> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.honestly.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Which chart type should I use in a dashboard?

> Every chart type in the dashboard chart editor, what it shows, which questions it works with, and why a tile might be greyed out.

When you add a chart to a dashboard, the chart editor offers up to nine chart types. Which ones you can pick depends on the question you select, and some are part of your plan. This article explains what each type shows and when to use it.

### The nine chart types

| Chart type               | What it shows                                                                       | More                                                            |
| ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Text**                 | Lists the individual answers to a question, one by one.                             |                                                                 |
| **Time series**          | How one question's result develops across several survey periods.                   |                                                                 |
| **Score**                | A single value shown as a gauge — a percentage, or the NPS score for NPS questions. | [How scores are calculated](/help/dashboard/charts-calculation) |
| **Bar Chart**            | The distribution of answers across the answer options.                              |                                                                 |
| **Participation rate**   | How many invited people took part, rather than what they answered.                  | [Response rate](/help/dashboard/response-rate)                  |
| **Heatmap**              | Many questions against many groups at once, colour-coded.                           | [Create a heatmap](/help/dashboard/create-heatmap)              |
| **Impact Prediction**    | Which questions have the strongest influence on the overall result.                 | [Impact prediction](/help/dashboard/impact-prediction-chart)    |
| **Bubble Chart**         | Free-text answers grouped by topic and sentiment.                                   | [Bubble chart](/help/dashboard/bubble-chart)                    |
| **Topic Trend Analysis** | How topics in free-text answers develop over time.                                  | [Topic trend analysis](/help/dashboard/topic-trend-chart)       |

### Which chart type is available for which question?

The chart types you can choose depend on the type of question you pick in the chart.

| Question type                                          | Available chart types                                                         |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Rating questions — scales, smiley faces, stars and NPS | Score, Bar Chart, Time series, Heatmap, Participation rate, Impact Prediction |
| Single Select and Multi Select                         | Bar Chart, Time series, Text, Participation rate                              |
| Text Field (open text)                                 | Text, Bubble Chart, Topic Trend Analysis, Participation rate                  |

<Note>
  For NPS questions, the **Score** shows the NPS score instead of a percentage.
</Note>

### Why a chart tile is greyed out

If a tile can't be selected and shows the note *"This chart is not compatible with the currently selected questions."*, the chart type doesn't fit the question you picked — see the table above. Choose a different chart type, or a different question.

### Chart types that require a plan

Five chart types are part of specific features and can only be selected if your plan includes them: **Heatmap**, **Impact Prediction**, **Bubble Chart**, **Topic Trend Analysis** and the trend chart (see below). If the feature isn't active, the tile is either hidden or shown with a crown badge — clicking it (*"Click here to try this chart type for free"*) starts a free trial.

**Text**, **Time series**, **Score**, **Bar Chart** and **Participation rate** are always available.

### The trend chart is part of the bar chart

The trend chart isn't a tile of its own. Select **Bar Chart**, then under **Split by** choose **Periods and questions**. This compares several questions across survey periods. Read more in [Create a trend chart](/help/dashboard/create-trend-chart). This type also requires a plan.

### Charts in the 360° feedback dashboard

The charts in a 360° feedback dashboard — the competency matrix and the text answers — are not part of this selection. They are created automatically when you schedule a feedback run. Read more in [The results dashboard in 360° feedback](/help/360-feedback/results-dashboard).