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Microsoft Power BI Logo

BI visualization and reporting for desktop, web or mobile

Table of Contents

Microsoft Power BI - 2026 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives

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All user reviews are verified by in-house moderators and provider data by our software research team.  Learn more

Last updated: March 2026

Microsoft Power BI overview

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Based on 1872 verified user reviews

What is Microsoft Power BI?

Microsoft Power BI is a data visualization solution with key features that include data visualization, reporting and analytics, data import and export, customizable dashboards, and data connectors, and more.

Who uses Microsoft Power BI?

Reviews for Microsoft Power BI come from a wide variety of industries, including Information Technology and Services (12% of reviewers), Computer Software (9%), and Financial Services (3%). The most frequent use case for Microsoft Power BI cited by reviewers is data visualization (61% of reviewers).

What do users say about Microsoft Power BI pricing?

Reviewers appreciate the strong value for money, especially for Office 365 users, and they like the free version's substantial functionality. However, some reviewers find the free plan limited and report that pricing and licensing can be confusing and restrictive.

What are the most popular integrations for Microsoft Power BI?

The Microsoft Power BI integrations most frequently cited by reviewers are: Microsoft Excel (a spreadsheet product rated 4.8 out of 5 for its integration with Microsoft Power BI), Microsoft 365 (a document management product, 4.7), and Microsoft SQL Server (a database product, 4.7).

Starting price

10per user /
per month

Alternatives

with better value for money


Pros & Cons

Data Analysis

Data Dashboards

Reporting

Performance and Speed

Limited and unintuitive customization

Platform limitations and feature gaps

Microsoft Power BI’s user interface

Ease of use rating:

Microsoft Power BI pros, cons and reviews insights

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To determine these pros and cons insights, we analyzed responses from 

Overall rating

Reviews sentiment

 
 
 
1-2(13)
3-4(675)
5(1,184)

What do users say about Microsoft Power BI?

Microsoft Power BI is a data visualization solution with key features that include data visualization, reporting and analytics, data import and export, customizable dashboards, and data connectors, and more.

Select to learn more


Who uses Microsoft Power BI?

Based on 1,872 verified user reviews.

Company size

Small Businesses

Enterprises

Midsize Businesses

Top industries

Health, Wellness and Fitness
Computer Software
Financial Services
Information Technology and Services
Others

Use cases

Data Analysis
Data Visualization
Reporting
Dashboard
Business Intelligence

Microsoft Power BI's key features

GetApp's analysis of 206 verified user reviews collected between July 2021 and September 2024 identifies Microsoft Power BI's most critical features and summarizes user sentiment about those features.

Data visualization

Reviewers appreciate Microsoft Power BI's data visualization capabilities, highlighting its ability to transform complex data into clear, interactive graphics. They find it user-friendly, allowing for easy interpretation by non-technical users. Users report that it supports various visual elements like charts, dashboards, and KPIs, which aid in decision-making. They also value the customization options available, though some mention a need for more specialized visuals. The integration with other Microsoft products enhances its utility. Of the 134 Microsoft Power BI users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Data Visualization, 100% rated this feature as important or highly important.

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“This product wouldn't be my first choice in data visualization but it gets the job done.”
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Irvin D.

Software Developer

“Overall, it’s a powerful and flexible tool for data visualization and analysis, particularly favored for its integration with other Microsoft products.”
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Brittney B.

Digital Consultant

“After demo-ing the product it my organisation, it became the primary software for visualisation replication Google Data Studio.”
JH

James H.

Head of Data - EMEA


Reporting/Analytics

Reviewers indicate that Microsoft Power BI's reporting and analytics capabilities are robust and comprehensive. They find it useful for generating detailed reports and performing in-depth analysis, which aids in informed decision-making. Users appreciate the seamless integration with various data sources, including Excel, and the ability to create visually engaging reports. They also mention the tool's flexibility in customizing reports to meet specific business needs, though some note challenges with data refresh rates. Of the 116 Microsoft Power BI users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Reporting/Analytics, 100% rated this feature as important or highly important.


