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Tableau: Best overall alternative
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Sigma: Best for an intuitive spreadsheet-style interface
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Qlik: Best for data exploration
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AWS QuickSight: Best for cloud-native businesses and scalability
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Looker: Best for seamless Google integration
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Domo: Best for business process automation
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Sisense: Best for large datasets
Microsoft Power BI is a frequent contender as the platform of choice that empowers nontechnical business users to find their own actionable solutions. Power BI owes its favored status to more than just the market penetration of its parent company Microsoft. It’s a powerful tool in its own right. Power BI is easy to get started with, it has a large and active support community online and it integrates easily with other Microsoft tools like Excel that users tend to have some experience with.
Regardless of merit, there are times when Power BI isn’t right for you or your team. Whether your concerns are around licensing, performance or something else entirely, there is no shortage of business intelligence platform options. Below are a few of the main Power BI competitors, with some highlighted strengths to aid you in your decision.
Jump to:
- Top Power BI alternatives comparison
- Key features to look for in a Power BI alternative
- Is Power BI worth it?
- Do you need an alternative to Power BI?
- Review methodology
Top Power BI alternatives comparison
| Software | Real-time analytics | Data visualization | Embedded analytics | Native mobile support | Free version | Starting price for paid tiers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power BI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $10 per user per month |
| Tableau | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | $15 per user per month |
| Sigma | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Contact for quote |
| Qlik | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | $20 per user per month |
| AWS QuickSight | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | $9 per user per month |
| Looker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Contact for quote |
| Domo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Contact for quote |
| Sisense | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Contact for quote |
Tableau: Best overall alternative
Tableau is no slouch in the BI space. A frequent competitor to Power BI in the enterprise, Tableau offers similar features and ease of use, with a slightly different take on the syntax and makeup of the underlying calculation model. It’s known for its strong data visualization capabilities; plus, it’s highly scalable, capable of handling large volumes of data and offers both cloud and on-premises deployment options. However, it comes at a higher price tag than Power BI.
Pricing
Tableau offers a range of pricing options for teams, namely Tableau Viewer for $15, Tableau Explorer for $42 and Tableau Creator for $75, all per user per month when billed annually.
Features
- Deep data exploration and analytics capabilities.
- Scalability to handle large datasets.
- Cloud, on-premises, and native Salesforce CRM integration.
- Robust data visualization (Figure A).
Figure A
Pros
- Extensive visualization options.
- A huge array of features and products.
- Built-in AI/ML capabilities for intelligent analytics.
Cons
- High cost can be a barrier for small businesses.
- Steeper learning curve compared to other BI tools.
- Performance may dip when dealing with data that’s too complex.
Why we picked Tableau
Tableau sets itself apart with data visualization capabilities that go past aesthetics to offer deep data exploration while remaining intuitive enough to maintain the flow of data analysis processes. Additionally, its deployment options are flexible — be it cloud, on-premises or Salesforce CRM integration — and it incorporates AI and machine learning capabilities to offer intelligent analytics at scale.
SEE: Discover more on how Tableau compares to Power BI.
Sigma: Best for an intuitive spreadsheet-style interface
Sigma is a cloud-native analytics platform that excels in delivering real-time analytics and ease of use. Its intuitive spreadsheet-like interface in particular emphasizes its ease of use, as it allows both technical and non-technical users to explore and analyze data effortlessly. Sigma is highly scalable as it can analyze billions of rows of data. If your business needs instant, data-driven decisions without the need for writing code, you should consider Sigma.
Pricing
Sigma encourages prospective clients to contact them for a quote, as its pricing information is not publicly listed. Sigma, however, offers both a demo and a free trial.
Features
- GPT-powered analytics features integrated in Sigma.
- Built for massive scale using cloud data warehouse.
- Enterprise-grade security and governance.
- Intuitive spreadsheet-like interface (Figure B).
Figure B
Pros
- Ease of use for both technical and non-technical users.
- Real-time data insights.
- Scalability to handle large data sets.
Cons
- Limited third-party integrations
- May require some initial setup.
- Custom pricing isn’t listed.
Why we picked Sigma
Sigma’s real-time data insights and user-friendly interface stand out as it delivers insights really fast while being usable by both technical and non-technical users. Plus, it is capable of handling large data sets that users can explore without special training with ease. The platform also places a strong emphasis on security.
