Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Reviews

Name: Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 3.8 (21 reviews)

3.8 out of 5

21 reviews
85% willing to recommend

What is Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services?

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Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is the #3 ranked solution in top Reporting Tools. PeerSpot users give Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services an average rating of 7.6 out of 10. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is most commonly compared to Microsoft Power BI: Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services vs Microsoft Power BI. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 55% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 14% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft SQL Servering Services

July 2025

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Helped 864,053 peers since 2012

Featured Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services reviews

MartinSimons

Senior Consultant at X1F

I would rate Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services a six out of ten. Although I have not used it extensively, when I have, it has at least worked adequately. The resources provided for it are satisfactory. On a scale of one to ten, I rate the overall solution as a six.

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Sunil_Shah

Senior software developer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is reliable for management dashboard and reporting purposes. It is helpful for user reporting and administrative tasks, such as monitoring progress. It is easy to use since it is lightweight and integrates well with the SQL Server database, making reporting straightforward. The visualization capabilities enhance our reporting needs with good pagination and KPI features. It integrates well with data servers and workbooks, allowing us to publish reports on mobile applications and tablets easily. Integrating other tools and platforms in our tech ecosystem is generally straightforward. However, if we need to perform something very specialized, we might have to use third-party tools rather than inbuilt options.

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Gnanavel-Chakkarapani

Junior Consultant at CMA CGM

Speaking about deploying and accessing reports with the help of the product, I would say that Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services can be easily installed and deployed. While working with reports using Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, my company needed to write SQL queries in the background for prompts, while the interface interacting with reports was not comfortable enough for users, especially when compared with other BI tools. With Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, the standard reports are generated. For real-time reporting and data analysis, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is used in 70 percent of our company, specifically in the collection and credit departments. The manager wants to separately analyze and freely move the data source so as to be able to find the solutions and ideas during the time owing to which they are not comfortable with Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. My company's managers want a good interface like the one provided by Cognos Dynamic Cubes, and because of this, I think my company plans to move to IBM Cognos Analytics in the future. On the reporting part, the dashboard attached to the tool's data visualization capability is not very interactive and doesn't offer multiple functionalities. Though I am not sure about the subscription and delivery features in the tool, I know that sending emails and reports is a good part of the product. There is a separate set of people mainly handling the migration activities of reports. One person is enough to maintain the tool. It is not easy to integrate the product with other tools in the market. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services integrates well with Microsoft tools. I have tried to integrate Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services with IBM Cognos TM1. I saw that fetching data was possible when moving to Cognos Dynamic Cubes, but I saw that some data sources, by default, show zero to all the dimension values, which is why my company had to use filters to remove the zeros. The aforementioned compatibility issues are present in the product. Before choosing a product, people should have knowledge of reporting. People can use the product for standard reports but not for the analytics part. I rate the tool a six out of ten.

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Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services mindshare

As of August 2025, the mindshare of Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services in the Reporting category stands at 3.4%, down from 4.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Reporting

PeerResearch reports based on Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Reporting	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services vs Microsoft Power BI	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services vs Tableau	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services vs Oracle OBIEE	Aug 1, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Microsoft Power BI	4.0	25.3%	93%	321 interviews Add to research
Tableau	4.2	20.7%	89%	307 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services offers a comprehensive package with robust security, seamless integration, and intuitive usability. Users appreciate its seamless compatibility with various databases and automated reporting capabilities. It efficiently handles data export in multiple formats and provides flexible reporting, allowing easy creation, formatting, and exporting. Valuable features include data visualization, standard reports, and user reporting, with excellent integration and report deployment options. Its lightweight nature integrates well with existing tech ecosystems.

"The best features of Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services are that it is easy to get the reports out because it is integrated with SQL and we have many of these tables."
"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."

Room for Improvement

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services requires enhancements in technical support for prompt problem resolution and needs performance optimization. Improvements are necessary in pricing, scheduling, visualization, connectivity, and interface. The setup process is complex, lacking Mac support. There are issues with integration, report deployment time, and user experience. The licensing cost is high. Users frequently cite Tableau's superior flexibility and user-friendliness. Enhancements in resource management, source code integration, and Copilot features are desired. Stability, scalability, and third-party database connections also need work.

"I haven't contacted Microsoft technical support because of this tool, but for some other things I have, and I found them quite lacking."
"They could improve the scalability and stability of SQL Server Reporting Services."
"There are occasions during maintenance runs when the Check Point monitoring system reports a lot of blocked sessions."

ROI

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services improved usability and added extensive reporting, enhancing decision-making capabilities. It was noted to save 60-70% of effort by reducing coding requirements. Reporting efficiency increased, leading to time and resource savings. ROI was estimated at around fifty percent; however, specific metrics were not always available. Organizations acknowledged significant benefits, primarily in efficiency and usability improvements.

Pricing

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services generally presents a mixed pricing perception among users. Many find it cost-effective compared to alternatives, despite some noting the licensing model as expensive and complex. The solution is free for developers, appealing due to its integration capabilities and reduced need for external tools. However, enterprise users acknowledge higher costs and suggest the pricing aligns with business needs. Overall, users often rate the pricing a seven out of ten.

"The pricing is high."
"The product pricing is reasonable in terms of suitable features for business."
"Value-wise, the solution's pricing is good for the price that we pay."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services for creating operational reports, dashboards, and management reporting. It allows exporting data into various formats like Excel and CSV and shares via email or FTP. Users integrate it within their systems for generating reports based on custom requirements. They utilize SSRS for monitoring, key performance indicators, financial and production reports, and ensuring seamless access and monitoring across different applications.

Service and Support

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services customer service and support receive mixed feedback. Some find it effective and timely, while others face delays and challenges in accessibility. Although technical support is often praised for its responsiveness and effectiveness, some users resort to FAQs, forums, and research for assistance. Microsoft's support is generally rated between 6.5 to 7.5 out of 10, with varying experiences, especially among medium-sized businesses. Some users avoid directly using Microsoft's support, relying on partners for complex licensing issues.

Deployment

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services' initial setup varies in complexity based on knowledge and deployment size. Many find it straightforward, completing in days, while others note more time and effort for complex environments. Familiarity with the software aids ease; however, advanced configuration requires added diligence. Installation and configuration are generally easy, receiving mixed ratings, often around seven out of ten. Maintenance typically remains manageable after setup.

Scalability

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services can be vertically scalable and suitable for various roles within organizations. Some users have experienced ease in scaling to accommodate growing demands, especially on a Microsoft platform. However, horizontal scalability presents challenges, and user opinions are mixed. While some rate scalability highly, others suggest improvements. It can support hundreds of users, but not everyone sees it fitting large enterprise needs. Users find it more manually intensive to maintain consistent configurations.

Stability

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services users find it stable, often rating its stability between seven to ten out of ten. Most face no major downtimes or significant issues, although some mention that performance can slow down with large data sets or during maintenance. While generally reliable, there are occasional variances due to newer security updates or software upgrades that might require reviewing release notes. Stability is not affected by network-related issues.

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

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Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

14%

Government

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

University

Healthcare Company

Legal Firm

Educational Organization

Insurance Company

Construction Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Comms Service Provider

Outsourcing Company

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Hospitality Company

Retailer

Performing Arts

Media Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Logistics Company

Consumer Goods Company

Transportation Company

Computer Retailer

Renewables & Environment Company

Compare Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services with alternative products

Learn more about Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

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Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services was previously known as SQL Server Reporting Services, Microsoft SSRS, SSRS, MS SQL Server Reporting Services.