What are the Best Graphs for Comparing Two Sets of Data? (2024)

When analyzing and interpreting data, choosing the best graphs for comparing two sets of data is crucial.

You can easily be overwhelmed or get lost in the sea of data with multiple varying metrics. The number of charts you can use to visualize data is vast. The odds of using the wrong charts to visualize complex data are high.

The best-suited charts for comparing two sets of data are:

• Dual Axis Line chart
• Dual Axis Bar and Line Chart
• Multi-Axis Line Chart

These charts (above) can save you space and make your data visualization dashboard lean. In other words, they can perform a task usually done by two different charts.

However, Excel does not natively support the Dual Axis Line, Multi Axis Line, and Dual Axis Bar and Line Charts.

Yes, you read that right.

You don’t have to do away with Excel. You can supercharge the application by installing a particular add-in to access the ready-to-use and visually appealing chart variants mentioned above.

In this blog, you’ll learn the following:

Table of Content:

1. Introduction
2. Why Comparing Two Sets of Data useful?
3. What are the Best Graphs for Comparing Two Sets of Data?
4. How to Plot the Best Graphs for Comparing Two Sets of Data?
5. Video Tutorial: How to Make Best Graphs for Comparing Two Sets of Data?
6. Wrap up

Before jumping right into the blog’s core, we’ll address the following question: what are Data Comparing Charts?

Introduction

Introduction: To compare more than two variables in your data, you can use comparison charts, such as Dual Axis Line, Dual Axis Bar and Line, and Multi-AxisLine Charts.

The best graphs for comparing two sets of data fall under the Comparison Graph category.

In the next section, we’ll address the following: why do we need Comparing Two Sets of Data useful?

Why Comparing Two Sets of Data useful?

Comparing two sets of data is important because it reveals differences and similarities, helps identify trends, and allows for better decision-making by understanding how data sets relate to each other.

Some of the tested and best charts to compare two sets of data include:

• Dual Axis Line chart
• Dual Axis Bar and Line Chart
• Multi-Axis Line Chart

You can use the charts above to create persuasive and compelling data stories using a comparison chart maker. The charts are amazingly easy to read and interpret.

In the next section, we’ll address the following: what types of charts and graphs are best suited for comparing two sets of data?

What are the Best Graphs for Comparing Two Sets of Data?

Definition: Our brains interpret visual data 60,000 times faster than numbers and texts.

In others, if you use the best graphs for comparing two sets of data, you’re more likely to win your audience over than using numbers only.

Check out below some of the best examples of comparison charts for comparing two sets of data.

• Dual Axis Line chart
• Dual Axis Bar and Line Chart
• Multi-Axis Line Chart
• Matrix Chart
• Comparison Bar Chart
• Radar Chart
• Box And Whisker Plot

1. Dual Axis Line Chart

A Dual Axis Line Chart is one of the best graphs to compare two sets of data. The chart has a secondary y-axis to help you display insights into two varying data points.

More so, it uses two axes to easily illustrate the relationships between two variables with different magnitudes and scales of measurement.

The visualization design displays data as an arrangement of information in a series of data points called ‘markers’ connected by straight line segments. You can use the chart to visualize a trend in the data over time intervals. In a typical line chart, you have an x and y-axis. The dual axes line chart features one x-axis and two y-axis.

2. Dual Axis Bar and Line Chart

A Dual Axis Bar and Line Chart is one of the best graphs for comparing two sets of data for a presentation.

The visualization design uses two axes to easily illustrate the relationships between two variables with different magnitudes and scales of measurement.

The relationship between two variables is referred to as correlation. A Dual Axis Bar and Line Chart illustrate plenty of information using limited space, so you can discover trends you may have otherwise missed, making it an essential tool for data storytelling.

3. Multi-Axis Line Chart

Use a Multi-Axis Line Graph to plot multiple data series in one chart.

The chart can help you uncover hidden trends and relationships in various datasets. It’s made up of data points connected using line segments, where each point represents a single value.

