Datawrapper vs Understand

Datawrapper is a web app for creating and publishing charts, maps and tables. Its feature overview lists 25 interactive, responsive and accessible visualisation types, including more than 20 chart types. Map options include symbol, choropleth and locator maps, as well as more than 4,000 basemaps and cartograms. Tables can include images, heatmaps, miniature charts, search, pagination and sorting. Users can embed visualisations on websites and export PNG, PDF or SVG files depending on plan. A PowerPoint add-in supports creating, editing, embedding and updating visualisations in presentations, while the REST API can create and edit charts and support integrations. Datawrapper says embeds have no trackers, cookies or third-party scripts and meet GDPR and CCPA requirements. It also says the service is hosted in Frankfurt and Stockholm within the EEA and is ISO 27001 certified. A free plan allows unlimited publishing and PNG downloads, but retains Datawrapper attribution. Pro costs $21 per user/month, excluding VAT, and removes attribution. The maker is based in Berlin and was founded in 2012.

Understand turns static charts and complex dashboards into data stories for sharing insights and supporting decisions. Each story is built from cards that appear as viewers scroll through it, a format the product calls scrollytelling. Users can import data from files, Google, SQL databases, OLAP cubes, or APIs. Understand AI can analyze and summarize stories and identify anomalies. Stories can be shared publicly or embedded; Growth also supports email and Slack notifications. The service describes scheduled story updates and mobile-friendly viewing. A white-label option lets users embed stories in another product with custom branding and a custom domain. Enterprise-ready options include private cloud or single-tenant deployment, SSO, and access control. The free Starter plan includes one editor, unlimited stories, CSV upload and manual entry, public sharing, and scrollytelling. Growth costs $25.00 per editor per month with annual billing. A 14-day trial is listed, and the terms limit website use to individuals aged 13 or older.