We will explore Tableau Public, what Tableau is, compare the differences between them, how to download them, and even how to use paid versions for free, including how to use promotion codes and what to watch out for when using them.
Tableau, a powerful data visualization tool, is increasingly playing a crucial role in the business environment as IT capabilities become more significant. Many people use it to easily analyze and visualize complex data.
what is tableau?
Tableau is a data visualization tool designed to help users understand and visualize data. As a leading business intelligence and analytics software, it was acquired by the number one CRM company in the U.S. (Salesforce) and has become one of the most widely adopted data visualization tools in Korea. It’s often a preferred skill for companies that require data expertise.
Moreover, Tableau is a powerful tool for data visualization and business intelligence (BI) that allows users to easily handle and visualize data without requiring extensive coding knowledge or expertise. Its intuitive design makes it accessible for a wide range of users.
What are Tableau's main features?
- Dashboard Creation and Sharing
One of Tableau’s standout features is its ability to create dashboards, like the one shown below. Users can visually organize data to create dashboards that include various graphs, charts, and maps.
(source : tableau public)
2. Data Connection and Integration
One of Tableau’s strongest features is its support for real-time connections and a wide range of data sources. For instance, while Excel has limitations depending on the version and source, with a maximum of 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns per worksheet, handling hundreds of thousands of rows (true big data) can be practically challenging.
3. Data Analysis and Visualization + AI
Tableau allows for simple data analysis using drag-and-drop functionality, enabling users to filter data and explore details. The 2024 version of Tableau introduced many AI-based data analysis features, including Tableau GPT. This feature uses natural language processing (NLP) to automatically analyze data and generate visualizations based on user queries.
For example, if you ask, “Show me the sales trends over the past six months,” Tableau GPT (Einstein AI) will create a graph showing the sales trends for the specified period.
- [Visit the official Tableau website]
What is Tableau Public?
Tableau Public is the free version of Tableau, an open platform that anyone can use. With Tableau Public, you can visualize data and publish it on the web, making it easy to share with others.
‼️ Important Notes ‼️
Since the shared data and dashboards are public, caution is needed when handling sensitive data.
> You can upload only the visualization results without downloading the data.
> In other words, it is recommended not to upload data that must remain private to Tableau Public.
> However, by using the "Hide" feature, you can avoid publicly sharing your data or Tableau files.
- [Explore tableau public]
Differences Between Tableau Public and Tableau Desktop
To explain it simply:
- Free: Tableau Public
- Paid or Free: Tableau Desktop
- Even among paid versions, different levels of access are granted based on the subscription plan (see the table below for reference).
| product | functionality | price | description |
| Tableau Creator | You can connect data, create visualizations, and publish dashboards in Tableau Desktop. | $75/ user per month | Tableau Desktop, Tableau Prep Builder, 1 Creator license for tableau cloud |
| Tableau Explorer | You can edit existing dashboards. It is available for use by teams and organizations. | $42 / user per month | 1 Tableau Cloud Explorer license |
| Tableau Viewer | You can access existing dashboards. It is available for use by teams and organizations. | $15 / user per month | 1 Tableau Cloud Viewer license |
[Note] Official website: For new Tableau customers, a 10% discount coupon is available for purchases of 2 or more Creator licenses.
Promotion code: TABCREATOR10
How to Download and Use Paid Versions for Free
There are two ways to use Tableau Desktop, a paid product, for free:
- 14-Day Free Trial
- Free 1-Year License for Students, Teachers, or Affiliate Company Accounts
Pro Tip for Students: You can use a university email account from outside the U.S. (where Tableau's headquarters is located) to register for a free 1-year license.
If you have a student ID from a Korean school, an exchange program, or can obtain one, make sure to use your university email account!
| Target | how to download | installation & process |
| students | free tableau desktop download | Download from the link 2. Run the installer 3. Check your email for the product key 4. Enter the product key in the installed Tableau 5. Installation complete; Activation successful! |
| professionals, other users | 2-1. Tableau Desktop 체험판 (14-day free trial) download link 2-2. Tableau Public (free version) download link |
Click "Create" in the top menu on the website to start working on the web or download Tableau Desktop Public Edition and run it |
Other Tableau Products
Aside from Tableau and Tableau Public, there are other Tableau products. Most individual users use Tableau and Tableau Public, while enterprises and Tableau professionals utilize Prep, Online, and Server as well.
| product name | description |
| tableau prep | A tool optimized for data cleaning and transformation, particularly useful for analysts and engineers specializing in data processing. |
| tableau online | Cloud-based collaboration tool, ideal for remote teams or organizations working across multiple locations. |
| tableau server | An on-premise solution for large organizations, crucial for managing and securing data. It allows real-time data monitoring. |
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!