Knowage vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services comparison

Knowage and Microsoft are both solutions in the Reporting category. Knowage is ranked #24, while Microsoft is ranked #6 with an average rating of 7.6. Knowage holds a 0.8% mindshare in RT, compared to Microsoft’s 3.4% mindshare. Additionally, 85% of Knowage users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 84% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Knowage

Read 18 Knowage reviews

468 Views
360 Comparison Views

85% willing to recommend

Microsoft SQL Server Report...

Read 20 Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services reviews

2,819 Views
1,843 Comparison Views

84% willing to recommend

Knowage

Microsoft SQL Server Report...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

Knowage and Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) compete in business intelligence and data analytics. SSRS appears superior due to its robust feature set, justifying its higher price point.

Features: Knowage offers open-source flexibility, data exploration, and compatibility with numerous data sources. SSRS excels in integration with Microsoft tools, advanced reporting, and seamless data management.

Room for Improvement: Knowage could benefit from enhanced reporting templates, user interface refinement, and improved scalability. SSRS should focus on reducing complexity in multi-platform deployment, enhancing non-Microsoft data source integration, and improving customization options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Knowage's deployment is simpler in open-source settings, with platform flexibility. SSRS benefits from integration with Microsoft infrastructure, offering efficient deployment within Microsoft environments and robust customer support via Microsoft's networks.

Pricing and ROI: Knowage typically incurs lower costs due to its open-source nature, offering a good ROI for budget-conscious projects. SSRS might involve higher costs through licensing but provides significant ROI by integrating with Microsoft investments and advanced tools.

To learn more, read our detailed Knowage vs. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Knowage vs. Microsoft SQL Servering Services

April 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Knowage

Ranking in Reporting

24th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

BI (Business Intelligence) Tools (32nd)

Microsoft SQL Server Report...

Ranking in Reporting

6th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Reporting category, the mindshare of Knowage is 0.8%, down from 0.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is 3.4%, down from 4.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Reporting

Featured Reviews

AbdulshukoorMohammed

General Manager Information Technology & Enterprise Applications Manager at OXFORD HOLDING

Easy to customize, cross-platform capable, and very stable

The only challenge here is that it's a Java-based platform. It requires very high technical skills. When we come to the integration with the single sign-on facilities, that part is very challenging. In Power BI and other tools, it's very easy to integrate with active directory and single sign-on, and identity management is very easy in other business intelligence tools. However, when it comes to Knowage, it's a bit heavy, it's time-consuming sometimes, it's not very fast, and definitely not as fast as other business intelligence tools in terms of getting graphical reports. The solution could be cheaper.

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Gnanavel-Chakkarapani

Junior Consultant at CMA CGM

Offers useful templates but needs to improve the connectivity offered

In Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, not much of the interface part is used. With Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, its users face issues with the interface after they use Excel or create Microsoft SSIS Packages. The tool's interface is an area of concern requiring improvement. There needs to be an improvement in the product's connectivity so that the tool can connect easily with other third-party databases. In the dashboard, drag and drop functionality needs to improve, especially when compared to other tools like IBM Cognos Analytics and Qlik Sense. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is useful only for standard reports. In IBM Cognos Analytics, query studio can be used by users to drag the data and simply download the reports, so the user doesn't need to have any technical knowledge like developers. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is to be improved to offer features like query Studio, which is provided in IBM Cognos Analytics.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"We can easily do our own customizations."

"I can't name the features the way the Knowage community calls them because I still don't know the lingo. However, I can describe them. I like the ability to join more than one report, set all fields on one end, and replicate that on the other reports. I like that a lot. I think it's one of the features that got me using Knowage. They have tables, and I like that too. They took SQL scripts and many other scripts and enabled them to even correlate with Python. That's also one of the best things about Knowage. You could also decide to get information per user role, and this is also a feature that I like in Knowage."

"The concept of engines is quite powerful allowing the user to work with report authoring/provisioning tools of their choice."

"The embedding feature is great."

"We get good support from Microsoft."

"Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services has been functional whenever I needed to use it."

"The solution's features are all just wrapped up in one nice easy package. I don't need a lot of toolsets to get everything I need done."

"In Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, the installation and configuration are easy."

"We were able to embed the report builder within our internal proprietary systems, improving our reporting capabilities."

"It is scalable."

"The SQL Server Reporting Services makes it very easy to get the data whenever we need it."

