Guide to WordPress Plugins for Data Visualization and BI Reports

Whatever the nature of your online business, data is likely a critical component of your operations. Without a proper way to display that data, you could be short-changing yourself and your stakeholders. For best results, you need a method for presenting data in an accurate and easily-transferable fashion.

Fortunately, WordPress users have easy access to plugins that can help with WordPress data visualization and Business Intelligence (BI) reports. These can be used to retrieve and organize data according to your needs, and display that data in a neat, professional way.

In this post, we’ll introduce nine of the best WordPress plugins for data and BI reports. We’ll then break down each tool according to its costs, strengths, and weaknesses. Let’s get started!

Best WordPress Plugins for Data and BI Reports

1. wpDataTables

The wpDataTables plugin offers a way to more easily create charts and graphs for your WordPress website. It uses the Google Charts engine, and can accept data from a number of sources. These include Excel sheets, CSV data formats, JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), XML, and Serialized PHP arrays. 

Price: This is a free WordPress data visualization plugin, with premium upgrade options that start at $59 per year. 

Pros: With wpDataTables, you can create useful data visualizations in your WordPress website, without any coding knowledge. 

Cons: Many of the common data sources, such as Google Sheets, are not compatible with the free version of the WordPress plugin. Additionally, manual creation is only available with the premium version. 

This visualization plugin is also fully compatible with the popular page builder WPBakery. In combination with the extensive list of acceptable data, wpDataTables is a good choice for: 

• Finance
• Marketing statistics
• Website analytics
• Health and wellness
• Education

Having the flexibility to use data from a variety of sources makes this a very versatile and useful tool. Whether it’s for internal view or creating dynamic and interesting content for your site’s users, wpDataTables is worth checking out. 

2. WP Business Intelligence

Structured Query Language (SQL) is what WordPress uses for database management. With WP Business Intelligence, you can gain direct access to any MySQL database. You can then retrieve data, and display it in real time.

Using WP Business Intelligence, you have access to four different chart types (11 with the Pro version). You can also filter, sort, and paginate database query results, for easier data management and display.

Price: The Lite plugin is free, but you can upgrade to the Pro version starting at $599.

Pros: You get real time data retrieval and display features, plus chart display customization.

Cons: Report export formats are limited.

Since WP Business Intelligence offers live reporting, the industry sectors that would most benefit from this plugin are those needing to frequently update data. These include:

• Finance
• Health and wellness
• Website analytics

Of course, any industry can benefit from real-time data. As such, the WP Business Intelligence plugin is well suited to any business, on a large or small scale.

3. POWr Graph

POWr Graph comes included in the POWr Pack plugin. This is a suite of professional add-ons that you can integrate into your website through a single tool. This means you get access to a lot of functionality, without the need for coding skills or developer knowledge.

Graph is a feature that enables you to create visually-appealing graphs and WP charts to place on your website. You can copy and paste Excel data into the tool to create a variety of WordPress chart styles for your WordPress site.

Price: POWr Pack is free, and gives you access to over 50 different plugins. There are upgrades available as well, either per plugin or for your entire account.

Pros: The charts and graphs can be added to your site with shortcodes, and editing capability is available in your WordPress dashboard as well as live on your site. 

Cons: Users do need to create an account with POWr Pack to manage the suite of plugins. 

With over 50 complimentary plugins in the PowrPack family, Powr Graph is a great place to start for several industries, including: 

• Marketing
• Website analytics
• Agencies
• Finance 
• Project management

Since upgrades are available per plugin and as a suite, POWr Pack is a useful tool for just about any scenario. 

4. Data Tables Generator by Supsystic

The Data Tables Generator plugin by Supsystic enhances your ability to create tables and graphs in WordPress. Although these elements are typically difficult to design without coding knowledge, this tool enables you to create responsive charts, tables, and graphs with sortable and searchable data. 

Price: Data Tables Generator has a free version with many table styling options. The upgrade starts at $39, and gives you full access to a long list of premium features. 

Pros: This plugin comes with front-end editing you can use to add images and custom styling to your tables, and is highly-rated. 

Cons: The free version is somewhat limiting, and there is a learning curve involved. 

