We use Microsoft Power BI to budget for all departments and to compare the balance of the past month.
Software Engineer at Lorenzo Imperatrice
Enables us to look at the budget for all of the departments in our company
Pros and Cons
- "The accounting data needs improvement."
What is our primary use case?
What needs improvement?
The accounting data needs improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Power BI for a year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Power BI
October 2026
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Power BI. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2026.
919,919 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Ten users are using the solution.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is complex.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate the overall solution an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Expert Data Quality Management at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Stable product with efficient data updation features
Pros and Cons
- "It offers a lot of information and is very flexible and interactive."
- "The product’s on-premise reporting servers could support real-time data refreshing capabilities like its on-cloud version."
What is our primary use case?
We use Microsoft Power BI to automate dashboards to present information to our senior management. It helps us extract the relevant data from the dashboard.
What is most valuable?
The product’s most valuable feature is data updates after modifying and refreshing the dashboard. It offers a lot of information and is very flexible and interactive.
What needs improvement?
The product’s on-premise reporting servers could support real-time data refreshing capabilities like its on-cloud version. It would be a very useful functionality.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Microsoft Power BI for about a year and a half.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable. It works perfectly, and we haven’t encountered any issues working with it.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable product. We have around 100 Microsoft Power BI users in our organization. We are expecting growth in the number of users.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have worked with SAP BusinessObjects. Power BI is better because it has more flexibility and functionalities.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Microsoft Power BI a nine out of ten. I recommend it to users who want to pursue a career in data engineering. It will be very helpful and provides a lot of guides on the Internet, especially on YouTube. They can gain knowledge about its advantages and disadvantages.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Power BI
October 2026
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Power BI. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2026.
919,919 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Head of analytics team at Botree Software
A stable solution that can be used for reporting and dashboarding, but its integration and visualization could be improved
Pros and Cons
- "We've used Microsoft BI for the general use cases around reporting and dashboarding."
- "Microsoft BI’s integration and visualization could be improved."
What is most valuable?
We've used Microsoft BI for the general use cases around reporting and dashboarding. We used it once for Power Apps to develop a live application.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft BI’s integration and visualization could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft BI for four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft BI is a stable solution.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Between Microsoft BI and Tableau, I would go for Tableau because it's more powerful. Tableau could connect to a variety of databases, and the visualization is much, much better. I would always prefer Tableau because of the dimension picking you could do there. Speed-wise, the latency issues were much lesser in Tableau.
If you're using Azure in general as a cloud service provider, Power BI would be more integrative. If you need a stand-alone system and are not worried about the cloud setup, I recommend using Tableau.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Microsoft BI for desktop is free to use, and you can download and use it.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I rate Microsoft BI a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
New Digital Applications Specialist at Alpina Sa
Intuitive design, scales well, and simple setup
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of Microsoft BI are its intuitiveness and ease to use."
- "Microsoft BI lacks some of the scheme features. It would be beneficial if there were a way to show how we move values in a different way."
What is our primary use case?
We utilize Microsoft BI for conducting comprehensive analytics by comparing data from the current year with the preceding year to identify patterns and variations. This software aids us in performing overall data analysis.
The solution can be deployed on the cloud and on-premise.
How has it helped my organization?
Microsoft BI has proven beneficial for my organization as it simplifies the presentation of complex data that was previously challenging to comprehend through other means. Specifically, Power BI allows for graphical representation that significantly enhances data understanding compared to raw tables.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of Microsoft BI are its intuitiveness and ease to use.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft BI lacks some of the scheme features. It would be beneficial if there were a way to show how we move values in a different way.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft BI for approximately three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the stability of Microsoft BI an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I have plans to use the solution more in the future.
I rate the scalability of Microsoft BI an eight out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Microsoft BI is simple.
What was our ROI?
We have received a return on investment using Microsoft BI.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of the license can be better.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Microsoft BI an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Principal System Developer at DiwanDubai
Is easy to install, stable, and scalable, and helps to quickly create dashboards
Pros and Cons
- "What I like about Power BI is how fast you are able to create dashboards and how fast you are able to fetch the data. You can connect to the database or data source, and then you can design your dashboards very easily."
- "There are some limitations in Power BI; you have to work in the Power BI base. However, if you want something not out-of-the-box and you want something custom, you have to do a lot of work."
What is our primary use case?
The use case for power BI is to generate dashboards for high-end management and operational dashboards.
