Starting price$15/user/moViewer, Standard, billed annually; Creator $75, Explorer $42; at least one Creator required
Free trial / planFree trial; free Tableau Desktop edition for local files
Vettlo score83/100
G2 user rating4.4/54,235 reviews
Tableau Review (2026): Pricing, Pros and Cons
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Short answer
Tableau ranks #2 of 7 in our business intelligence tools ranking (83/100). Best for visual analysis and dedicated analyst teams. Paid plans start at $15/user/mo (Viewer, Standard, billed annually; Creator $75, Explorer $42; at least one Creator required).
What is Tableau?
Tableau, part of Salesforce, is a visual analytics platform sold per user by role. On the Standard edition, Creator ($75 a user a month, billed annually) builds workbooks and data flows with Tableau Desktop and Prep Builder, Explorer ($42) edits existing workbooks, and Viewer ($15) views and interacts with dashboards. Enterprise ($115, $70 and $35) adds Advanced Management, Data Management and up to 10 sites. Every deployment needs at least one Creator, and all plans require an annual contract.
Who it's best for
Analyst and data teams that build many custom visual dashboards for a large audience of viewers.
Why we rank it
It rates highest here on visualization, with Tableau Pulse metrics and the largest G2 review base in the category.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Rated 4.4/5 on G2 across 4,235 reviews, the most here
- Creator includes Tableau Desktop, Prep Builder and Tableau Pulse
- Free Desktop edition for analysis of local files and databases
Watch-outs
- Creators cost $75 a user a month, over five times Power BI Pro
- Annual contract only; no monthly plans
- Data Management and Advanced Management need Enterprise ($115 per Creator)
Skip it if: You need a low-cost tool for a small team or want to pay month to month.
Tableau pricing
Paid plans start at $15/user/mo (Viewer, Standard, billed annually; Creator $75, Explorer $42; at least one Creator required). Free plan or trial: Free trial; free Tableau Desktop edition for local files.
From Tableau's pricing page, checked on the date at the top of this review. See how it compares on price in our business intelligence tools pricing overview.
How we scored Tableau
Business intelligence score: 83/100
Data connectivity & modeling (20%)4.5/5
Visualization & dashboards (20%)5/5
Self-serve analysis & AI (15%)4.5/5
Sharing, embedding & governance (15%)4.5/5
Ease of use (15%)3.5/5
Price & value (15%)2.5/5
Each criterion is rated 0 to 5 and weighted for the category. See our methodology.
How Tableau compares
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Power BI | Best overall and best value for most companies | $14/user/mo | 92/100 |
| 2 | Tableau | Visual analysis and dedicated analyst teams | $15/user/mo | 83/100 |
| 3 | Qlik Cloud Analytics | Large audiences priced by data, not seats | $300/mo | 82/100 |
| 4 | Metabase | Best open-source option for SQL-friendly teams | $100/mo | 81/100 |
| 5 | Zoho Analytics | Small businesses that report on their business apps | $24/mo | 80/100 |
| 6 | Data Studio | Best free tool for Google Analytics, Ads and Sheets reporting | $9/user/mo | 78/100 |
Alternatives and comparisons
Tableau FAQ
How much does Tableau cost?
Paid plans start at $15/user/mo (Viewer, Standard, billed annually; Creator $75, Explorer $42; at least one Creator required). Free plan or trial: Free trial; free Tableau Desktop edition for local files.
Is Tableau worth it?
Tableau scores 83/100 in our business intelligence tools ranking, where it is best for visual analysis and dedicated analyst teams. It's a weaker fit if: you need a low-cost tool for a small team or want to pay month to month.
Does Tableau have a free plan or trial?
Free trial; free Tableau Desktop edition for local files.
What are the best Tableau alternatives?
In our business intelligence tools ranking, the closest alternatives are Microsoft Power BI, Qlik Cloud Analytics and Metabase.