Best Data Storytelling Tools in 2026
Updated
In short: Datawrapper is ranked #1 of 22 as of 8 October 2026, ahead of Understand and ArcGIS StoryMaps. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Understand. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Graphtelling at €10/mo.
When data needs to explain as well as inform, storytelling tools help you pair visual evidence with a narrative for an audience. Compared on interactive visualizations, narrative annotations, presentation flow and share mode, they show different ways to shape and deliver that story. Data source limits and live data refresh can help you assess fit for your inputs and update needs; free plans and paid-from pricing are also listed. Datawrapper, ArcGIS StoryMaps and Observable are among the named options to compare. Consider how you want readers to move through the material, and which listed features suit the way you work with data.
22 data storytelling tools ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
17 of the 22 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DatawrapperWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $21/mo | 6.8 | |
| 2 | UnderstandWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $15/mo | 6.6 | |
| 3 | ArcGIS StoryMapsWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 4 | BStreamsWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | €21.08/mo | 6.4 | |
| 5 | DatastoryWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $15/mo | 6.4 | |
| 6 | FlourishWeb · Self-hosted · API · Extension | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 7 | GraphtellingWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | €10/mo | 6.4 | |
| 8 | InfogramWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 9 | JuiceboxWeb · Extension | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $119/mo | 6.4 | |
| 10 | Mimasa AIWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $29/mo | 6.4 | |
| 11 | ObservableWeb · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $2,225/mo | 6.4 | |
| 12 | UnmappedWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $29/mo | 6.4 | |
| 13 | ChartWeaveWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $19/mo | 6.3 | |
| 14 | MapjiWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 15 | MotionMapWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $29/mo | 6.3 | |
| 16 | Storyline JSWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 17 | TimelineJSWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 18 | TalkingMapsWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 19 | DataStoriesWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API · Extension | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 20 | EvidenceWeb · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $2,500/mo | 5.4 |
| 21 | MachEyeWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 22 | ToucanWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | €445/mo | 5.3 |
Compare all 22 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Interactive visualizations | Narrative annotations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Datawrapper | 6.8 | Free plan | $21/mo | Yes | 21 /user/mo | — | — |
| 2 | Understand | 6.6 | Free plan | $15/mo | Yes | 25 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | ArcGIS StoryMaps | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | BStreams | 6.4 | Free plan | €21.08/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | Datastory | 6.4 | Free plan | $15/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | Flourish | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | Graphtelling | 6.4 | Free plan | €10/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Infogram | 6.4 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | Juicebox | 6.4 | Free plan | $119/mo | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | Mimasa AI | 6.4 | Free plan | $29/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | Observable | 6.4 | Free plan | $2,225/mo | Yes | 22 /user/mo | — | — |
| 12 | Unmapped | 6.4 | Free plan | $29/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | ChartWeave | 6.3 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 14 | Mapji | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | MotionMap | 6.3 | Free plan | $29/mo | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 16 | Storyline JS | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | TimelineJS | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 18 | TalkingMaps | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | DataStories | 5.4 | No | — | No | — | Yes | — |
| 20 | Evidence | 5.4 | No | $2,500/mo | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 21 | MachEye | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 22 | Toucan | 5.3 | No | €445/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which data storytelling tool is ranked first on Freedom251?
Datawrapper is ranked #1 of 22 with a score of 6.8. Understand is second and ArcGIS StoryMaps third.
How many of these have a free plan?
17 of the 22 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Graphtelling has the lowest first paid tier we found: €10/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.