Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services vs QlikView comparison

Microsoft and Qlik are both solutions in the Reporting category. Microsoft is ranked #6 with an average rating of 7.6, while Qlik is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.3. Microsoft holds a 3.5% mindshare in RT, compared to Qlik’s 3.3% mindshare. Additionally, 84% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Qlik users who would recommend it.

Microsoft SQL Server Report...

Read 20 Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services reviews

2,819 Views
1,843 Comparison Views

84% willing to recommend

QlikView

Read 161 QlikView reviews

1,651 Views
1,454 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Microsoft SQL Server Report...

QlikView

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

QlikView and Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services are prominent products competing in the business intelligence and data analytics category. QlikView appears to have the upper hand in ease of development and data discovery due to its intuitive interface and self-service capabilities. In contrast, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is favored for its robust reporting and seamless integration with SQL Server databases.

Features: QlikView excels in rapid in-memory processing, intuitive dynamic dashboards, and rich visualization features, which enhance user experience and data discovery. It also integrates ETL capabilities and supports diverse data sources. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services offers extensive reporting, management dashboard capabilities, and efficiently integrates with SQL Server databases, enhancing data connectivity and user reporting needs.

Room for Improvement: QlikView could enhance its map capabilities, collaboration tools, and simplify its complex security model. Licensing complexity and performance with large data volumes are also noted concerns. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services could improve its pricing structure, integrations, and user interface, alongside enhancing its connectivity and drag-and-drop functionality.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: QlikView mainly supports on-premises deployment with some public cloud options. Deployment efficiency varies, but positive experiences are reported when a knowledgeable partner is involved. Customer service receives mixed feedback, although the community is highly valued. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services supports both on-premises and cloud environments, providing deployment flexibility. It is commended for excellent customer service, backed by strong community support and responsive technical assistance.

Pricing and ROI: QlikView is often seen as expensive, requiring careful licensing management to optimize costs. Its high ROI is recognized when fully utilized, despite initial cost barriers. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is regarded as a cost-effective solution, offering reasonable pricing although with variations based on specific licensing models. It generally provides good ROI through efficiency gains.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services vs. QlikView Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft SQL Servering Services vs. QlikView

April 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft SQL Server Report...

Ranking in Reporting

6th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

QlikView

Ranking in Reporting

5th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

161

Ranking in other categories

Embedded BI (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Reporting category, the mindshare of Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is 3.5%, down from 4.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of QlikView is 3.3%, up from 3.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Reporting

Featured Reviews

Gnanavel-Chakkarapani

Junior Consultant at CMA CGM

Offers useful templates but needs to improve the connectivity offered

In Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, not much of the interface part is used. With Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, its users face issues with the interface after they use Excel or create Microsoft SSIS Packages. The tool's interface is an area of concern requiring improvement. There needs to be an improvement in the product's connectivity so that the tool can connect easily with other third-party databases. In the dashboard, drag and drop functionality needs to improve, especially when compared to other tools like IBM Cognos Analytics and Qlik Sense. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is useful only for standard reports. In IBM Cognos Analytics, query studio can be used by users to drag the data and simply download the reports, so the user doesn't need to have any technical knowledge like developers. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is to be improved to offer features like query Studio, which is provided in IBM Cognos Analytics.

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Arjun Meda

Assistant Vice President at HSBC India

Useful for data visualization and business intelligence

Many of the features in Qlik Sense need to be available and reintroduced in QlikView. I believe many of the features have been added to QlikView after the layout containers were introduced. QlikView used to be a way more customizable tool than Qlik Sense is in the present time. Improvements are required in the hide and unhide functionality that falls under the layout container feature that has been used in my company in recent times. Hiding off the apps in the app overview tab based on the access was a really good feature that needs to be introduced back in the product since I see that, at the moment, there are multiple groups on the tool, owing to which multiple changes on the QMC part is required to handle the solution. Only the person with access to the dashboard in QlikView could have a link to the dashboard through QlikView's hub or access points. With Qlik Sense, one can see whatever is available in the stream. If a user wants to control everything in the product, then there is no need to make multiple changes in the QMC at the individual app level. The aforementioned area can be considered to improve Qlik Sense.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The solution's features are all just wrapped up in one nice easy package. I don't need a lot of toolsets to get everything I need done."

"It is a stable solution."

"In Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, the installation and configuration are easy."

"We can create quality reports in real time."

"We were able to embed the report builder within our internal proprietary systems, improving our reporting capabilities."

"I'm very satisfied with the customer service. And usually, whenever we have any issue or details, we get to the person for the support. I'm really satisfied with the service. Within a few minutes or within a few hours, the support person will be available."

"With SQL Server Reporting Services, I can create reports and printable reports, known as paginated reports."

"Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services has been functional whenever I needed to use it."

More Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services pros

"We can scale it if we need to."

"The initial setup is not very complex."

"QlikView is one of the strongest tools, I would say. Also, it has a very vast capability to process the data"

"The most valuable aspect is its extensive library on Microsoft, providing a robust framework for implementation."

"QlikView is an excellent tool, though expensive compared to other BI tools, it provides ETL capability allowing the building of a complete data warehouse within Qlik Sense."

"Data transforming with scripting, and the associative model that lets users browse data in an easy way, are the most valuable features."

"It is useful to use a tool like this to have a view of data at a point in time. You can extract and create little data sets that you can store, and then over time, you can have a view for tracking changes. Especially when you work with a relational database or a database that's a production database, the data is dynamic, but if you use QlikView, you can take a snapshot of different datasets. In your own time, you can then get insights and report, build, analyze, and draw whatever you need from the data, which is quite useful."

