In this article, we have highlighted the vital differences between Microsoft Power BI and Tableau. And it’ll surely help you make an informed decision in selecting the most suitable BI tool for your organization.
Microsoft Power BI vs Tableau – planning to implement BI in your organization, and haven’t heard about the long-standing debate between the two BI leaders, is impossible.
A quick overview of Microsoft Power BI
Released by Microsoft in 2014, Power BI has outwitted all its competitors and has secured its number one position in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Analytics and BI platform. In features and pricing, it’s the ideal Business Intelligence tool for small and medium enterprises.
A quick overview of TableauNow a part of Salesforce, Tableau has been a leader for quite some time. Though it's pretty behind Power BI in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Analytics and BI platform, it’s still in the Leader's quadrant. Like Power BI, it also comes with drag and drop features, but it's more suitable for large-scale organizations because of pricing.
Microsoft Power BI vs TableauLet's now dig into the debate from different perspectives.
A BI tool’s capability depends on how user-friendly it is and how conveniently even a non-tech professional can derive meaningful insights from it.
Microsoft Power BIYou can collate data from different sources and use intuitive graphs to present it to your stakeholders. It comes with industry-specific charts, making the lives of analysts easier. Even the reports compiled of more than one visual can be shared.
TableauWhile Tableau can also pull data from multiple data sources, presenting its reports to end-users is a lengthier process. Visuals prepared on different pages need to be compiled correctly before you deliver them to the stakeholders.
PricingA major deciding factor when a start-up plans its investment.
Microsoft Power BIYou can access Power BI Pro for $9.99 monthly/per user. And its desktop version, which is equipped with all the visualization capabilities, comes for free.
Tableau’s basic plan starts at $35per user per month. While Tableau Public is free and has all visualization capabilities, it doesn't come with data security.
Skill-sets requirement Microsoft Power BIIf you have worked on Excel, it’ll be convenient for you to learn power BI. DAX (Data Analysis Expression), used for custom calculations in Power BI, is loaded with analytical capabilities. But, it also uses some of the Excel formulas. As a result, power BI has a steep learning curve and the ability to augment and adjust with your organizational growth.
TableauDeveloping dashboards in Tableau requires more data analytics skills. So, if you have a data analytics team, Tableau is a great option.
VerdictThere’s no distinct winner in Microsoft Power BI vs Tableau war, but for -
Is data visualization important for business or just another fancy gimmick?
An article published in Forbes highlights how insufficient quality data can dampen a business's ROI, customer relationship, and brand reputation. So, while you gather the correct data from the authentic sources, it's also crucial that you analyze it correctly – and that’s precisely why data visualization is essential.
Power BI: Free vs Pro version comparison
Power BI is a self-service solution with a host of products. So, as a first time user, you might have a question like Which product to opt for? What’s Power Bi free vs Pro? What is Power BI Premium?
7 Data visualization best practices you simply can’t ignore
Only when you have a complete understanding of your data, from where it was acquired to the purification process it underwent, can you display it most effectively. Spending time with your data, looking through the various fields, and purifying it yourself is the best approach to get to know it.
