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Business intelligence vv2.0 2026 Rank: #478

Columns ✓

Automate clear insights from any data

Source rating 4.0 (10) 55k views 199 saves 2 comments Freemium
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Verdict

A quick read before you dig into the full page.

Best if
Automate clear insights from any data
Skip if
Potentially steep learning curve
Pick this when
Real-time data visualization

Considering Analytify - A GenBI Platform instead? Compare side by side

Overview

Columns AI is an end-to-end data automation platform that unifies extraction, workflows, and visualization.

Built to eliminate the manual grind of data prep, Columns replaces complex spreadsheets with an intuitive, AI-driven engine.

Through three core pillars (Drive, Flow, and Graph), we empower users of all technical levels to transform raw files into stunning, branded insights.
  • Connect To Many Common Sources Like Google Sheets
  • Extract Structured Data From Images And Pdf Files
  • Just Speak To Clean And Transform Data
  • Support Multiple Dataset Union And Join
Columns website

Best for

Short scenarios where Columns tends to shine.

  • Automate clear insights from any data

Example outputs 1

Sample generations and before/after results for Columns.

Columns screenshot
Columns screenshot Columns website

Access & connections

Where you can use Columns, and what it plugs into.

Platforms

Web

Integrations

Google Sheets

Capabilities

What this tool accepts, produces, and is strongest at.

Input

  • API
  • Code
  • Tabular
  • Image
  • Text

Output

  • Tabular
  • API
  • Text
  • Image

Supported features

  • Spreadsheets
  • PDF
  • Image Understanding
  • Automation
  • Integrations
  • STT
  • Visual Creation

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Real-time data visualization
  • Collaboration in real-time
  • Natural language inputs
  • Fine-grained access controls
  • Self-serve data storytelling
  • JavaScript based
  • Integration capabilities
  • Instant data visualizations
Show 26 more
  • Wide template range
  • Pre-built visualization tools
  • Variety of chart types
  • Library of design elements
  • Slack and Github Integrations
  • Facilitates data sharing
  • Management of data catalogs
  • Speech-based querying
  • Flexible data queries
  • Automated data interpretation
  • Inclusivity of public data
  • Offers popular data searches
  • Community tips and practices
  • Multiple platform visibility
  • Communicates data effectively
  • Access via website
  • Seamless tool integration
  • User-friendly interface
  • Newsletter for data storytellers
  • Flexible data storytelling
  • Visualizing vast data types
  • Data platform exploration feature
  • In-built data research feature
  • Supports multiple chart forms
  • Tools for data beautification
  • Fast data visualization platform

Cons

  • Requires Javascript
  • Limited integration options
  • Relies on GPT-3
  • No desktop app
  • Real-time collaboration issues
  • Limited icon library
  • Unclear data management system
  • Limited template variety
Show 2 more
  • No mentioned multi-language support
  • Potentially steep learning curve

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Releases 2

Columns v2 Mar 4, 2025 Current

Columns Flow: data automation platform built for everyone.

Initial release May 3, 2023
Initial release of Columns.

Imported reviews 1

5★
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4★
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3★
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2★
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1★
1
Poojitha Bandaru Dec 26, 2025 [email protected]

UI Experience is fast & good with free account limited data (100 csv records)
but no 3rd party integrations and limited data connection
and no 3D /funnel many more chart visualizations are missing.

FAQ 12

What is Columns?
Shawn Cao
🛠️ 3
tools
🙏 9
karma
wrote:
Columns is a data analysis and visualization platform that helps you to create, manage, and share data insights with your audience.

It is a lightweight, AI-powered solution designed for speed, simplicity, and effortless collaboration.
Who are the ideal users of Columns?
Shawn Cao
🛠️ 3
tools
🙏 9
karma
wrote:
Anyone who loves data storytelling! But it’s especially great for:

• Media professionals – Journalists, editors, and content creators.

• Business leaders – To track KPIs and make data-driven decisions.

• SMB owners – To generate professional insights and seamlessly embed them.
Why should I not just use Excel or Google Sheets instead?
Shawn Cao
🛠️ 3
tools
🙏 9
karma
wrote:
Think of Columns as a powerful visual layer on top of your data. Here are some benefits:

• It makes sharing clean, professional graphs effortless while keeping them automatically updated.

• Columns processes thousands of rows in sub-seconds, whereas spreadsheets can become cumbersome and slow when handling large datasets.

• It makes a lot more beautiful and visuals than Spreadsheets.
Why not Tableau or Power BI?
Shawn Cao
🛠️ 3
tools
🙏 9
karma
wrote:
The simple answer: They're overkill.

• Traditional BI tools have a steep learning curve.

• They lack AI-assisted workflows for a seamless experience.

• Sharing and embedding insights is cumbersome.
What kind of data sources can I connect?
Shawn Cao
🛠️ 3
tools
🙏 9
karma
wrote:
Live connections include Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion Database, HTTP API, SQL database, and Excel/CSV files upload.
What types of charts and graphs can I create?
Shawn Cao
🛠️ 3
tools
🙏 9
karma
wrote:
Columns supports a wide range of charts, including bar, line, pie, scatter, map, table, gauge, word cloud, and more.

You can also apply transformations and use chart tools to customize your visualizations in ways that are difficult to achieve elsewhere.

More: https://medium.com/data-science-collective/mastering-data-visualization-common-charts-and-their-variants-90d6502711bc
How do I use the AI chat?
Shawn Cao
🛠️ 3
tools
🙏 9
karma
wrote:
AI chat lives in each creating session, it is a full-context conversation, so you can ask questions or follow up with changes like talking to an assistant.

Here are a few examples to get you started:

• show me some data samples

• what charts can I create?

• could you suggest a minimalistic design?

Demo: https://youtu.be/1cugv1C8Ji0
What templates and tools does Columns offer for creating charts and graphs?
Columns offers a wide range of templates and pre-built tools for creating charts, graphs, and visualizations. This makes the data visualization process easier and faster, and lets users focus on data analysis and interpretation.
How can I keep my saved story up to date?
Shawn Cao
🛠️ 3
tools
🙏 9
karma
wrote:
In your workspace, open the story menu, select "Schedule," and set up automatic updates. Columns will sync your story with your data to keep it up to date.

More: https://docs.columns.ai/docs/tutorial/schedule
How does Slack integration work with Columns?
The Slack integration with Columns facilitates real-time collaboration and sharing of insights across teams. For example, you can send data visualizations directly to Slack channels or individual members, and they can respond and engage with the data from within the Slack environment.
What is the role of icons, images, and shapes in Columns?
Icons, images, and shapes in Columns are tools for users to create visually appealing and informative data stories. They add aesthetic value and meaning to data visualizations and make them more comprehensible and engaging for the audience.
Can I customize a Columns chart?
Shawn Cao
🛠️ 3
tools
🙏 9
karma
wrote:
Yes! A Columns story is a flexible canvas with a main chart and various decorative elements. You can move, edit, and customize them as needed.

Decorative elements include text, images, arrows, widgets, shapes, and more.
Columns Free
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