"With SQL Server Reporting Services, I can create reports and printable reports, known as paginated reports."

More Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services pros

Cons

"It would be better if more resources were available to help us learn how to use it. I wanted to use Knowage for a more extended period, but learning materials around the product were not really available and were not really straightforward. I've also seen inconsistencies between versions. For example, under the tools, especially in the cockpit, the way you create reports is now different. You will also find some configurations within a particular state, like a line chart, which differs from version to version. I think consistency is an essential feature in a product, especially for business intelligence products."

"The dashboard components could be better."

"The only challenge here is that it's a Java-based platform. It requires very high technical skills."

"Development of SpagoBI has now been moved to Knowage. Users interested in further developments of the platform will have to look there."

"We have had issues with the refresh interval since we have too many reports scheduled. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is also expensive."

"The setup is difficult because you have to install different servers."

"They could improve the scalability and stability of SQL Server Reporting Services."

"The solution's interface is old."

"We encounter some barriers while trying to build a report."

"I would like the solution to add the scheduling feature for reports."

"Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services needs to improve performance."

"Sometimes, we need to make sure that the configuration stays consistent across the reporting instances. They all connect to the same database. So, it shares that same backend, but the reporting services itself can also be configured. On the application level, for reporting level. And it is, based on my own experience, it is a manual effort to make sure that the reporting servers are configured the same across the environment."

More Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It allows the implementation of an effective reporting system using internal skills at a limited upfront cost."

"Knowage is open-source, and an enterprise edition is also available."

"The solution is expensive."

"Value-wise, the solution's pricing is good for the price that we pay."

"The price is pretty good."

"The pricing is high."

"The solution is free to use for developers."

"The product pricing is reasonable in terms of suitable features for business."

"The solution is cheaper than its alternatives."

"The tool's licensing costs are expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Government

14%

Hospitality Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Financial Services Firm

14%

Government

12%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

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Earn 20 points

What do you like most about Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services?

I mainly use the solution for the ease of reporting and for executive dashboards.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services?

I don't recall the current pricing as it changes frequently.

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What needs improvement with Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services?

They could improve the scalability and stability of SQL Server Reporting Services. I haven't used it recently, so I can't provide detailed suggestions on improvements.

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Power BI vs Knowage

Compared 67% of the time

Procurify vs Knowage

Compared 33% of the time

More Knowage Competitors

TIBCO Jaspersoft vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Compared 18% of the time

Tableau vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Compared 16% of the time

IBM Cognos vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Compared 14% of the time

Oracle OBIEE vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Compared 12% of the time

SAP Crystal Reports vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Compared 9% of the time

More Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Knowage

April 2025

Download Knowage product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft SQL Servering Services

April 2025

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services report

Download Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services product report

Also Known As

SpagoBI

SQL Server Reporting Services, Microsoft SSRS, SSRS, MS SQL Server Reporting Services

Overview

Knowage (formerly SpagoBI) has a 14-years history. The actual release is the 6.3.

Knowage offers FULL ANALYTICAL CAPABILITIES, with a special focus on big data analytics and comprehensive support to rich and multi-source data analysis. Knowage provides different modules, each one focused on a specific domain but mutually combinable (Big Data, Smart Intelligence, Enterprise Reporting, Location Intelligence, Performance Management, Predictive Analysis). Moreover, Knowage is an OPEN SOURCE solution: the source code is freely accessible, everyone is allowed to join the community and build the own business solution to ensure strategic decision-making and improved productivity.

Knowage suite is supported by Engineering Group, the leading Italian software and services company, with about 10,000 people and more than 50 offices worldwide. Maintenance and support services (such as trainings, migration support, proof-of-concepts, etc) are provided by Engineering Group (KNOWAGE Labs) under subscription.

Knowage

At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our mission is grounded in both the world in which we live and the future we strive to create. Today, we live in a mobile-first, cloud-first world, and the transformation we are driving across our businesses is designed to enable Microsoft and our customers to thrive in this world.

We do business in 170 countries and are made up of 114,000 passionate employees dedicated to fulfilling our mission of helping you and your organization achieve more.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

FIAT Group, Italian air navigation service provider, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Telecom Italia, ASL Genovese, San Giovanni Battista University Hospital

CMS Wire, The New York Times

Buyer's Guide

Knowage vs. Microsoft SQL Servering Services

April 2025

Free Report: Knowage vs. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

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