IBM Cognos Analytics vs Phocas

Dynamics 365

Tableau

Microsoft Power BI

Qlik Sense

MicroStrategy Analytics

Infor OS

Compare IBM Cognos Analytics and Phocas based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Tableau is the world’s leading AI-powered analytics and business intelligence platform. Learn More! 

MicroStrategy ONE integrates the power of generative AI with the precision of BI and Analytics.  

Qlik Sense is a business intelligence (BI) and visual analytics platform that supports a range of analytic use cases. It supports a full range of users and use-cases across the life-cycle from data to insight.

IBM Cognos is a suite of business intelligence and performance management software, that includes dashboards, reports, forecasting, visualization & automation.

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

Ad hoc Reporting

Alerts/Notifications

Audit Management

Benchmarking

Collaboration Tools

Customizable Branding

Customizable Dashboard

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Dashboard

Dashboard Creation

Data Aggregation

Data Blending

Data Cleansing

Data Connectors

Data Discovery

Data Extraction

Data Import/Export

Data Mapping

Data Mining

Data Quality Control

Data Synchronization

Data Transformation

Data Visualization

Drag & Drop

Financial Reporting

Forecasting

Functions/Calculations

High Volume Processing

Interactive Elements

Interactive Reports

Key Performance Indicators

KPI Monitoring

Marketing Reports

Metadata Management

Mobile Access

Mobile Dashboards

Multiple Data Sources

Natural Language Processing

Natural Language Search

OLAP

Performance Metrics

Predictive Analytics

Private Dashboards

Profitability Analysis

Public Dashboards

Publishing/Sharing

Real-Time Analytics

Real-Time Data

Real-Time Monitoring

Real-Time Notifications

Real-Time Reporting

Relational Display

Reporting/Analytics

Role-Based Permissions

Sales Reports

Scheduled/Automated Reports

Scorecards

Search/Filter

Secure Data Storage

Self Service Data Preparation

Single Page View

Single Sign On

Strategic Planning

Text Analysis

Third-Party Integrations

Trend Analysis

Trend/Problem Indicators

Visual Analytics

Widgets

Workflow Management

IBM Cognos Analytics

Web-based

Project Supervisor 

The space usage for this software is to high. The IBM Windows services is slow on startup and service errors can be very difficult to diagnose due to bad log structure or description.

SAP Business Analyst

When we actually have information about the errors, this is also not very detailed, that is, we are left without knowing what the error is anyway.

BI SPECIALIST

Combined with a proper balance between ease of use and customization when developing and an affordable licensing model, Cognos was a superb choice.

I love working with this tool from IBM. It allows some SQL language, and some configuration features that are very good too.

Software Engineer

The best thing is "Quality reports can be run at any time and by any representative with a substantial log-in " at IBM Cognos Analytics.

Senior Software Developer

All features are really good ,Its safe and secure way to see your reports ,we can add integrations easily.

Manager

My limited experience and exposure has been good. Works well for a casual user (assuming an admin did a good job setting up and maintaining).

DATAWAREHOUSE ARCHITECT

There are tons of supporting products for Advanced Analytics, Visualization and AI/ML which makes the tool both powerful and versatile.

Consultant

Great user interface, better visualization, integration with custom APIs, several ways to interpret the data.

Product Manager

There are not helpful troubleshooting messages to help you correct errors, so it can get really frustrating if you get stuck and don't have a team to support you.

IBM provides plentiful whitepapers, redbooks, and other information resources for clients and developers, as well as excellent technical support.

Ad Operations

Reporting metrics show lots of good data and information. Support for the product is sufficient.

Business Systems Analyst

Cognos is a great tool for reporting. The visuals are not awesome but there is a lot of customization you can do for reporting.

Comedian

I like that Cognos is incredibly intuitive. I can easily navigate through the program to finish coding and changing anything I need.

Vice President

Enterprise offerings are a bit pricey. For SMBs it can be a difficult conversation to justify the costs.

