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Compare Microsoft Power BI and Tableau 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Enterprise (42.5% of reviews)
Enterprise (42.2% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Free 1 User
$75.00 1 User Per Month
Microsoft Power BI
Star Rating
(1,540)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (42.5% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Free 1 User
Browse all 3 pricing plansTableau
Star Rating
(3,512)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (42.2% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
$75.00 1 User Per Month
Free Trial is available
Browse all 3 pricing plansSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Microsoft Power BI excels in ease of use, with users appreciating its ability to quickly transform raw data into interactive dashboards. One user highlighted its seamless integration with multiple data sources, particularly within the Microsoft ecosystem, making it a go-to choice for teams looking for efficiency.
- Users say Tableau shines in its versatility and user-friendly interface, with many praising the drag-and-drop feature that allows for smooth dashboard creation. Reviewers noted that it offers a wide range of inbuilt features, enabling the development of complex dashboards tailored to business needs.
- According to verified reviews, Microsoft Power BI's real-time data refresh capabilities are a standout feature, allowing teams to make informed decisions based on the most current data. Users appreciate how this functionality supports better decision-making and enhances collaboration across departments.
- Reviewers mention that Tableau provides a strong data visualization experience, with many users highlighting its ability to display data in a consumable way. This feature makes filtering and dashboard creation straightforward, which is particularly beneficial for users who need to analyze project success regularly.
- G2 reviewers indicate that Microsoft Power BI offers robust security features, such as row-level security, which allows users to control data visibility based on user roles. This capability is especially valuable for organizations that require strict data governance and tailored access to sensitive information.
- Users say that while Tableau has a strong reputation for its data handling capabilities, it sometimes faces challenges in meeting specific workflow needs, with some reviewers mentioning configuration difficulties. This can be a consideration for teams looking for a tool that aligns seamlessly with their existing processes.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Microsoft Power BI
Power BI in Microsoft Fabric
Free
1 User
Power BI in Microsoft Fabric
- Sign Up for A Fabric Account
Tableau
Tableau Standard
$75.00
1 User Per Month
A comprehensive edition to help you explore and understand your data.
- Each additional license starts as low as $15 / user / month
Free Trial
Microsoft Power BI
Free Trial is available
Tableau
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.9
1,234
8.7
2,455
Ease of Use
8.5
1,258
8.3
2,848
Ease of Setup
8.9
693
8.2
1,513
Ease of Admin
8.5
406
8.2
794
Quality of Support
8.5
1,090
8.3
2,103
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.8
386
8.5
773
Product Direction (% positive)
9.3
1,206
8.8
2,431
Features by Category
Reports
8.9
1044
|
Verified
8.7
1750
|
Verified
8.4
969
|
Verified
8.2
1591
|
Verified
9.1
1043
|
Verified
9.1
1794
|
Verified
8.8
684
8.6
1370
9.1
1036
|
Verified
9.1
1784
|
Verified
Self Service
8.6
890
8.5
1690
|
Verified
8.9
892
8.7
1717
|
Verified
8.7
975
|
Verified
8.5
1637
|
Verified
8.5
856
8.2
1426
8.4
956
|
Verified
8.2
1521
|
Verified
8.2
881
|
Verified
7.9
1329
|
Verified
Advanced Analytics
8.3
739
|
Verified
7.8
1286
9.2
1034
|
Verified
9.2
1765
|
Verified
8.4
748
|
Verified
8.1
1302
Building Reports
8.8
582
|
Verified
8.3
1001
|
Verified
8.8
577
|
Verified
8.2
964
|
Verified
8.5
506
|
Verified
8.3
836
|
Verified
8.5
502
|
Verified
8.1
842
|
Verified
Platform
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Reports
8.9
1044
|
Verified
8.7
1750
|
Verified
8.4
969
|
Verified
8.2
1591
|
Verified
9.1
1043
|
Verified
9.1
1794
|
Verified
8.8
684
8.6
1370
9.1
1036
|
Verified
9.1
1784
|
Verified
Data Preparation
8.9
655
|
Verified
8.6
874
|
Verified
8.8
627
|
Verified
8.4
854
|
Verified
Data Modeling and Blending
8.9
655
|
Verified
8.5
892
|
Verified
9.1
667
|
Verified
8.8
916
|
Verified
8.8
664
|
Verified
8.5
886
|
Verified
Generative AI
7.7
305
7.4
432
7.7
304
7.5
455
Agentic AI - Analytics Platforms
7.7
150
7.4
135
8.1
152
7.5
137
8.4
151
7.8
139
8.2
152
7.6
134
7.9
151
7.7
131
8.2
150
7.4
131
8.4
156
7.8
135
Self Service
8.6
890
8.5
1690
|
Verified
8.9
892
8.7
1717
|
Verified
8.7
975
|
Verified
8.5
1637
|
Verified
8.5
856
8.2
1426
8.4
956
|
Verified
8.2
1521
|
Verified
8.2
881
|
Verified
7.9
1329
|
Verified
Deployment & Integration - Analytics Platforms
8.8
125
8.4
136
8.8
128
8.3
115
8.4
119
8.1
112
9.1
139
8.5
128
Advanced Analytics
8.3
739
|
Verified
7.8
1286
9.2
1034
|
Verified
9.2
1765
|
Verified
8.4
748
|
Verified
8.1
1302
Performance & Scalability - Analytics Platforms
8.1
140
7.8
137
8.7
118
8.2
113
Advanced Analytics & Modeling - Analytics Platforms
8.8
119
8.1
112
8.6
117
8.0
109
8.4
114
7.7
112
Agentic AI Capabilities - Analytics Platforms
8.1
112
7.6
109
8.2
113
7.6
107
8.4
111
7.8
110
7.9
111
7.6
109
Personalized Intelligence - Analytics Platforms
8.0
114
7.7
109
8.3
116
7.9
114
8.2
113
7.8
109
Building Reports
8.8
582
|
Verified
8.3
1001
|
Verified
8.8
577
|
Verified
8.2
964
|
Verified
8.5
506
|
Verified
8.3
836
|
Verified
8.5
502
|
Verified
8.1
842
|
Verified
Reports
8.9
1044
|
Verified
8.7
1750
|
Verified
8.4
969
|
Verified
8.2
1591
|
Verified
9.1
1043
|
Verified
9.1
1794
|
Verified
8.8
684
8.6
1370
9.1
1036
|
Verified
9.1
1784
|
Verified
Self Service
8.6
890
8.5
1690
|
Verified
8.9
892
8.7
1717
|
Verified
8.7
975
|
Verified
8.5
1637
|
Verified
8.5
856
8.2
1426
8.4
956
|
Verified
8.2
1521
|
Verified
8.2
881
|
Verified
7.9
1329
|
Verified
Building Reports
8.8
582
|
Verified
8.3
1001
|
Verified
8.8
577
|
Verified
8.2
964
|
Verified
8.5
506
|
Verified
8.3
836
|
Verified
8.5
502
|
Verified
8.1
842
|
Verified
Cartography
Not enough data
9.4
26
Not enough data
9.2
26
Not enough data
9.6
28
Not enough data
9.4
27
Analysis
Not enough data
9.0
28
Not enough data
9.2
27
Not enough data
9.3
27
Not enough data
9.0
27
Reporting
Not enough data
9.3
27
Not enough data
9.2
26
Not enough data
9.1
26
Data Source Access
Not enough data
8.6
237
Not enough data
8.8
239
Not enough data
8.3
233
Data Interaction
Not enough data
8.2
231
Not enough data
8.1
235
Not enough data
8.3
233
Not enough data
8.5
237
Not enough data
8.3
234
Not enough data
8.4
231
Not enough data
8.4
233
Not enough data
8.3
230
Data Exporting
Not enough data
8.5
227
Not enough data
8.4
230
Not enough data
8.4
227
Generative AI
Not enough data
7.4
222
Additional Functionality
Not enough data
8.9
61
Not enough data
9.3
62
Basics
Not enough data
9.2
62
Content
Not enough data
8.9
59
Data
Not enough data
9.3
61
Interoperability
Not enough data
8.9
59
Performance
Not enough data
9.2
62
Deployment & Integration - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Data Connectivity & Federation - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Data Modeling & Metrics - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Performance Optimization - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Governance - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Advanced Intelligence - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Agentic AI Enablement - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Statistical Tool
Not enough data
8.4
252
Not enough data
8.4
254
Not enough data
8.4
245
Data Analysis
Not enough data
9.0
275
Not enough data
8.9
269
Decision Making
Not enough data
8.7
259
Not enough data
9.4
273
Not enough data
9.1
267
Not enough data
8.7
263
Generative AI
Not enough data
8.0
177
Not enough data
8.0
177
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Microsoft Power BI and Tableau are categorized as Analytics Platforms and Semantic Layer Tools
Unique Categories
Microsoft Power BI has no unique categories
Tableau is categorized as Location Intelligence, Insurance Analytics, Embedded Business Intelligence, Predictive Analytics, and Data Preparation
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Microsoft Power BI
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Tableau
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Information Technology and Services
16.5%
Computer Software
6.7%
Financial Services
4.8%
Hospital & Health Care
3.1%
Telecommunications
3.0%
Other
65.8%
Information Technology and Services
11.7%
Computer Software
7.3%
Financial Services
7.1%
Hospital & Health Care
4.5%
Marketing and Advertising
4.3%
Other
65.1%
Discussions
What is Microsoft Power BI Desktop used for?
4 Comments
DM
PowerBI desktop is the desktop version of PowerBI unlike the web version which you open in a web browser like Google Chrome or EDGE. The desktop version has...Read more
What are some of the top features of Microsoft BI?
3 Comments
PR
Data Visualization: Microsoft Power BI excels in creating interactive and visually compelling data dashboards and reports, making ramified data easy to...Read more
Is Power BI a Microsoft tool?
3 Comments
TB
Yes, Power BI is a business analytics tool developed by Microsoft. Read more
why did saleforce by tableau? IS SFDC reporting going to change now?
2 Comments
TR
Perfect answer by Derrick. I totally agree.Read more
What does Tableau Desktop do?
2 Comments
NA
Tableau Desktop help create interactive Dashboards offline and publish it to the wider audience through Tableau public. Tableau Desktop is one of the version...Read more
Do I need Tableau Desktop if I have Tableau Server?
2 Comments
LT
Anyway, whether you need Tableau Desktop depends on your specific use case and requirements. If you're unsure, you can consider the following
Evaluate...Read more
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