What is Columns?
Columns is a data analysis and visualization tool that connects raw data sources to shareable visual stories. It targets business analysts, marketers, content creators, and executives who need to present data clearly without complex BI software. Users connect data, generate charts using AI, and share or embed results — all in one platform.
Features & Benefits
- Multi-source data integration – Connect Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion, HTTP API, SQL databases, Excel, and CSV files as live or uploaded data sources.
- AI-powered chart generation – Generate charts and queries by typing natural language questions into an AI chat interface.
- Chart type library – Create bar, line, pie, scatter, map, table, gauge, word cloud, and histogram charts.
- Data transformations – Apply comparison, percentage, accumulation, and pivot transforms to reshape query results.
- Time series analysis – Filter and analyze time-based data across adjustable time ranges and windows.
- Formula builder – Define custom metrics using mathematical expressions across existing data fields.
- AI style generation – Request visual themes using plain language prompts to apply custom styles to charts.
- Canvas storytelling tools – Add annotations, icons, arrows, widgets, shapes, and text elements to charts to build narrative presentations.
- Slide deck builder – Assemble multiple visualizations into shareable presentation decks.
- Scheduled data sync – Set automatic refresh intervals so charts stay current with source data (every 1–6 hours depending on plan).
- Embedding – Integrate charts into websites or apps via iframe code, with optional domain whitelisting for access control.
- Export options – Save visualizations as PNG, SVG, or CSV files.
- Unique shareable links – Generate per-graph or per-deck URLs for direct sharing or collaboration.
- API access – Use the API to replicate graph templates with new data and generate unique embeddable URLs programmatically.
- Conversation history – Retain full AI chat context within each session for iterative data exploration.
- Style library – Save, manage, and reuse visual styles across multiple stories.
Real-World Applications
Marketing teams tracking campaign performance may use Columns as a data analysis and visualization tool to pull live metrics from Google Sheets or Airtable, generate trend charts automatically, and embed them in weekly stakeholder reports. Because charts update on a schedule, there is no need to manually rebuild visuals each reporting cycle. This kind of automated data storytelling is useful for teams searching for ways to reduce manual reporting work.
Consultants who deliver client-facing reports might use Columns to connect SQL databases or CSV exports, generate polished charts using AI chat, and share secure links that clients can explore directly. This replaces the need to export static slides, which quickly go out of date. The ability to embed live visualizations in client portals adds value for anyone looking for professional data reporting tools without a steep learning curve.
Bloggers and journalists covering data-heavy topics — finance, public health, market trends — can use Columns to create embeddable data graphics that update automatically. A writer analyzing monthly economic data could connect an HTTP API data source and build a visualization that stays current as new data comes in, which is a practical approach for anyone researching how to add interactive charts to a website or content management system.
Business owners and executives looking for alternatives to Tableau or Power BI may find Columns useful for tracking KPIs and communicating performance across departments. The drag-and-drop canvas and AI-assisted query building lower the barrier for non-technical users who need a data analysis and visualization tool that produces presentation-ready output without requiring SQL expertise or BI certification.