"The in-memory feature gives us better insight. It's also easy to drill down into the information and select information."

More QlikView pros

Cons

"The setup is difficult because you have to install different servers."

"The solution's interface is old."

"The complex tuning for report performance is complicated. There is a lack of native support for source code control. We often need to use separate tools like VS Code or other software to manage version control and changes in the database. It would be beneficial if source code management were integrated directly into SSRS, thus eliminating the need to rely on external tools. While CLI-based operations are exemplary, the trend is towards GUI for a better user experience. Integrating both visualization and source code management within SSRS would simplify the process for users."

"The product could be improved by reducing the time it takes to build and deploy reports."

"We have had issues with the refresh interval since we have too many reports scheduled. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is also expensive."

"In this solution, the cost should be reduced for the enterprise edition."

"There is room for improvement in the pricing model."

"They could improve the scalability and stability of SQL Server Reporting Services."

More Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services cons

"I would like to see more advanced features from Qlik Sense integrated into QlikView to keep it competitive and up-to-date."

"There is a lack of static PDF report generation and automatic resizing of the dashboard to fit the device."

"They could improve the speed."

"The pricing is high."

"Improvement in collaboration, between that and publishing of reports and publishing of models."

"QlikView lacks self-service capabilities, which means users depend on the IT team to make changes."

"They could provide a user-friendly analysis process rather than specialized IT resource code."

"There's room for improvement in the area of management's handling of concerns."

More QlikView cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price is pretty good."

"The product pricing is reasonable in terms of suitable features for business."

"The pricing is high."

"Value-wise, the solution's pricing is good for the price that we pay."

"The solution is cheaper than its alternatives."

"The tool's licensing costs are expensive."

"The solution is expensive."

"The solution is free to use for developers."

"It has an annual license. It is expensive as compared to other competitive tools that do more for less. In South African rands, we pay about 100,000 to 200,000 a year."

"The platform's pricing is considered quite expensive, particularly given the dollar-based pricing."

"It's reasonably priced and falls on the more affordable side."

"Its licensing costs are moderate, but it can get expensive due to the numerous add-ons available like those for printing."

"QlikView pricing and licensing is on the high side for a small sized company, but it's competitive among its peers."

"Qlik is fairly high in terms of pricing."

"My firm got the product at a cheap price, but in general, I believe that the product is a bit costly."

"QlikView is more expensive than one of its competitors."

More QlikView pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user79932

Senior Manager - BI Head at NVidia

Feb 4, 2015

Comparison of SAP BO, Tableau, QlikView, Cognos, Microsoft, OBIEE and Pentaho

1. SAP BO/BI Enterprise scalability Security Ease of use Semantic layer 2. Tableau Visualization Data discovery Turnaround time 3. IBM Cognos Enterprise scalability Security In-memory feature 4. MS BI - Flexibility 5. Pentaho - Open source but still enterprise grade 6. QlikView Data…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

14%

Government

12%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

13%

Healthcare Company

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services?

I mainly use the solution for the ease of reporting and for executive dashboards.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services?

I don't recall the current pricing as it changes frequently.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services?

They could improve the scalability and stability of SQL Server Reporting Services. I haven't used it recently, so I can't provide detailed suggestions on improvements.

See all answers

What do you like most about QlikView?

If you correctly use the product for your use cases, it provides value for money.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for QlikView?

Qlik Sense's licensing metrics are flexible. They provide packages based on needs, like named licenses, developer licenses, or shared pool licenses. There is also a core-based license option for or...

See all answers

What needs improvement with QlikView?

QlikView lacks self-service capabilities, which means users depend on the IT team to make changes. Qlik Sense offers a more modern approach with self-service features, allowing users to build dashb...

See all answers

Comparisons

TIBCO Jaspersoft vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Compared 19% of the time

Tableau vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Compared 16% of the time

IBM Cognos vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Compared 13% of the time

Oracle OBIEE vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Compared 11% of the time

Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Compared 7% of the time

More Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Competitors

Tableau vs QlikView

Compared 23% of the time

Amazon QuickSight vs QlikView

Compared 15% of the time

Microsoft Power BI vs QlikView

Compared 14% of the time

IBM Cognos vs QlikView

Compared 6% of the time

Domo vs QlikView

Compared 3% of the time

More QlikView Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft SQL Servering Services

March 2025

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services report

Download Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services product report

Buyer's Guide

QlikView

March 2025

Download QlikView product report

Also Known As

SQL Server Reporting Services, Microsoft SSRS, SSRS, MS SQL Server Reporting Services

No data available

Overview

At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our mission is grounded in both the world in which we live and the future we strive to create. Today, we live in a mobile-first, cloud-first world, and the transformation we are driving across our businesses is designed to enable Microsoft and our customers to thrive in this world.

We do business in 170 countries and are made up of 114,000 passionate employees dedicated to fulfilling our mission of helping you and your organization achieve more.

Microsoft

QlikView is a Business Intelligence tool that allows you to keep tabs on all of your business-related information in a clean, clear, and easy to access database that is intuitive to build and simple to navigate. It is ideal for business owners who wish to improve overall output by creating the most productive system possible.

Qlik

Sample Customers

CMS Wire, The New York Times

Canon, Gatorade, Amcor, Panasonic, Fila, Cambridge University Hospitals, Global Retail Bank, North Yorkshire Police department, Lanoo Group Publishers, and AonGroep Nederland.

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft SQL Servering Services vs. QlikView

April 2025

Free Report: Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services vs. QlikView

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