Furlen vs Datawrapper
Furlen is a Datawrapper alternative for people whose deliverable is an animated video rather than a static or interactive chart: it exports MP4 and GIF from the $19/mo plan, where Datawrapper exports only static PNG, SVG and PDF and offers no video at any tier. If you are embedding a chart, map or table in an article, Datawrapper is the stronger, more established tool — this is a straight comparison, not a pitch.
Side by side
Datawrapper details verified 20 July 2026 against www.datawrapper.de/pricing. Plans change — check the source before deciding.
| Feature | Furlen | Datawrapper |
|---|---|---|
| Primary output | Animated video (MP4, GIF), plus stills, carousel, PPTX and an embeddable player | Static and interactive charts, maps and tables for web embed — no video output |
| Video export | MP4 on every plan — watermarked on Free, clean from $19/mo | None at any tier; exports are PNG on Free, plus SVG and PDF on Custom and Enterprise |
| Published price | Free $0 · Creator $19/mo · Pro $49/mo · Brand $349/mo · Team quoted | Free $0 · Custom $599/mo (or $5,990/yr, excl. VAT) · Enterprise quoted |
| Free tier | Unlimited previews, watermarked 720p MP4/GIF, 10 min render/month, no signup to try | Genuinely strong — unlimited publishing and embedding of charts, maps and tables with PNG export and a “Created with Datawrapper” credit |
| Chart and map types | 8 animated chart types (bar race, line, bar, pie, funnel, KPI counter, before/after, benchmark); no maps | 20+ chart types, 3 map types (choropleth, symbol, locator) and flexible tables |
| Interactivity | Plays a rendered story; embeddable player on Pro, not hover-to-explore | Interactive embeds with tooltips and responsive resizing — its core strength |
| What the AI does | Writes the story — proposes angles, headlines and captions from your data | No AI narrative feature; chart design is deliberately manual and craft-led |
| Number verification | Truth Engine recomputes every claim from source rows; contradicting claims cannot be exported | No equivalent published feature — charts render the data you supply |
| Programmatic access | MCP server for AI agents, live now — `npx -y furlen-mcp` | Published REST API and self-hosting (Enterprise); no MCP server listed |
| Accessibility and print | No published accessibility programme; PPTX export | Documented accessibility features, print-ready PDF/SVG export and a PowerPoint integration |
| Track record and security | Independent, founded 2026; no SSO or formal certification | Berlin-based Datawrapper GmbH, used by the NYT, Reuters, Harvard and UNESCO; no reader tracking, DNT by default; SSO and self-hosting on Enterprise |
When Datawrapper is the better choice
- You are embedding a chart, map or table in an article or webpage — interactive Datawrapper embeds are its core product and Furlen does not make them.
- You need maps. Datawrapper has choropleth, symbol and locator maps; Furlen has none.
- Your budget is $0 and your output is static. Datawrapper’s free plan publishes and embeds unlimited charts, maps and tables — many teams never need to pay.
- You want a proven, established tool. Datawrapper is used at the NYT, Reuters and Harvard, pledges to keep charts online, and does not track your readers (DNT by default).
- You need accessibility compliance, print/PDF output, a PowerPoint workflow, a REST API or self-hosting. Datawrapper documents all of these; Furlen does not.
When Furlen is the better choice
- Your deliverable is a video for LinkedIn, Instagram or an investor update. Furlen exports clean MP4 from $19/mo; Datawrapper has no video output at any tier.
- You want a low-cost paid tier. Datawrapper’s first paid plan is $599/mo; Furlen’s is $19/mo.
- You want the narrative written for you — headline, captions and story angle — not just a chart to style yourself.
- You need the numbers on screen to be provably from your file. Every claim is recomputed before export.
- You want an AI agent to build the video. furlen-mcp is on npm today.
Common questions
Is Furlen a drop-in replacement for Datawrapper?
No. Datawrapper makes static and interactive charts, maps and tables for embedding; Furlen makes animated videos. They overlap on “turn a spreadsheet into a chart”, but the deliverable differs. Many teams would reasonably use both.
Does Datawrapper export video?
No. Datawrapper’s exports are PNG on the Free plan and PNG, SVG and PDF on Custom and Enterprise — all static. It has no video or animation export at any tier. Verified 20 July 2026 on datawrapper.de/pricing.
How much does Datawrapper cost?
Datawrapper publishes a strong Free plan. Its Custom plan is $599/month or $5,990/year excluding VAT, with 10 user licences. Enterprise is quoted per organisation. Verified 20 July 2026.
Does Datawrapper have maps? Does Furlen?
Datawrapper has choropleth, symbol and locator maps. Furlen does not make maps — it makes animated chart videos from tabular data (bar race, line, bar, pie, funnel and others).
Is there a free way to try Furlen?
Yes. Build and preview free at furlen.pro/charts with no signup, or run sample data at furlen.pro/analyze. Free exports carry a small watermark; paid plans are clean.
Try it on your own data
Build and preview a chart free at furlen.pro/charts — no signup. One click turns any chart into a full AI-written, verified story video.