Dashboard vs report: what is the difference?

People use the words interchangeably, but they do different jobs.

The short version

  • Dashboard: live and glanceable
  • Report: fixed for a period
  • Use both

What is the difference between a dashboard and a report?

A dashboard is live and made to be glanced at: a few key numbers and charts. A report is a fixed document for a period, usually with more detail and commentary.

Which do I need?

Most teams need both. Use a dashboard for day-to-day visibility and a report, such as a PDF of the dashboard for a month, for meetings and records.

Can one tool do both?

Yes. Build the dashboard, then filter it to a month and download a PDF when you need a report.

See it with your own data

Tell us what you want to report on. We will set up a walkthrough built around your own kind of data.

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