Our Top 5 FREE Custom Visuals in Power BI!

Power BI offers a wide variety of built-in visuals, but did you know that some of the most impactful visuals are actually custom-built? In this post, Allison Gonzalez, a Microsoft certified trainer at Pragmatic Works, walks through her top five favorite free custom visuals that can instantly make your reports more polished, insightful, and fun!

What Are Custom Visuals in Power BI?

Custom visuals in Power BI allow users to extend the standard set of visuals offered by the tool. These visuals can be found through the AppSource inside Power BI Desktop, where both free and paid options are available. While Power BI's native visuals are powerful, custom visuals add versatility and flair to reporting and dashboards.

Key Considerations for Using Custom Visuals

• Certification: Look for certified visuals that have been reviewed by Power BI to ensure they work seamlessly across platforms and versions.
• Pricing: While many custom visuals are free, others may offer a free trial or require a paid plan. Always check the pricing details before downloading.
• Security: Some organizations restrict access to certain visuals, especially those from third-party developers. Ensure that the visuals you choose meet your organization’s security guidelines.

Allison's Top 5 Free Custom Visuals

1. Play Axis - A dynamic slicer visual that lets you control time or other data points with a play, pause, and fast-forward button, much like a video player. It’s great for showing how data changes over time.
2. Info River Super Filter - A highly customizable filter that lets you apply different slicer styles. It can handle date ranges, categories, and more with various display styles like checkboxes, drop-downs, and tiles.
3. Animated Bar Chart Race - A fun, animated bar chart that shows the movement of data over time. This visual can be used to highlight trends in a visually engaging way, great for presentations where you want to showcase how certain metrics evolve over time.
4. Infographic Designer - A visual that lets you use icons instead of standard bars or columns for representing data. It offers flexibility in design, allowing users to choose from a wide array of icons and even upload custom icons.
5. Elaine Aquarium - This quirky visual lets you track metrics using fish icons. The larger the metric, the bigger the fish. It’s ideal for lighthearted reports or competitions, and while there’s a free version, the paid version offers additional features like labels and more fish styles.

How to Add Custom Visuals in Power BI

To add custom visuals in Power BI Desktop, go to the Visualizations pane and click on the ellipsis (...), then select Get more visuals. This will open the AppSource, where you can browse a wide variety of free and paid visuals. Once you find a visual you like, click Add, and it will be added to your visualization options.

Why These Custom Visuals Stand Out

These visuals not only add style but also improve the functionality of reports by making data more interactive and engaging. From dynamic slicers to fun animations, these visuals offer creative ways to explore and present data, making them perfect for users looking to add some extra flair to their Power BI reports.

Conclusion

Power BI's built-in visuals are fantastic, but with the right custom visuals, you can make your reports stand out even more. Allison Gonzalez’s top five picks are great starting points for anyone looking to take their Power BI skills to the next level. Check them out, and start exploring new ways to visualize your data today!

Want to dive deeper into Power BI? Pragmatic Works offers a variety of Power BI training courses that can help you master the tool. Check out our on-demand platform for more tutorials, and don’t forget to use code Allison 40 for a 40% discount on an annual membership!

Don't forget to check out the Pragmatic Works' on-demand learning platform for more insightful content and training sessions on Power BI and other Microsoft applications. Be sure to subscribe to the Pragmatic Works YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest tips and tricks.