How to Create a Chord Diagram in Google Slides to Visualize Complex Relationships

Ever tried to visualize how different entities interact with each other using a standard chart? It usually ends in disaster.

Let’s say you’re tracking migration patterns between countries, or perhaps showing how budget flows between different internal departments. If you try to use a bar chart, you lose the "flow" context. If you use a line chart, it looks like a plate of spaghetti.

This is where the Chord Diagram shines. It is circular, elegant, and specifically designed to visualize inter-relationships between data points.

Here is the bad news: Google Slides does not have a native Chord Diagram.

If you search through the "Insert Chart" menu, you’ll find pies, lines, and bars, but nothing for complex flows. Usually, people end up building these in expensive external software, taking a screenshot, and pasting a static (and often blurry) image into their slide. If the data changes, they have to start the whole process over.

There is a better way. I’m going to show you how to build a dynamic, editable Chord Diagram directly inside Google Slides using ExtraChart.

Why Use a Chord Diagram?

Before we build it, it helps to know when to use it. A Chord Diagram is perfect for matrix data.

• Migration: People moving from Country A to Country B (and vice versa).
• Sales: Cross-selling products (people who bought X also bought Y).
• Internal Comms: Volume of emails sent between different departments.

It connects entities around a circle with "arcs." The thickness of the arc represents the volume or weight of the connection. It turns a boring spreadsheet matrix into a story.

Step-by-Step: Creating the Diagram

We are going to use ExtraChart, a Google Slides add-on that bridges the gap between basic native charts and professional visualization needs.

1. Install and Launch ExtraChart

If you haven't grabbed it yet, head to Extensions > Add-ons > Get add-ons and search for "ExtraChart". Once installed, open your presentation and go to Extensions > ExtraChart > Create & Edit Charts.

2. Select the Chord Diagram

The sidebar will open on the right side of your screen. This is where the magic happens. You’ll see a list of over 20 chart types that Google Slides usually leaves out (like Sankey, Radar, and Heat Maps).

Scroll down to the Advanced Visualization section and click on the Chord Diagram icon.

3. Input Your Data

Once you select the chart, a pop-up editor appears. This is your command center.

On the Data tab, you’ll see a spreadsheet-like interface. Chord diagrams work best with a matrix format.

• Rows and Columns: represent the entities (e.g., Dept A, Dept B, Dept C).
• Cells: represent the value of the flow between them.

You can copy-paste your data directly from Excel or Google Sheets into this window. The preview on the left updates instantly, so you can see if your data structure makes sense immediately.

4. Customize the Look

A default Chord Diagram can look a bit chaotic if the colors aren't right. Switch over to the Settings tab.

Here, you have granular control that native charts just don't offer:

• Padding: Adjust the space between the arc segments to make the chart breathe.
• Colors: Use the Color Palette Manager to match your company branding. You can save these palettes to reuse later.
• Labels: Change fonts (Roboto, Inter, etc.) and sizes to ensure readability on a big projector screen.

5. Insert and Present

When you are happy with the preview, click Create.

ExtraChart renders the diagram as a high-resolution image on your slide. This is crucial because it keeps your presentation file size manageable while ensuring the chart looks crisp on 4K screens.

What If My Data Changes?

This is the feature that saves the most time.

In the "old way" of doing things (using external tools), a data update meant re-creating the chart from scratch.

With ExtraChart, you just:

1. Click the chart image on your slide.
2. Open the ExtraChart sidebar.
3. The add-on retrieves your data and settings exactly where you left off.
4. Update the numbers, click Save, and the image updates instantly.

Summary

Visualizing relationships is hard, but it doesn't have to be. By using a Chord Diagram, you turn complex "many-to-many" connections into a visual that your audience can actually understand. And by doing it within Google Slides with ExtraChart, you keep your workflow clean and your data editable.

Ready to try it out?