How has it helped my organization?
Microsoft BI, if used properly, can provide insights that will help management to take better decisions and can benefit from cost optimizations, reduce risks, etc.
What is most valuable?
What I like about Power BI is how fast you are able to create dashboards and how fast you are able to fetch the data. You can connect to the database or data source, and then you can design your dashboards very easily.
The best thing about Power BI is that you can manipulate the data within Power BI, so you don't have to update the data source to have filtration or conditional formatting. You can easily do those things under Power BI.
It is easy and has rapid development.
It is stable and scalable as well.
What needs improvement?
There is an issue with Microsoft because the on-premises Power BI is behind the cloud Power BI. So, the on-premises Power BI is six months or one year behind the cloud version because Microsoft published the cloud features first, and then they published the on-premises version. This has been an issue. They should be on the same level of capability.
There are some limitations in Power BI; you have to work in the Power BI base. However, if you want something not out-of-the-box and you want something custom, you have to do a lot of work. Microsoft can provide some easy way to customize the dashboards.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for two to three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is stable, but there is an issue with Microsoft because the on-premises Power BI is behind the cloud Power BI. The features of on-premises Power BI are six months or one year behind the cloud version. They are not on the same level of capability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Power BI is quite good.
How are customer service and support?
Microsoft technical support could be more knowledgeable.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We switched to Power BI because it is easy, and there is rapid development.
How was the initial setup?
Installation is easy and took about half an hour.
What about the implementation team?
It requires a little bit of effort, and we needed the help of a consultant.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Power BI comes with enterprise Microsoft licensing. So for the user, you don't have to pay, but you do have to pay a one-time cost.
What other advice do I have?
If you want to use Power BI, you should go for the cloud version. Don't use the on-premises version because the cloud version has a lot of features which the on-premises version doesn't have.
Also, if you are going to use Power BI, you should know what all your capabilities are. Otherwise, if you try to do some things such as develop a dashboard which is not supported by Power BI, it will be a showstopper for you.
I would rate this solution at eight on a scale from one to ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
BI Expert at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Fast and user friendly
Pros and Cons
- "You don't need much support with Microsoft Power BI because it has such a large base of users who can answer your questions on their forums. There are also many video tutorials and webinars available online that offer solutions to whatever problems you may have."
- "Microsoft is behind IBM when it comes to security features."
What is our primary use case?
I've used it for work I did with three clients in the Brazilian banking sector:
Bank Bradesco, B&B Bank, and the Regional Bank of Brazil.
What is most valuable?
It's very fast and user-friendly.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft is behind IBM when it comes to security features.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used Microsoft Power BI for about three years with different clients.
How are customer service and support?
You don't need much support with Microsoft Power BI because it has such a large base of users who can answer your questions on their forums. There are also many video tutorials and webinars available online that offer solutions to whatever problems you may have.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I use Cognos Analytics 11 for some projects, but many of my clients prefer Microsoft Power BI because it is less expensive.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Director of Systems of the TCESP at a government with 501-1,000 employees
Useful drag and drop function, straightforward implementation, and high availability
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features in Microsoft BI are the analysis using the feature drag and drop function. It's very easy to load and use different data sources."
- "I would encourage others to use Microsoft BI, it is a good solution."
- "Microsoft BI could improve by allowing large-size data sources. We have large data sources, and we have problems loading them in Microsoft BI."
What is our primary use case?
We use Microsoft BI to construct panels and analysis for the final users by themselves. We have all the units outside and analyses made by the final users. They can share their work with other colleagues and other teammates easily.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features in Microsoft BI are the analysis using the feature drag and drop function. It's very easy to load and use different data sources.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft BI could improve by allowing large-size data sources. We have large data sources, and we have problems loading them in Microsoft BI.
I would like to see in a future release the ability to create rules with no code. Similar to drag-and-drop solutions, or some other way with no code.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft BI for approximately two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is reliable, we do not have a problem with the availability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft BI is a scalable solution.
We have approximately 500 users using this solution in my organization. We have plans to increase the use of the solution. Our employees are getting better with the ability to use the solution.
How are customer service and support?
The support from Microsoft is satisfactory.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Microsoft BI was straightforward.
What other advice do I have?
I would encourage others to use Microsoft BI, it is a good solution.
I rate Microsoft BI a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Software developer
Stable solution, but interface could be improved
Pros and Cons
- "The stability is good."
