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Head-to-head · Data Storytelling Tools

Flourish vs Understand

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Flourish #1 in Data Storytelling Tools 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Flourish
Understand #5 in Data Storytelling Tools 8.8/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Understand

Flourish leads on 0 checks, Understand on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreFlourish · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Understand
  • Most featuresUnderstand · 4 of 4

Flourish scores higher on our rubric for data storytelling tools: 9.3 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #5.

Flourish is the better fit for broad interactive stories and scrollytelling. Understand is the better fit for connected scrollytelling for analytics teams.

  • Flourish fits best

    Broad interactive stories and scrollytelling

  • Understand fits best

    Connected scrollytelling for analytics teams

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Flourish 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Understand 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.8
Ranking #1 in Data Storytelling Tools #5 in Data Storytelling Tools
Best for Broad interactive stories and scrollytelling Connected scrollytelling for analytics teams
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 14 days
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Integrations 5 integrations 14 integrations
Features Flourish 0/4 · Understand 4/4
Interactive visualizations Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Narrative annotations Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Presentation flow Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Live data refresh Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Share mode Not checked yet Both
Data source limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • 50+ chart, map and interactive templates
  • Interactive stories, responsive embeds and scrollytelling
  • Live updates, collaboration, branding and export options
  • Sequential cards turn analysis into guided, interactive stories.
  • Connects to spreadsheets, databases, OLAP cubes, APIs, and files.
  • AI analysis, scheduled updates, sharing, and notifications support distribution.
Cons
  • Free public publishing includes Flourish attribution
  • Presenter requires an eligible Canva Business or Enterprise plan
  • Publisher and Enterprise use custom contracts and invoicing
  • Starter supports only a single editor.
  • Growth pricing starts at $25 per editor monthly with annual billing.
  • The scrollytelling format may not suit every data presentation need.
Our verdict

Flourish is a browser-based data visualization platform for individuals, newsrooms, organizations and teams. It supports uploaded files and datasets, interactive charts, maps, stories and scrollytelling without coding. Users can publish…

Read the review →

Understand is a data storytelling platform for individuals, teams, and organizations that need to turn data into guided visual stories. It combines sequential scrollytelling cards with interactive charts, narrative annotations,…

Read the review →
  1. FlourishData Storytelling Tools 9.3Free plan
  2. UnderstandData Storytelling Tools 8.8Free plan · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Flourish — where it wins

    • 50+ chart, map and interactive templates
    • Interactive stories, responsive embeds and scrollytelling
    • Live updates, collaboration, branding and export options

    Where it doesn't

    • Free public publishing includes Flourish attribution
    • Presenter requires an eligible Canva Business or Enterprise plan
    • Publisher and Enterprise use custom contracts and invoicing

  • Understand — where it wins

    • Sequential cards turn analysis into guided, interactive stories.
    • Connects to spreadsheets, databases, OLAP cubes, APIs, and files.
    • AI analysis, scheduled updates, sharing, and notifications support distribution.

    Where it doesn't

    • Starter supports only a single editor.
    • Growth pricing starts at $25 per editor monthly with annual billing.
    • The scrollytelling format may not suit every data presentation need.

More comparisons

All data storytelling tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update