What is a heatmap maker?

A heatmap maker lets you create a grid chart where each cell's color represents a value — darker or warmer colors for higher values. AECharts lets you paste data, customize the color scale and styling, and export as video or image — useful for presentations, reports, and dashboards.

What kind of data works in a heatmap?

Any data with two categorical dimensions and a numeric value. Common examples: days of the week vs. hours (activity heatmap), months vs. years (seasonal trends), categories vs. metrics (performance comparison matrix). If your data has rows, columns, and numbers, it can be a heatmap.

Can I import data from Excel or Google Sheets?

Yes. Copy your data and paste it directly into the editor. Format: rows and columns as categories, values in the cells. AECharts maps values to colors automatically.

Can I customize the color scale?

Yes. Choose from sequential scales (low to high in one color family), diverging scales (negative to positive through a neutral midpoint), or set custom start and end colors to match your brand.

What is a heatmap used for?

Heatmaps are best for revealing patterns across two dimensions at a glance — peak activity times, seasonal trends, correlation matrices, and performance comparisons across many categories. They compress large data tables into a single visual where patterns are immediately obvious.

What is the difference between a heatmap and a table?

A table shows exact numbers; a heatmap shows relative magnitude through color. Color lets your audience scan for outliers and patterns in seconds — things a reader would miss scanning rows of numbers. For presentations and reports, a heatmap communicates the story instantly.

Do I need design skills?

No. Templates are professionally designed — paste your data and adjust colors if needed. Most users create their first heatmap in under a minute.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. All features are free with unlimited image exports. Video exports at 1080p require a Pro plan starting at $19/month billed annually. No credit card required to start.

Can I use a heatmap in a presentation?

Yes. The MP4 export drops directly into PowerPoint and Google Slides. Heatmaps work well for revealing patterns in data-heavy slides — survey matrices, performance reviews, and seasonal analysis — without overwhelming the audience with a table.

Heatmap Maker — Create Heatmaps Online for Free

Q: What export formats are available?

Export as MP4 at 1080p or as a static image. MP4 works in PowerPoint, Google Slides, LinkedIn, and reports. Image export is available on all plans.

Paste your data, pick a template, and export as video or image. Built for activity patterns, seasonal trends, cohort analysis, and any time a grid of numbers deserves a proper visual. Free to start.

Everything You Need to Create Heatmaps

Easy Data Input

Paste from Excel or Google Sheets. Rows and columns become grid dimensions — AECharts maps values to colors automatically.

Custom Color Scales

Sequential, diverging, or fully custom color scales. Match your brand palette or use a built-in scheme that highlights outliers.

Video & Image Export

Export as MP4 at 1080p or as a static image. Works in PowerPoint, Google Slides, LinkedIn, and reports.

Labels & Annotations

Show cell values as labels, add axis titles, and control font size and styling from the editor.

Real-time Preview

See every change instantly. What you see in the editor is exactly what exports.

No Design Skills Needed

Templates are professionally designed. Paste your data, adjust colors, and export — most users are done in under a minute.

When to Use a Heatmap

Heatmaps work best when you have two categorical dimensions and a numeric value — and you want patterns to be visible without reading every number.

Activity & Engagement Patterns

Day of week vs. hour of day. Instantly see when your users, customers, or employees are most active — a heatmap makes the pattern obvious at a glance.

Seasonal Trends

Month vs. year. Spot repeating seasonal peaks and troughs in sales, traffic, or usage data across multiple years in a single chart.

Performance Comparison Matrix

Region vs. product, or team vs. metric. Compare many combinations at once and immediately spot which cells are underperforming or outperforming.

Correlation Matrix

Show how strongly variables relate to each other. A diverging color scale makes positive and negative correlations immediately visible without reading every number.

Survey Response Matrix

Respondent segment vs. question rating. Spot which segments rate differently and which questions polarize — faster than reading a table of averages.

Cohort Analysis

Cohort week vs. week number. Classic retention heatmap — the dark diagonal and fading rows tell the retention story without annotation.

Heatmap vs Table: Which Should You Use?

Both show multi-dimensional data — but they serve different audiences.

Heatmap

Best for: Spotting patterns, outliers, and trends across many row/column combinations.

Strength: Color encodes magnitude instantly — readers see the story in seconds without scanning numbers.

Use when: Presentations, reports, dashboards, and anywhere the audience needs the insight, not the raw data.

Table

Best for: Precise lookup when exact values matter more than pattern recognition.

Strength: Every number is readable — analysts can pull specific values without estimation.

Use when: Appendices, data exports, and operational reports where accuracy is the priority.

AECharts supports multiple chart types. If your data tells a better story as a bar or line chart, switch formats in one click.

Other chart makers

Bar Chart Maker Line Chart Maker Pie Chart Maker Horizontal Bar Chart Maker Scatter Plot Maker Waterfall Chart Maker Sankey Chart Maker Funnel Chart Maker Gauge Chart Maker Waffle Chart Maker Radar Chart Maker Treemap Maker Pareto Chart Maker Mekko Chart Maker

How to Create a Heatmap

Choose a template

Browse heatmap templates and pick one that matches your style.

Paste your data

Copy from Excel or Google Sheets. Rows and columns become grid dimensions — AECharts maps values to colors automatically.

Customize colors and style

Choose a color scale and match your brand. Adjust fonts and background.

Export as video or image

Export as a 1080p MP4 or static image. Drop into slides, reports, or share directly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heatmaps

Create Your Heatmap Today

Paste your data, pick a template, and export in under a minute. Free to start — no credit card required.