- "The interface could be improved."
What needs improvement?
The interface could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is good.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution 8 out of 10.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Client Director, Head of Sales & Marketing, Partner at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Very smooth, has matured a lot; great scalability
Pros and Cons
- "I like that implementation is very quick and that the solution is very user-friendly and easy to work with."
- "Automation could be improved and performance enhanced."
What is our primary use case?
We are a consultant company, so we use BI for project follow-up, sales and pipeline. We are partners with Microsoft and I'm the company's client director.
What is most valuable?
I like that implementation is very quick and that the solution is very user-friendly and easy to work with. The solution has provided us with speedy insight and faster effects on the table. It's a smooth product.
What needs improvement?
I think that automation could be improved and performance enhanced. Documentation for developers could also be improved.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is very good. It can be pricey to move to the P1 licenses for $5,000 a month for smaller companies, but there are workarounds using A1 to A6 licenses which are cheaper and more flexible in the pricing. We have 50 users in the company.
How was the initial setup?
When we deployed five years ago, the setup was very complex. Since then, it's become much easier.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Compared to competitors like Tableau, Microsoft BI is not so expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend this solution. Microsoft BI has matured a lot in the last year.
I rate this solution nine out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Product and Systems Director at SPCM
It's good for tracking indicators like KPI, sales, and a bunch of other essential metrics for our company's strategic planning.
Pros and Cons
- "Power BI has strong support from Microsoft. If you need help, they answer promptly. There are also several discussion groups where you can get information, like the product roadmap and any new things coming up."
- "Microsoft BI is worth it."
- "Microsoft has made a lot of progress with Power BI in the past couple of years, but there is still some room for improvement. For example, Integration is one area they could work on. They are adding more integration with other Microsoft tools, but I would like it if they sped up the process."
What is our primary use case?
Power BI is used internally to track indicators like KPI, sales, and a bunch of other essential metrics for our company's strategic planning. Power BI creates reports and compiles data coming from various sources, and we create dashboards for managers and executives to monitor these indicators.
There is also an external use case. We also have a team that provides BI as a service. Let's say your company collects all your data manually in Excel sheets and creates reports. We get rid of the Excel files and automate everything using Power BI to create dashboards and reports.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft has made a lot of progress with Power BI in the past couple of years, but there is still some room for improvement. For example, Integration is one area they could work on. They are adding more integration with other Microsoft tools, but I would like it if they sped up the process.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been a Microsoft partner for 12 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Bi is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft BI is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
Power BI has strong support from Microsoft. If you need help, they answer promptly. There are also several discussion groups where you can get information, like the product roadmap and any new things coming up.
How was the initial setup?
Everything is in the cloud, so you don't do anything. You only need to download a client, and that's it. If you have to create an embedded solution, it only takes five minutes.
The entire deployment takes a couple of hours, but you don't need a specialist to deploy it. Obviously, you need someone who understands the technology and how to follow instructions, but it's pretty straightforward stuff.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Power BI's price is good relative to its competitors. It has more than 400 or 500 different connectors. A lower price would always be welcome. The price is fine, but the licensing is complicated. Quantum mechanics is easier to understand than Microsoft licensing.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Microsoft BI nine out of 10. If you are thinking about using Microsoft BI, go for it. Microsoft BI is worth it. It's one of the products Microsoft got right from the beginning. It's perfect.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Power BI Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: October 2026
Popular Comparisons
Tableau Enterprise
Teradata
SAP Business Data Cloud
SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence
Amazon QuickSight
IBM Cognos
Oracle OBIEE
Workday Adaptive Planning
QlikView
TIBCO Spotfire
ThoughtSpot
MicroStrategy
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Power BI Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Quick Links
Learn More: Questions:
- BI Reports for business users - which BI solutions should we choose?
- Business users moving from Tableau to MS Report builder
- Is Power BI a complete platform or only a visualization tool?
- What are the key advantages of OBIEE compared to Microsoft BI?
- What Is The Biggest Difference Between Microsoft BI and Oracle OBIEE?
- Is Microsoft Power BI good for an ETL process?
- How would you decide between Microsoft Power BI and TIBCO Spotfire?
- Is it easy to extract data from Oracle Fusion into Power BI?
- PowerBI or SyncFusion - which is better?
- What challenges to expect when migrating multiple dashboards from TIBCO Spotfire to Microsoft Power BI?



















