shared on server platforms like Tableau Server or Tableau Online with a Creator license. In this situation, in addition to the creator license, the user must also have a valid, write-enabled Tableau Server or Cloud account.
Among the most notable aspects of this license are:
- Possibility of building and sharing dashboards and other visual representations
- Tableau Prep Builder is used for data cleaning and preparation.
- Integration and dissemination of data from multiple sources
- Controlling the Tableau Server, including administering data sources and permissions
#3. Tableau Viewer
Tableau Viewer is one of the Tableau server pricing options you can go for. The most basic Tableau license, the Viewer, allows users to view, comment on, interact with, and download data visualizations. Viewer subscriptions in the cloud are now $15 per user per month (up from $12) (paid yearly), while those in the on-premises version cost $10 per user per month (billed annually).
Tableau also provides an enterprise edition with expanded features for more complex needs. The cost of the enterprise bundle can change based on the specific requirements of the business. A Tableau package is available in a few different configurations.
The Features and Price of Tableau Viewer
Last but not least, the Tableau Viewer is made for those who aren’t tech-savvy but still need to look at and interact with data visualizations, reports, and dashboards that others have made. The Viewer tier is a low-priced option for allowing more people in an organization to benefit from the data.
Licensees may use Tableau Viewers to do the following:
- View and interpret information graphics that have been made public
- Get alerted based on data, and act accordingly
- Check out diagrams with the help of Tableau.
It is advised that a small business invest in at least two Tableau licenses: one Tableau Creator license for data analysts to utilize in developing interactive dashboards, and another Tableau Viewer license for non-technical users to access and explore the data.
Flexibility vs. Rigidity
Choosing the best Tableau pricing mode for your business intelligence needs is very important. The following are things to check out:
#1. The Issue With Predetermined Price Ranges
Daily self-service analytics opportunities are capped when consumers are locked into strict pricing levels. The ability to scale the impact of data decreases whenever a data consumer requests a more extensive update or adjustment in a report.
Tableau’s price/skillset packaging may be useful in the short term by facilitating rapid matching of skill sets and data access demands, but it will need to be maintained and adjusted to ‘rematch’ licenses with new data power users in the business over the long term.
#2. Viewer Licenses Are Pretty Much Utterly Usual
If the prices in your company are too high, your end users won’t be able to take advantage of all the data on the spectrum, and their requests will pile up in a backlog. This demonstrates the cost of having license restrictions of this kind. With no perfect dashboard (which we all know doesn’t exist), analysts become stuck making constant adjustments to reports.
Is There a Free Plan for Tableau?
Tableau does not have a completely free tier, although there is a free trial available. For 14 days, you can try out Tableau with all of its capabilities unlocked.
Cost Analysis of Using Tableau, Including Its Free Trial
There is no risk in trying out Tableau Desktop to see if it meets your requirements for data visualization and analysis. Use the trial period to find out whether there are any hidden fees, such as for data storage.
Get Started With Your Free Trial
Users can test out Tableau’s extensive feature set without spending a dime for a full 14 days. You may put Tableau Desktop through its paces throughout the trial period. With no risk to your wallet, you may determine if the program is a good fit for your data visualization and analysis requirements. The free trial and educational license open up fantastic possibilities for cost-free education in the field of data analytics.
While Tableau pricing mode is simple, there are a few hidden fees you should be aware of that aren’t outlined in the plans themselves.
Some examples of such covert expenses are:
#1. Data processing and storage costs
Additional fees for data storage and processing may be incurred if you use Tableau to connect to cloud data sources like Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud.
#2. Maintenance and rollout
Costs related to installing and maintaining an on-premises Tableau Server deployment should be considered by businesses. Everything from primary and secondary hardware to people who can keep an eye on things and fix problems as they emerge is included in this. Tableau does not have any hidden fees related to data preparation, training, or onboarding.
