Seaborn Vs. Tableau – Which Is Best?

You might have found it challenging to get a straightforward answer to this Seaborn vs. Tableau question because there is hardly any guide available on the internet regarding this, so I thought I’d shed some light on the topic.

The short answer is: Tableau is the best application compared with Seaborn, when it comes to data visualization and analysis, as it has much better UI and features.

Both Seaborn and Tableau are the tools used by Data analysts and data scientists all over the world. 

If you are interested in learning more about these tools and looking for a detailed comparison, you can scroll down to the following sections.

These tools have several different individual features that can’t be compared with each other, and for different professionals, these tools work differently. What I’ll do is that I’ll cover these tools separately, and then at the end, I’ll compare them using a simple table.  

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What is Seaborn?

Seaborn is not an individual tool. Seaborn is a Python library that was built for data virtualization. Seaborn can be termed an advanced version of Matplotlib. Seaborn is integrated with Pandas Library and was created by Michaell Waskom.

Characteristics of Seaborn

Here are some characteristics of Seaborn Library:

  • It contains data-set-oriented plotting functions.
  • Seaborn is preferred for evaluating outputs for Categorical or aggregate variables.
  • Works flawlessly with multiple variables and data frames. 
  • It supports automatic plotting of LR (Linear Regression) models that have different dependent variables. 
  • Provides tools to select color palettes for visualization. 

You might have noticed that I have used several technical terms in the above paragraphs; that is why “Seaborn needs coding skills.” If you have prior knowledge of working with advanced Python and can write hundreds of code lines, you must go for Seaborn. 

Seaborn is a potent tool for those who have experience in writing programs and have prior experience working with Libraries. Apart from this, if your profession is a blend of development and analysis, Seaborn is going to be your lifesaver. Seaborn is quite easy to work around for a developer.

How to use Seaborn?

There is no need for any additional software or a specific IDE to work with Seaborn, it can easily be installed using pip or conda. You can also refer to Seaborn’s installation documents or copy the following code in your terminal window. 

pip install seaborn

This single statement is enough to install the Seaborn library on your system. 

Before you jump on your system to try your hands on Seaborn, here is something for you.

Seaborn requires the following dependencies to be necessary to function correctly:

  • Numpy
  • Matplotlib
  • Pandas
  • Scipy

Highly Recommended Article: 10 BEST Data Visualization Libraries in Python

Overall, if you’ll ask me to summarize the Seaborn tool in a single statement, I would say it is specifically designed for experienced developers. Even though Seaborn offers high-quality graphics and different themes for better visualization of data, the only disappointment is its UI. Since it includes programming, there isn’t any Interface.  

Thus if you are a beginner, Seaborn is not something you should start with. Instead, you can scroll down to the Tableau tool’s section. 

The next point of discussion is what is Tableau, why use it, and overall comparison between Tableau and Seaborn in a summarized table. Before digging into that, let me add below some of the top related and interesting articles that can add to what you’re learning from this one. If any of the titles picks your interest, please click and open in a new tab, so you can check them out later. Enjoy!

What is Tableau? 

Tableau is a complete software tool that allows professionals to convert their raw data into high-quality visuals and graphics. Tableau is one of the most efficient and rapidly growing data visualization tools

Why use Tableau?

One of the biggest reasons behind its immense popularity in the Business Intelligence field is its smooth UI. If you are a non-tech guy and have never written a single programming code, you’ll also find Tableau a very easy-to-use tool.  

Tableau has no such prerequisites. It doesn’t ask for any imports. You can run the tool and start working on it. 

This tool allows its users to store their data visuals in different worksheets and individual dashboards.

Tableau Pricing

The only thing that bothers most people is that Tableau is a paid tool, and you have to spend about $70 every month to work on this excellent data visualization tool. But if you are working professionally, I don’t think paying $70 for a tool that will get or save you hundreds and thousands of dollars from spotting trends and making informed decisions will be a problem for you. 

To install the tool, you have to visit its official website. Once you are done with the payment, you can easily download the appropriate version according to your operating system.

Seaborn Vs. Tableau – Simplified Comparison

SeabornTableau
Requires superior coding skills.You don’t need any technical skills.
It’s a particular library of Python.It’s a full-fledged data visualization tool.
Doesn’t have a tangible interface.Tableau offers an industry-standard Interface. 
More flexibility in terms of customizationRelatively fewer options of customizations.
Offers limited features for data visualization.Offers way more features for data visualization than Seaborn.

Conclusion

If you belong to the programming field and hold a firm grip on coding, and looking for the liberty to customize your data visuals per your desires, Seaborn is best for you.  

But if you are skeptical about your coding skills but still want to visualize your data precisely, Tableau is best for you. Tableau offers everything Seaborn will provide but a way better interface. Apart from this, if you are a data analyst, your job is mainly limited to data extraction; nothing can beat Tableau for that purpose. 

However, if you are a data scientist and want a tool to manipulate the extracted data as per different conditions. In that case, Seaborn will give you the liberty to modify the data in the desired form. 

If you are still confused and can’t decide, I would suggest you go with the Tableau tool as, in the majority of cases, it offers everything required.

References:

Tableau vs Python

Tableau Versus

Become a Data Visualization Whiz with this Comprehensive Guide to Seaborn in Python

Emidio Amadebai

As an IT Engineer, who is passionate about learning and sharing. I have worked and learned quite a bit from Data Engineers, Data Analysts, Business Analysts, and Key Decision Makers almost for the past 5 years. Interested in learning more about Data Science and How to leverage it for better decision-making in my business and hopefully help you do the same in yours.

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