Data import/export

Users report that Microsoft Power BI offers flexible data import/export capabilities, supporting various sources and formats like Excel, SQL Server, and CSV. They appreciate the ease of importing large datasets and the ability to export data in multiple formats for further analysis. However, some users find exporting data from Power BI challenging and mention that it requires advanced skills. The integration with other tools and services facilitates smooth data migration and comprehensive analysis. Of the 82 Microsoft Power BI users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Data Import/Export, 99% rated this feature as important or highly important.


Customizable dashboard

Reviewers highlight the customizable dashboard capabilities of Microsoft Power BI, noting the ability to tailor dashboards to specific business needs. They appreciate the wide range of customization options, including colors, fonts, and layouts, which enhance the visual appeal and usability of dashboards. Users find it easy to create and modify dashboards, though some mention a need for more text options and advanced technical skills for complex customizations. The capability supports company branding and interactive elements. Of the 43 Microsoft Power BI users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Customizable Dashboard, 98% rated this feature as important or highly important.


Data connectors

Reviewers appreciate Microsoft Power BI's extensive data connectors, which facilitate integration with various data sources like Excel, SQL databases, and cloud services. They find the built-in connectors useful for seamless data access and real-time information updates. Users report that the wide range of connectors supports diverse data platforms, enhancing the tool's versatility. However, some mention challenges with connecting to certain data sources and the need for technical support for complex integrations. Of the 88 Microsoft Power BI users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Data Connectors, 93% rated this feature as important or highly important.


Dashboard creation

Users report that Microsoft Power BI simplifies dashboard creation with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and robust visualization options. They find it easy to design interactive, insightful dashboards that consolidate multiple reports and real-time data. Reviewers appreciate the tool's ability to create visually appealing dashboards that aid in storytelling and decision-making. They also value the customization options available, though some mention initial challenges for new users and a desire for more templates. Of the 56 Microsoft Power BI users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Dashboard Creation, 93% rated this feature as important or highly important.

See related user reviews

“Power BI has an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for users of all skill levels to create interactive reports and dashboards.”
BC

Bien C.

Systems and Service Operation Analyst

“I use it to connect our sources between them, build graphs on a same dashboard and integrate viewers.”
JM

Jason M.

Owner

“A very professional tool for creating dashboards with a wide variety of charts and supports publishing dashboards with just a simple click to audiences that you can define in the workspace access rights menu.”
SK

Shrutika K.

Sourcing Manager

“We utilize different dashboards tailored to various departments, with different permission levels and specific needs.”
EC

Evelyn C.

VBP Contract Manager


All Microsoft Power BI features

Features rating:

Activity dashboard
Ad hoc Analysis
Ad hoc query
Ad hoc reporting
AI/Machine learning
API
Charting
Collaboration tools
Customizable reports
Customization
Dashboard
Data blending
Data cleansing
Data discovery
Data management
Data mining
Data modeling
Data synchronization
Data transformation
Data warehousing
Forecasting
Geographic maps
High volume processing
Integration into third party applications
Interactive reports
KPI monitoring
Mobile access
Monitoring
Multiple data sources
Natural language search
Real-Time analytics
Real-Time data
Real-Time reporting
Real-Time updates
Reporting & statistics
Self-service analytics
Self service data preparation
Single page view
Templates
Visual analytics

Microsoft Power BI alternatives

Microsoft Power BI logo

Starting from

10

/user

Per month

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
Value for Money
Customer Support
Tableau logo

Starting from

15

/user

Per month

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
Value for Money
Customer Support

Starting from

Free

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
Value for Money
Customer Support
MATLAB logo

Starting from

203.63

Per year

Free trial
Free version
Ease of Use
Features
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Customer Support

Microsoft Power BI pricing

Value for money rating:

Pricing plans

Pricing details:

Free plan
Free trial
Subscription

Power BI in Microsoft Fabric free account

0.00

/user

Features included:

  • Create reports with Power BI Desktop5
  • Data security and encryption

Power BI Pro

10

/user

Per month

Features included:

  • 1 GB Model Size Limit
  • AI Visuals
  • Create Reports and Visualizations
  • Data Security and Encryption
  • Embed Apis and Controls
  • Mobile App Access
  • Publish Reports
  • Refresh Rate - 8/Day
  • Create Power BI Pro workspaces
  • Share datasets, dashboards, and reports
  • Use and collaborate on Power BI in Microsoft Teams
  • Get intelligent and augmented analytics capabilities
  • Discover and interact with other users' datasets, dashboards, and reports

