Microsoft Power BI Reviews

Name: Microsoft Power BI
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 4.0 (321 reviews)

Vendor: Microsoft

4.0 out of 5

321 reviews
93% willing to recommend

12K followers

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What is Microsoft Power BI?

Microsoft Power BI is a powerful tool for data analysis and visualization. This tool stands out for its ability to merge and analyze data from various sources. Widely adopted across different industries and departments, Power BI is instrumental in creating visually appealing dashboards and generating insightful business intelligence reports. Its intuitive interface, robust visualization capabilities, and seamless integration with other Microsoft applications empower users to easily create interactive reports and gain valuable insights.

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Microsoft Power BI is the #1 ranked solution in top Business Intelligence Tools and top Reporting Tools. PeerSpot users give Microsoft Power BI an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. Microsoft Power BI is most commonly compared to Tableau: Microsoft Power BI vs Tableau. Microsoft Power BI is popular among the midsize enterprise segment, accounting for 46% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 39% of all views.

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Featured Microsoft Power BI reviews

James Balbach

Executive Director, Decision Support at Community Health Network

Power BI is a general-use visualization system. I can express the performance of our network through high-level key performance indicators. It allows me to show detailed improvements in quality and safety and patient experience. I create improvement dashboards for task forces and work teams. I have built analytic dashboards that guide analytics, enabling research and dataset manipulation.

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Shoury Priyanshu

Senior Manager, Strategy & Consulting at Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd

One of the key factors why I use Power BI is because it's very flexible with other Microsoft tools. The entire ETL process is easy and supports many databases, allowing data pipelines from multiple sources to be gathered in one place for visualization. This is the key aspect I like about it.

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Raymond De Rooij

Product Owner at ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

I use Microsoft Power BI as a customer and within the organization to create dashboards and insights into data. I also build dashboards and use Microsoft Power BI to analyze data One of the most valuable features of Microsoft Power BI is its easy way of sharing data within the organization or…

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Microsoft Power BI mindshare

Product category:

As of May 2025, the mindshare of Microsoft Power BI in the BI (Business Intelligence) Tools category stands at 21.4%, down from 22.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

BI (Business Intelligence) Tools

PeerResearch reports based on Microsoft Power BI reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	BI (Business Intelligence) Tools	May 4, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	May 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Power BI vs Tableau	May 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Power BI vs Amazon QuickSight	May 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Power BI vs SAP Analytics Cloud	May 4, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Tableau	4.2	17.1%	89%	303 interviews Add to research
Teradata	4.1	0.8%	87%	76 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Microsoft Power BI's most valuable features include seamless integration with Microsoft tools, robust data visualization, and ease of use. Its self-service BI capabilities allow users to create and share interactive dashboards with minimal effort. The platform offers flexible connectivity to various data sources and provides powerful data modeling with DAX and Power Query. Users appreciate the ability to build custom visualizations and gain insights quickly, enhancing decision-making processes across organizations.

"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Power BI is the user experience."
"One of the most valuable features of Microsoft Power BI is its easy way of sharing data within the organization or outside."
"Power BI allows me to show detailed improvements in quality and safety and patient experience."

Room for Improvement

Microsoft Power BI requires performance enhancements as it struggles with large datasets, causing slowdowns. Users find its mobile and real-time data capabilities limited, impacting accessibility and responsiveness. Integration with non-Microsoft tools and better compatibility with various connectors are needed. The interface could be more intuitive, and error messages less generic. Users desire more built-in visualizations and improved customization options. Licensing and pricing structures are considered too complex and costly. Integration with machine learning and AI features is also desired.

"I face performance issues with Microsoft Power BI, which are unsolvable. There is a lack of features between the on-premises and cloud version, which poses a challenge for me."
"Performance can be an issue when there's too much data, and getting data into Microsoft Power BI via APIs can be slow."
"It is not leading the charge on scalability, but it meets expectations."

ROI

Companies report high ROI from Microsoft Power BI with some achieving it in under a month. Power BI's cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and scalability are praised. It simplifies data handling, enhances reporting, and improves BI capabilities. Increased revenue collection and time savings are noted, especially through automation and data-driven decisions. Users note Power BI's user-friendliness and security, although effectiveness varies with data complexity. Overall, Power BI is valued for its significant ROI across diverse applications.

Pricing

Microsoft Power BI pricing offers flexibility through various subscription options, including a free desktop version and tiered paid plans. The Pro license typically costs $10 per user per month, offering functionalities like report sharing and mobile access, while the Premium version, suitable for large-scale deployments, can start at $5,000 monthly. Many users appreciate its value compared to competitors like Tableau, noting it as cost-effective for both SMBs and enterprises despite potential complexity in higher-tier licenses.

"The solution's costs are quite reasonable given the range of features provided."
"I rate the product pricing a ten."
"Downloading Power BI Desktop is free."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations use Microsoft Power BI for data visualization, creating dashboards, and reporting across various sectors. They analyze financial data, manage business intelligence, and generate insights for decision-making. It handles multiple data sources, offering analytics for finance, education, healthcare, hospitality, and more. Users leverage it for predictive modeling, geospatial analysis, and KPI tracking. It integrates with ERP, enhances business operations, and assists in sales, marketing, and operational monitoring.

Service and Support

Customer service for Microsoft Power BI is frequently praised as responsive and helpful, although some find access challenging. Many users rely on online resources, forums, and communities due to the abundance of support available outside direct interaction. Technical support varies, with some finding it effective and prompt, while others encounter delays or lack of clarity. The community surrounding Microsoft Power BI is robust, providing additional avenues for assistance and problem-solving.

Deployment

Users generally find Microsoft Power BI's initial setup straightforward and easy, especially in a cloud environment. Familiarity with Microsoft ecosystems, such as SharePoint and SQL, aids the process. The installation is usually quick, taking from minutes to a few days. More complex setups, like those involving security models or data gateways, require more expertise and time. While straightforward for most, the integration of multiple components can introduce complexity, depending on specific requirements and data management needs.

Scalability

Microsoft Power BI is generally rated high for scalability, particularly in cloud environments, with options like Premium enhancing its capacity. Users report it accommodates various company sizes, but there can be constraints related to cost and specific data volumes. Though it generally meets expectations, large enterprise deployments might face challenges with simultaneous queries or big data handling. Users suggest experienced developers may be needed for optimal scaling, especially with complex configurations.

Stability

Microsoft Power BI is largely stable and reliable. Users report it performs well with smaller datasets but can experience slowdowns or challenges with large volumes of data. Connectivity and network conditions can impact stability. Many find it robust and efficient, though some users mention specific integration challenges or intermittent service issues. Power BI frequently updates to improve performance, and it remains a widely trusted and well-regarded tool.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Microsoft Power BI Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.