Microsoft Power BI Desktop Alternatives and Competitors

5 min readAug 29, 2023

Introduction

Microsoft Power BI is a Microsoft business analytics application that allows users to study and visualize data in an interactive and intelligible manner.

Power BI allows users to connect to various data sources, including Excel spreadsheets, cloud-based and on-premises data sources, and other third-party applications.

With Power BI, users can create interactive reports, dashboards, and visualizations that can be shared with others within an organization. The service provides various data modeling, analysis, and visualization tools, including drag-and-drop visualizations, advanced analytics tools, and real-time data monitoring.

Power BI offers a range of data analysis and visualization features, including built-in AI capabilities, natural language processing, and the ability to create custom visualizations using the Power BI Visuals marketplace. The service also provides robust security and compliance features, including support for multi-factor authentication and integration with Azure Active Directory.

Microsoft Power BI is a useful tool for businesses who want to obtain insights from their data and make better decisions.

Power BI Features

Self-service Power Query transforms, integrates, and enriches data in preparation for analysis.
Questions can be asked using conversational language using a natural language query tool.
Building customizable, interactive reports and dashboards is made simple by the drag-and-drop interface and the vast data visualizations available.
Interfaces and APIs are embedded into on-premises and cloud data sources like as spreadsheets, Salesforce, and Google Analytics.
Allows for cross-organizational sharing and collaboration by integrating with Office 365 and other business technologies.
Add analytics and reports to your website or blog.
Workflow automation is made possible by Power Apps and Power Automate.
Create machine learning models to gain insights from text and image data, both organized and unstructured.
Real-time access monitoring, role and access authorization configuration, and end-to-end encryption.

Power BI Pricing

Microsoft Power BI offers various pricing options based on the user’s needs. Here are the pricing tiers provided by Microsoft:

Power BI Free — This option offers basic features like data visualization, reporting, and access to the Power BI mobile app. Users can share reports with other Power BI users, but the sharing is limited.

Power BI Pro — The Power BI Pro tier is $9.99 per user per month and offers additional features such as collaboration and sharing with other users and the ability to create and share dashboards. With Power BI Pro, users can connect to more data sources and access more frequent updates and new features.

Power BI Premium — Power BI Premium is designed for enterprise users and offers more robust features such as dedicated resources, high-performance data processing, and support for large data volumes. The pricing for Power BI Premium is based on the capacity of the reliable resources needed and starts at $20,000 per year.

Power BI Embedded — Power BI Embedded allows developers to embed Power BI visuals and reports within custom applications. The pricing for Power BI Embedded is based on usage and starts at $1 per hour.

It is essential to note that the pricing mentioned above may change over time, so it is always best to check the latest pricing from the official Microsoft Power BI website.

Power BI Alternatives and Competitors

There are several Power BI alternatives and competitors available in the market. Here are few of the most popular options:

Tableau — Tableau is a data visualization and business intelligence system that includes a wide range of features and functionalities for data analysis, visualization, and reporting. Tableau provides cloud-based and on-premises deployment options, with cost determined on the number of users and the level of functionality required.
QlikView — QlikView is a data discovery and business intelligence tool offering a wide range of data analysis, visualization, and reporting features. QlikView provides cloud-based and on-premises deployment options, with pricing determined on the number of users and the level of functionality required.
SAP BusinessObjects — SAP BusinessObjects is a suite of business intelligence tools offering a wide range of features and functionalities for data analysis, visualization, and reporting. SAP BusinessObjects provides both cloud-based and on-premises deployment options, and its pricing is based on the number of users and the level of functionality required.
Looker — Looker is a data analytics platform offering a wide range of data analysis, visualization, and reporting features. Looker provides cloud-based and on-premises deployment options, with cost determined on the number of users and the level of functionality required.
Google Data Studio — Google Data Studio is a free data visualization and reporting application that lets users generate interactive reports and dashboards from a variety of sources. While it is not as powerful as other solutions, it is a fantastic choice for small enterprises and individuals on a tight budget.

On the market, there are various Power BI alternatives and competitors, each with its own set of features and functionalities. It is vital to carefully assess each option to determine which best meets the objectives and requirements of your organization.

Future of Microsoft Power BI

The future of Microsoft Power BI looks bright as the demand for data-driven decision-making continues to grow in the business world. Microsoft has invested heavily in Power BI’s development, with frequent updates and new features regularly added. Here are some of the major areas where Power BI will continue to grow and expand in the future:

Continued Integration with Other Microsoft Products — Microsoft has been working to integrate Power BI more seamlessly with other Microsoft products, such as Excel, SharePoint, and Dynamics 365. This integration will make it easier for Power BI customers to obtain and analyze data from diverse sources.
Enhanced AI and Machine Learning Capabilities — Microsoft has been adding more AI and machine learning capabilities to Power BI, such as creating insights and automatically suggesting data visualizations.
Increased Collaboration and Sharing Capabilities — This trend is likely to continue, with new features added to make it even easier to collaborate and share data.
Improved Mobile Support — Microsoft has been enhancing Power BI’s mobile support, making it easier for users to access and analyze data. We can expect continued development in this area, with new features added to make using Power BI on mobile devices easier.

Conclusion

Microsoft Power BI Desktop is a powerful business intelligence and data visualization tool offering a wide range of features and capabilities for data analysis, visualization, and reporting.

Tableau, QlikView, SAP BusinessObjects, Looker, and Google Data Studio are some of the most popular alternatives to Power BI Desktop. These tools offer similar functionalities and are designed to help businesses gain insights from their data and make informed decisions.

When choosing an alternative to Power BI Desktop, it is essential to consider factors such as pricing, ease of use, data connectivity, scalability, and customization options. Each tool has advantages and disadvantages, and it is critical to thoroughly assess each choice to determine which best suits your organization’s specific goals and expectations.