Qlik: Best for data exploration
Qlik is a mature player in the BI space. The current product, Qlik Sense, is the successor of its original analytics tool, QlikView. According to Wikipedia, Qlik has been pioneering this field since 1993, so it’s no surprise Qlik products are well known in the BI world. The current generation of Qlik BI tools focuses on data exploration, which means they shine when it comes to things like querying the data and attaching to live data sources.
Pricing
Qlik’s cloud analytics products have three pricing plans:
- Standard starts at $20 per user per month.
- Premium starts at $2,700 per month.
- Enterprise requires those interested to contact Qlik for pricing information.
Features
- Associative analytics engine for comprehensive data exploration.
- Hybrid performance SaaS and hybrid cloud platform.
- Self-service data visualizations.
- Integrated AI and machine learning for augmented analytics (Figure C).
Figure C
Pros
- Highly interactive.
- Intelligent analytics features.
- Real-time action capabilities.
Cons
- Pricier than Power BI.
- Steeper learning curve for non-technical users.
- Can be complex for basic tasks.
Why we picked Qlik
The way Qlik integrates AI and machine learning to offer smarter, auto-generated insights and predictions makes sure it delivers a continuous state of intelligence. Qlik is made to deliver real-time information to ensure that teams get immediate insights and act on them in a timely fashion.
AWS QuickSight: Best for cloud-native businesses and scalability
While less citizen developer-friendly than some of the other Power BI alternatives mentioned here, AWS QuickSight deserves a mention because it is both cloud native and entirely serverless. That means it has instant scale and no hardware or software for you to manage. It also naturally integrates well with other Amazon web services if you are already on board the AWS train.
Pricing
AWS QuickSight offers two editions; Enterprise and Standard, where Enterprise starts at $18 per user per month when billed annually and Standard at $9 per user per month with an annual subscription.
Features
- Cloud-native architecture for seamless AWS integration.
- Generative BI capabilities for intuitive natural language experiences.
- Support for billion-row datasets.
- Embedded analytics to differentiate your applications (Figure D).
Figure D
Pros
- Easy integration with AWS services.
- Generative BI simplifies complex BI tasks.
- Serverless architecture.
Cons
- Limited non-AWS data connectors.
- May require AWS expertise for optimal use.
- No centralized system to manage reports.
Why we picked AWS QuickSight
AWS QuickSight is a natural fit for businesses already using AWS services, offering a unified and cost-effective data analytics solution. Its Generative BI capabilities make complex BI tasks much easier. Its automatic scaling is key for businesses that expect to grow or have fluctuating usage, as it eliminates the need for manual server management. QuickSight’s usage-based pricing model also offers a cost-effective solution for deployments of all sizes.
Looker: Best for seamless Google integration
Formerly Google Data Studio, Looker is a modern business intelligence platform that carries on Data Studio’s visualization and data storytelling through its visual approach to creating reports and dashboards. Being entirely browser-based, there is no installation or setup, and the user interface is straightforward so long as you don’t need to do a lot of data transformation or sanitation.
Pricing
Looker Studio is free for creators and report viewers. However, enterprise customers will need to contact Google for pricing information for Looker Studio Pro.
Features
- Report embedding.
- Unique, pre-built data connectors.
- Looker Studio APIs.
- Multiple report templates across Google products (Figure E).
Figure E
Pros
- Easy to create interactive dashboards.
- More than 600 partner connectors and 800 data sources.
- Easy to pick up and use.
Cons
- Pricing is not transparent for Looker Studio Pro.
- May require some technical expertise for optimal use
- The free version’s feature set isn’t extensive.
Why we picked Looker
Looker is easy to pick up and use straight away, provided you have a Google account. You can instantly create reports, select connectors built by Google, select from more than 800 connectors created by Looker’s partners and explore data. Its dashboards are simple to use and the fact that it also has many templates for multiple Google products makes it easy to use within the Google ecosystem.
Domo: Best for business process automation
Domo is a business intelligence platform whose strengths lie in business process automation and real-time decision-making. It offers low-code and pro-code apps to automate business insights, enabling faster and more informed decisions. Its advanced visualizations and AI & data science capabilities further enhance its analytics offerings.