Looker vs Tableau Pricing
There are differences between Looker vs Tableau pricing but it all boils down to what you’re looking for. Looker’s all-inclusive model is a good option if you need advanced capabilities right away. If you are just starting off, the free or low-cost versions of Tableau are a great economical choice. You may easily upgrade to Tableau’s enterprise package as your business expands. The following are the differences between Looker vs Tableau pricing:
Looker
Looker’s cheapest subscription costs $3,000 a month for a minimum of 10 customers. This is a lot more expensive than Tableau’s basic packages.
#1. All Features are included
Although Looker’s starting fee is higher than those of its competitors, users have unrestricted access to the platform’s data modeling, analysis, and reporting capabilities.
#2. Storage Capacity Without Limits
You can save and query as much data as you want with Looker. This is factored into the initial estimate.
Tableau
#1. Lower Starting Price
Tableau has several different pricing tiers available, with the Creator plan starting at just $12/month/user.
#2. Tiered Plans
Tableau’s price structure is tiered, with the higher tiers being more expensive because of the increased functionality they provide.
#3. Extra Charges for Options
The cost per user may not include more expensive options like premium data sources, real-time connectivity, or greater data quantities.
Read Also: Top Tableau Competitors & Alternatives 2023
Power Bi vs Tableau Pricing
Tableau is owned by Salesforce and is licensed on a per-user or per-server basis, while Power BI is a Microsoft product. Power BI has a free edition and a cheaper subscription, making it more accessible financially. On the other side, Tableau’s price tag might increase significantly for large-scale implementations.
How Much Does a Tableau Desktop License Cost?
In 2023, a Tableau Creator license will set you back $70/mo./user after an initial setup fee of $99.
How Does Tableau On-Premise Pricing Work?
To analyze data locally, you can install Tableau Server. Tableau Explorer costs $35 per month (paid yearly), while Viewer costs $12 per month (also billed annually). These prices are slightly lower than those of the Tableau Cloud platform.
What Is the Cost of a Tableau Viewer License?
Both Tableau Cloud and Tableau Server offer viewer licenses, with the former costing $12 per user per month (billed annually) and the latter costing $15 per user per month (paid annually).
Can I Use Tableau at No Cost for My Business?
Commercial use of Tableau does not come without a cost. Tableau’s price is subscription-based; you’ll need to buy licenses according to how many people will be using Tableau and for what purposes. Factors like the number of users, the chosen product tiers (Creator, Explorer, Viewer), and any additional features or services all affect the final price. When used for profit, Tableau often demands a subscription fee to gain access to all of the features and customer support it has to offer.
Can I Install Tableau on Two Different PCs at Once?
- As long as both computers are used by the same individual, you can activate Tableau Desktop on each of them.
- One Tableau Prep Builder license can be used on up to one machine at a time.
Why Is Tableau So Expensive?
Many people believe that Tableau is too pricey because of all the features and capabilities it includes.
Is Tableau License Worth It?
Data analysts and others who work with complicated data sets can showcase their expertise by earning a formal certification through a recognized Tableau course.
How Much Does Tableau Online Cost?
The following are the costs associated with using Tableau Online, the cloud-hosted variant of Tableau Server: Explorer costs $42 per user, per month, and Viewer costs $15 per user, per month, when paid annually. Tableau Online is included in the Creator license, therefore, there’s no cost to utilize it.
What Is the Disadvantage of Tableau?
Tableau does not have a scheduling feature. This means that whenever there is a need to make changes to the data in the back end, some degree of human labor will be required. Also, Tableau is not a fully open-source platform.
Is Tableau Paid on a Monthly Basis?
Tableau does not have a subscription fee. Tableau’s pricing is subscription-based, meaning that each user must pay a yearly fee to have access to the software. The licensing and maintenance of Tableau products are included in this annual cost.
Final Thoughts
If you want to do some serious budgeting or strategic planning, you need to familiarize yourself with the Tableau price structure. You’ll be able to plan ahead for the expense of acquiring and maintaining this potent method of data visualization. You’ll get the most out of your money and maximize the software’s value if you fully grasp how it works so you can maximize its long-term financial viability. The pricing structure offered by Tableau is an important factor to consider when making important business decisions. You can also use this knowledge to better allocate resources and build strategies for future data analytics.
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