---
title: Compare dashboards
---

# Compare dashboards

Dashboards can compare the same charts side by side. Use comparison when
you want to check a previous time period or isolate a different value of a
dashboard dimension while keeping the rest of the dashboard context unchanged.

The comparison view places the comparison on the left and the current dashboard
selection on the right. Each chart keeps its own title, legend, and comparison
labels so that the two results can be read independently.

## Open comparison mode

1. Open a dashboard.
2. Select **Compare** in the dashboard toolbar.
3. Choose either a previous period or a dashboard dimension to compare.
4. Apply the comparison. The dashboard reloads with two columns for every
   chart that supports the selected comparison.

The dashboard's existing filter-bar selections remain global filters. If you
move a dimension from the filter bar into the comparison, it is removed from the
global filter bar and becomes a separate left/right value. Other filter-bar
selections continue to apply to both columns.

## Compare a previous period

Previous-period comparison shifts the chart time range while keeping the same
dashboard filters. The left column shows the earlier period and the right column
shows the current period.

The labels above each chart identify the time range used for that column. This
also works with the dashboard's global filters.

## Compare by dimension

Dimension comparison lets you choose values for dimensions collected by the
dashboard. Select a dimension and provide a left value, a right value, or both. A
blank side is allowed when you want to compare one value with the unfiltered
population.

[![Dashboard dimension comparison](../../assets/images/dashboard-comparison-dimension@2x.webp "Dashboard dimension comparison"){ srcset="../../assets/images/dashboard-comparison-dimension.webp 1x, ../../assets/images/dashboard-comparison-dimension@2x.webp 2x" }](../../assets/images/dashboard-comparison-dimension@3x.webp)

Each chart's label and legend show the value used by that column.

## Share a comparison

Comparison state is encoded in the dashboard URL. Copying the URL preserves the
dashboard, global filters, comparison type, and selected left/right values.

To return to the normal dashboard view, clear the comparison from the toolbar.