Get Tableau
There are several options available for viewing, creating, and publishing Tableau content.
To get started, we recommend that you begin with a free Tableau trial license and take the free Getting Started online training offered by Tableau. Tableau Desktop users should not install or upgrade beyond the current Tableau Server Version: 2023.3.1
Please review the Software Overview section or select what you are looking for from below.
Software Overview
Tableau Reader | Tableau Public | Tableau Creator/Explorer/Viewer | Tableau Server | Tableau Mobile
Tableau Reader
A free desktop application that allows a user to open and interact with visualizations that have been built with Tableau Desktop and saved in a *.twbx format.
Tableau Public
A free service that lets anyone publish interactive data to the web. Once on the web, anyone can interact with the data, download it, or create their own visualizations of it.
Tableau Public offers a version of the Tableau Desktop application (Tableau Public Desktop Download) that can be used with local data to author new content. Tableau Public Desktop is free but it can only save dashboards on Tableau Public.
NOTE: Tableau Public should never be used to publish/share Protected Health or Student Information.
For additional information on Tableau Public, see Tableau’s Community Forums.
Tableau Creator/Explorer/Viewer
The authoring and publishing software used to visualize and analyze data, create workbooks, visualizations, dashboards and stories. It is available for Windows and Mac operating systems and can be purchased directly from Tableau. Please note: Full-time UNC Charlotte students and Instructors are eligible for a free 1-year license of Tableau Desktop through Tableau’s Academic Program.
NEW: Tableau Desktop is included with Tableau Creator.
NOTE: Current licensed users with Tableau Desktop may continue with the same maintenance agreement.
For new users, there are three Tableau client products (pdf) available via subscription. To view a full comparison click here. See Tableau’s subscription pricing billed annually*.
*Prices are subject to change without notice. Contact Tableau for the Education/Non-Profit pricing or Perpetual License pricing (long term greater than 2 years).
There is also a free trial available for download and evaluation.
Tableau Server
Charlotte’s privately managed business analytics platform which offers mobile and browser-based analytics and works with multiple data sources. Workbooks and dashboards published to Tableau server are made available to groups of users within the UNC Charlotte Community by publishers.
Tableau Mobile
Tableau views are optimized to deliver touch experiences when accessed on the Apple iPad or an Android tablet. Unfortunately, mobile devices using the Tableau Mobile app are currently not supported