Data Tables Generator offers interactive options that make it a useful choice for several specific areas, including: 

• Education
• Finance
• Project management

If you want users to be able to interact with your tables and WP charts, Data Tables Generator can help.

5. EZ SQL Reports Shortcode Widget and DB Backup

With EZ SQL Reports Shortcode Widget and DB Backup, you can effortlessly gain access to your MySQL database and display its data on your WordPress site.

One way this plugin differs from the others we’ve featured is that it lets you display reports on your admin dashboard according to user role. For example, you can choose to display “Report 1” to the administrators and editors, while displaying “Report 2” to the authors.

Price: This visualizer plugin is completely free.

Pros: It displays reports within pages or posts, and on the admin dashboard according to role.

Cons: There’s no way to customize report appearance.

With a versatile array of features, this plugin is well suited for any industry that needs to get a clear readout of the following kinds of data:

• Employee/client information
• Financial reports
• Website analytics
• Marketing statistics

You can also display reports directly on your website using a shortcode. This means you can adapt the plugin for use with essentially any data display type.

6. Inline Google Spreadsheet Viewer

Inline Google Spreadsheet Viewer is a particularly useful plugin for Google users. This plugin turns Google Sheets, CSV files, MySQL databases, and more into interactive and attractive charts and graphs on your website. 

Price: This is a completely free chart plugin, but donations are accepted. 

Pros: Easy integration with widely-used data applications means your website will update automatically whenever those data sources change. 

Cons: The only support for the plugin is the documentation provided in the WordPress plugin director. 

If interactivity is a must for your site, the Inline Google Spreadsheet Viewer might be what you need. It’s a handy option for: 

• Internal communications
• Project management
• Finance
• Website analytics
• Marketing 

Google Sheets is just one of Google’s many useful productivity tools. The Inline Viewer plugin can help you leverage those other solutions to create exciting web content. 

7. Visualizer: Tables and Charts Manager for WordPress

Using Visualizer: Tables and Charts Manager for WordPress, you can easily create interactive data displays on your WordPress pages and posts.

With the Lite version, you can import data from CSV and Google Spreadsheets. When you upgrade to Pro, you can also import from WordPress, as well as gain access to the front-end editor and three additional chart types.

Price: The Lite plugin is free, but you can upgrade to the Pro version starting at $59.

Pros: There are nine chart types (or 15 with Pro), plus a live editor and the option to import from CSV and Google Spreadsheets.

Cons: You cannot retrieve data from MySQL databases.

The broad swathe of WordPress data visualization options offered by this plugin make it suitable to virtually all industries. However, it is a best match to the following sectors:

• Finance
• Science
• Health
• Marketing
• Technology

Visualizer lets you automatically sync charts with online files. This makes it a great option if you want to visually present your WordPress SQL and data reports quickly and efficiently.

8. Snowball

Snowball is geared towards journalists and bloggers, and enables you to create content in blocks. You can style each block uniquely, and easily include content such as images, videos, data visualizations, and more. 

One example of how you can use Snowball includes creating interactive maps. The plugin comes with an easy-to-use spreadsheet interface for entering data as well. 

Price: This is a free, open-source plugin. 

Pros: You can create highly-engaging content with Snowball right in your WordPress environment, rather than trying to embed or integrate multiple tools. 

Cons: While reviews for the plugin are good, there are very few and it has not been updated recently. 

9. Exports and Reports

As with the first two plugins on our list, Exports and Reports can be used to retrieve data from MySQL queries. This plugin also offers a wider range of exportable report types, including CSV, JSON, TSV, XML, and custom.

With Exports and Reports, you simply create a report, place it into a “group”, and export the data in the desired format. This is especially useful for client reports.

Price: Exports and Reports is a free plugin.

Pros: You can limit report or group access by user role, access five different report formats, and use JSON for pagination.

Cons: There are no graph features.

Unlike the above three plugins, Exports and Reports only creates reports. This means it’s best used to convey information to staff and clients. For example, you can build reports on:

• Business/personal profit and loss margins
• Employee/client demographics
• Other business analytics

This data can then be conveyed in a variety of formats, including JSON (which enables pagination) and XML (which enables Excel imports).

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