Power BI Premium - Per User

20

/user

Per month

Features included:

  • 100 GB Model Size Limit
  • Advanced AI
  • AI Visuals
  • Application Lifecycle Management
  • Create Reports and Visualizations
  • Dataflows
  • Data Security and Encryption
  • Embed Apis and Controls
  • Mobile App Access
  • Paginated (RDL) Reports
  • Publish Reports
  • Refresh Rate - 48/Day
  • Advanced AI, dataflows, datamarts, and XMLA endpoint read/write

User opinions about Microsoft Power BI price and value

Value for money rating:

To see what individual users think of Microsoft Power BI's price and value, check out the review snippets below.

“The visuals are clean, the refresh options are powerful, and it makes analysis fast and user-friendly even with large datasets.”
SB

Sachita B.

Student

“It allowed me to connect multiple data sources and add in relationships between tables so I could have multiple different ways of looking at complex data sets.”
JC

Jaya C.

System Engineer

Microsoft Power BI integrations (11)

Integrations rated by users

We looked at 1,872 user reviews to identify which products are mentioned as Microsoft Power BI integrations and how users feel about them.

Integration rating: 4.7 (223)

Integration rating: 4.7 (94)

Integration rating: 4.6 (38)

Critical business based applications requiring 100% uptime.

Easy integration to pull data sets I need.

BS

Ben S.

Infrastructure Architect

1/2

Integration rating: 4.4 (24)

Integration rating: 4.6 (20)

Integration rating: 4.5 (16)

Microsoft Power BI customer support

What do users say about Microsoft Power BI customer support?

Customer support rating:

We analyzed verified user reviews to identify positive and negative aspects of Microsoft Power BI customer support.

Widely noted by reviewers, Power BI offers extensive community support, with fast answers available via forums and online resources.

A significant portion of users find Microsoft's official documentation and knowledge base thorough, making troubleshooting much easier.

Multiple users highlight the professionalism and technical strength of the support staff when direct assistance is needed.

A minority of users report that direct customer support is hard to reach and often less effective than community-based help.

Support options

Email/help desk
Chat
Knowledge base
Faqs/forum
Phone support
24/7 (live rep)

Training options

Videos
Documentation
Webinars
Live online
In person

To see what individual users say about Microsoft Power BI's customer support, check out the review snippets below.

“Experience with Microsoft Power BI was really good and their support is a strong plus”

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Sai R.

Client Project Manager

“The support documentation Microsoft provides has been excellent and a huge aid in learning Power BI.”

ES

Evan S.

IT Business Analyst

Microsoft Power BI FAQs

Q. What is Microsoft Power BI used for?

Microsoft Power BI is a suite of analytics tools for analyzing business data and sharing insights via rich visualizations. Customizable and pre-built dashboards unify important metrics into single views, showing real time updates to every device. The centralized, web-based Power BI service interfaces Power BI gateways to connect to and unify organizational data while Power BI Desktop for Windows provides local data mashup and report authoring features. Live dashboards offer an instant 360-view on business health, leveraging 59 out-of-the-box connections for apps or services such as Salesforce, Google Analytics, Azure, Facebook, Github, QuickBooks Online, Twilio and Zendesk. Power BI brings all that data, wherever it resides, together to form a complete picture of key metrics that can then be queried using natural language. With Power BI Desktop, users can author reports using intuitive drag-and-drop tools and share amongst colleagues through the online Power BI Service. Integrating with Microsoft’s established Query engine, data modeling and visualization technologies, Power BI Desktop connects, shapes and reports to centralize a typically disjointed process of reporting. Outputting to .pbix format, these report files can then be manually shared like any other or uploaded to the shared service. In addition, this ability to keep all users on the same page at all times extends to a suite of optimized mobile support. Power BI Mobile keeps remote connectivity consistent across native apps for Windows Mobile, iOS and Android devices, adding intuitive gesture-based operation. Live dashboards can be viewed on the fly, alongside full report sharing capabilities and data-driven alerts.

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