Pricing
Domo’s pricing is not publicly disclosed so prospective users will have to contact Domo.
Features
- Low-code and pro-code apps for business process automation.
- Real-time data integration from various sources.
- Intelligent analytics supported by AI & data science.
- Advanced visualizations for better data understanding (Figure F).
Figure F
Pros
- Beautiful interface.
- Usage-based pricing.
- Great performance.
Cons
- Pricing is not transparent.
- May have a steep learning curve for users new to BI tools.
- Can be resource-intensive.
Why we picked Domo
Domo is a comprehensive platform with features ranging from data integration to app creation. Its app creation tools are particularly fascinating as they help businesses build low-code and pro-code apps to automate insights and make faster decisions. Domo’s offers more than a thousand connectors and built-in, drag-and-drop ETL.
Sisense: Best for large datasets
Sisense is a leading BI tool that excels in handling large datasets and offers both cloud-based and on-premise solutions. Known for its Elasticube technology, Sisense allows users to take data snapshots and offers well-designed dashboards with a variety of widgets and chart types.
Pricing
Sisense pricing is available only by custom quote.
Features
- Sisense Fusion Embed to integrate customized analytics into applications.
- Low-, no- and pro-code complements to boost analytics.
- AI-driven BI platform (Figure G).
Figure G
Pros
- High scalability.
- Deployment flexibility with cloud and on-premises options.
- Rich visualization through a variety of widgets and chart types.
Cons
- May need technical expertise to set up and manage.
- Takes up considerable server resources and setup time.
- Opaque pricing.
Why we picked Sisense
Sisense stands out for its ability to handle large datasets efficiently, thanks to its columnar database approach and its Elasticube™ technology that speeds up data retrieval. While it does require some technical expertise to fully utilize, it remains an excellent choice for businesses dealing with large volumes of data.
SEE: Dive deeper into how Sisense stacks up against Power BI.
Key features to look for in a Power BI alternative
Real-time analytics
Real-time analytics is crucial for businesses that require immediate insights for decision-making. This feature allows organizations to analyze data as it is ingested into the system, providing up-to-the-minute information. Power BI’s dashboards can be refreshed in real-time.
Data visualization
With effective data visualization tools, you can transform raw data into meaningful insights through dashboards, charts and graphs. Data visualization makes data understandable and actionable. Power BI is well known for its strong data visualization capabilities through its vast, customizable charts and graphs.
Embedded analytics
Embedded analytics integrate directly into business applications, allowing users to access data insights without leaving the application. Businesses that want to offer analytics capabilities within their products or services need to have this feature. Power BI has great embedded analytics capabilities as it is integrable with not only other Microsoft products but also various third-party applications.
Mobile support
With the increasing need for remote work and on-the-go data access, mobile support is becoming a must-have feature. Users can access dashboards and reports from their mobile devices, ensuring that they can make informed decisions no matter where they are. You can access Power BI on the go as it provides apps for both Android and iOS.
SEE: Check out this mobile device computing policy from TechRepublic Premium.
Cloud-native
Cloud-native tools are designed to run in a cloud environment, offering scalability and flexibility. This feature is key for organizations that want to be able to scale their operations without worrying about how infrastructure would limit them.
Is Power BI worth it?
Whether you think Power BI is worth it largely depends on your business needs and the complexity of the data you’re handling. Power BI has an extensive set of features for data analytics and visualization, especially for businesses already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. However, it may not be the best fit for all organizations, particularly those looking for more customization.
Do you need an alternative to Power BI?
Ultimately, whether you need an alternative to Power BI will come down to specific use cases and personal preference. While Power BI is a great solution, especially for those already using Microsoft products, it won’t meet the needs of all organizations.
For instance, smaller businesses may find the licensing costs prohibitive, or you may require advanced visualizations or specific integrations that Power BI doesn’t offer. In such cases, exploring alternatives can provide you with the flexibility and features that are a much better fit for your organization.
All the alternatives listed above have some kind of trial or demo license available. So why not narrow it down to a couple and then take them for a test drive?
Review methodology
To deliver this list of alternatives, we examined Power BI to understand its features and pricing and selected its alternatives based on their unique use cases and popularity amongst certified users. We then compared their features to those of Power BI to see how similar and how different they are. Then we compared their pricing to determine their cost effectiveness in comparison to Power BI.