Use this multi-axis chart in Excel to visualize continuous data like prices over time.

Now we have discussed some types of comparison charts, let’s discuss how you can create one.

How to Plot the Best Graphs for Comparing Two Sets of Data?

Excel generates very basic graphs for comparing two sets of data, such as the Multi-Line Axis Chart. This means to create advanced Excel charts you’ve got to spend extra effort and time editing the chart.

You don’t have to undergo all this.

Download and install a particular third-party add-in into your Excel to access ready-made charts for trend analysis.

There are thousands of add-ins purposely designed for Excel. To simplify things, we tested over 60 data visualization-based add-ins, including those that support advanced features like the Side-By-Side Bar Chart as well as the Slop chart.

We narrowed down our results based on the following factors:

• Ease of use, cost of access
• Quality of visualization chart
• The size of the chart library

The Excel add-in For Mac and Windows that met all our conditions is ChartExpo.

The tool comes with ready-made charts in Excel and Google Sheets that need minimum editing.

Let’s take a closer look at ChartExpo.

ChartExpo is a chart add-in for Excel with an ultra-friendly user interface to ensure that any professional can visualize data, irrespective of their coding or programming skills.

Example

This section will use a Dual Axis Line Chart to display insights into the table below:

• Install the application into your Excel by clicking this link to get started.
• Open your Excel and paste the table above.
• Open the worksheet and click theInsert menu button.
• Click the My Apps button.

• Click theInsert button to get started with ChartExpo.

• Look for the “Dual Axis Line Chart” in the list of charts.
• Once the Chart pops up, click on its icon to get started, as shown below.

• Select the sheet holding your data and click the Create Chart from Selection.

• Check out the final Dual Axis Line Chart in Excel.

Insights

• Between 2016 and 2019, purchases outperformed sales at all levels.
• In 2020, the value of purchases was equal to sales.

You can also create comparison charts in Google Sheetsin a few clicks using the ChartExpo add-in for Google Sheets.

Video Tutorial: How to Make Best Graphs for Comparing Two Sets of Data?

In the following video, you will learn how to make a comparison chart in Excel for comparing two or more sets of data.

FAQs

Why do we need to compare data?

Comparison insights can help to denote the growth or decline of performance of key metrics you’re tracking.

Some of the tested and proven charts for comparing two sets of data include:

• Dual Axis Line chart
• Dual Axis Bar and Line Chart
• Multi-Axis Line Chart

What is the best graph to use to compare two sets of data?

A side-by-side bar chart or box plot is often best for comparing two sets of data, as both clearly show differences and similarities in distributions, central tendencies, and spread.

As well as some other charts we can use are:

• Dual Axis Line chart
• Dual Axis Bar and Line Chart
• Multi-Axis Line Chart

Wrap Up

Displaying insights into two different variables within data is easier said than done.

You can easily be overwhelmed or get lost in the sea of data with multiple varying metrics. The number of charts you can use to visualize data is vast. The odds of using the wrong charts to visualize complex data are high.

The best-suited charts for comparing two sets of data are:

• Dual Axis Line chart
• Dual Axis Bar and Line Chart
• Multi-Axis Line Chart

These charts (above) can save you space and make your data visualization dashboard lean. In other words, they can perform a task usually done by two different charts.

However, Excel does not natively support the Dual Axis Line, Multi Axis Line, and Dual Axis Bar and Line Charts.

So, what’s the solution?

We recommend installing third-party apps, such as ChartExpo, into your Excel to access ready-made charts for comparing two or more data sets in Excel.

ChartExpo is an add-in you can easily download and install in your Excel app. Besides, this tool comes loaded with insightful and easy-to-interpret Data Comparing Charts.

Here’s the bottom line: You don’t need programming or coding skills to visualize your data using ChartExpo.

How to visualize your data with comparison-based graphs, such as a Dual Axis Line Chart, should never be a problem for you.

Sign up for a 7-day free trial today to access easy-to-interpret and visually appealing Data Comparing Charts for your data story.