Sr. Architect 

Interactive pdf is not available for reports. Can be difficult to implement without admin support for end users.

Technical Data Analyst

Users need to understand the data structure in order to enter parameters. If the parameters are not entered correct, there will be no data, exports, or graphs.

Sales Support

The cons are summarized in IBM customer support, ist very poor (the resolution time and customer services).

IBM Cognos Analytics screenshot: Create a report in IBM Cognos

IBM Cognos Analytics screenshot: Create workspaces in IBM Cognos

IBM Cognos Analytics screenshot: IBM Cognos dashboard on iPad

IBM Cognos Analytics screenshot: IBM Cognos Insight

IBM Cognos Analytics screenshot: IBM Cognos mobile app

IBM Cognos Analytics screenshot: IBM Cognos mobile

IBM Cognos Analytics screenshot: IBM Cognos sales reports

IBM Cognos Analytics screenshot: Share dashboards from iPads in IBM Cognos

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Non Profit

Public Administrations

Small Business

Microsoft Power BI converts data into rich interactive visualizations, utilizing business analytics tools to share dashboard-based insights across all devices

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a multi-language, multi-currency enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. The solution is designed for midsize and larger companies, and is fully customizable and extensible through its rich development platform and tools.

Infor OS is a BI product that promises to enable a single view of data and eliminate data silos. Additionally, decentralized teams and individual users can augment this shared analytic fabric with their own local data, without compromising data governance. This consistency comes from a unified semantic layer, which maintains common definitions and key metrics, no matter where users sit. The platform can be deployed to a fully managed cloud or client managed cloud/on-premises.

Phocas delivers cloud-based BI and FP&A solutions for mid-market distribution, manufacturing and retail businesses. Seamlessly integrating with ERP systems, it simplifies data analysis, streamlines financial planning, and empowers teams to uncover insights, forecast accurately, and drive growth.

"What If" Scenarios

Accounts Payable

Accounts Receivable

Ad hoc Analysis

Approval Process Control

Audit Trail

Bank Reconciliation

Big Data Analytics

Billing & Invoicing

Budgeting/Forecasting

Cash Flow Management

Cash Management

Chart of Accounts

Charting

Consolidation/Roll-Up

Customization

Data Integration

Data Management

Database Support

Expense Tracking

Financial Analysis

Financial Management

For Small Businesses

General Ledger

Income & Balance Sheet

Monitoring

Multi-Company

Multi-Currency

Multi-Department/Project

Profit/Loss Statement

Quantitative Analysis

Reporting & Statistics

Sales Trend Analysis

Scenario Planning

Self-Service Reporting

Statistical Analysis

Templates

Version Control

Visual Discovery

Phocas

Android

Linux

Windows

iPad

iPhone

sales person

I would say it is a positive experience helps me track what sale are most profitable. I would 100% recommend it to anyone looking to grow sales.

Commercial Administration Manager

The ease to use and train employees on this BI tool makes it best in the market. The power of building your own databases, customizing reports and the level of customer service is outstanding.

Area Manager

My overall experience with Phocas has been excellent, we use the system to monitor growing and declining sales to protect out business and easily identify buying gaps to help increase sales.

Phocas is very easy to use, very intuitive and provides excellent business information. It is relatively inexpensive per user and at times, worth its weight in gold.

Marketing Co-ordinator

Ease of use and navigation, ability to customise and a perfect support team.

Finance Director

I am most excited about the ability to draw in different strands of information from the various software platforms we operate as part of the business.

It is so useful to be able to track my sales and returns. It also has many great features for tracking sales and proformance.

Director I.T. Services

Ease of implementation, Ease of training, Ease of Customer service. Price point sealed the deal.

customer care advocate

What I like most about Phocas is the ease of use.

IBM Cognos Analytics vs Phocas Comparison (2026)

IBM Cognos Analytics vs Phocas Comparison (2026)

IBM Cognos Analytics

Phocas

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives