Side by side

LabPlot vs Tableau

Both stand on data visualization software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

LabPlot

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

Choose LabPlot if you want free, open-source desktop software for scientific plotting and analysis, with notebook support and broad data import options. Look elsewhere if you need a web-based platform rather than a local desktop application.

Visit LabPlot

Tableau

Free plan Self-hosted

Tableau combines dashboard creation, conversational analytics and team sharing across hosted and self-hosted options. Compare the role-based plans and confirm pricing with sales before choosing.

Visit Tableau

The facts

	LabPlot	Tableau
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	Linux, Mac, Windows	Self-hosted
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Viewer: $15 a month
Plans published	1	12
Maker	Not published	Tableau
Website	labplot.org	tableau.com
On data visualization software	#19 of 98	#15 of 98

LabPlot: what it does well

Free and open-source desktop software.
Creates interactive 2D plots, including control charts and KDE plots.
Includes regression, curve fitting, Fourier transforms, and signal processing.
Interactive notebooks support Python, R, Julia, Maxima, Octave, and Lua.
Reads live data from sockets and serial ports.

What to know first

It is desktop software, rather than a web-based platform.
No free trial is offered; the software is free instead.
The listed main platforms are Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Tableau: what it does well

Connects Tableau Creator to any type of data
Natural-language queries for AI-powered insights
Supports row-level security and embedded analytics
Viewer includes mobile access
Tableau Desktop is free to download

What to know first

Paid plan pricing requires contacting sales
Listed prices use annual billing
Some deployments require a Creator license

Alternatives to LabPlot Alternatives to Tableau The whole list