Data & Analytics comparison 
Microsoft Power BI vs Tableau
Our pick: Microsoft Power BI scores 8.7/10 against 8.6/10 for Tableau. Here's how they differ and which one fits your needs.
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft's BI platform with Copilot
8.7/10From $14/user/moOur pick
Visit Microsoft Power BI VS
At a glance
| Microsoft Power BI | Tableau | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.7/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Best for | Enterprises, Analysts | Enterprises, BI analysts |
| Type | BI & dashboards | BI & dashboards |
| Pricing | Free plan | Paid |
| Starting price | $14/user/mo | See website |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, iOS, Android | Web, Windows, Mac |
| Launched | 2015 | 2003 |
Key features
Microsoft Power BI
- Interactive reports
- Copilot
- DAX
- Microsoft Fabric
- Excel integration
Tableau
- Visual dashboards
- Tableau AI
- Tableau Pulse
- Data prep
- Salesforce integration
Microsoft Power BI: pros and cons
Pros
- Affordable for Microsoft shops
- Huge community
Cons
- Copilot needs Fabric capacity
- DAX learning curve
Tableau: pros and cons
Pros
- Best-in-class visualisation
- Mature ecosystem
Cons
- Expensive licensing
- AI features tied to higher tiers
Verdict: Microsoft Power BI or Tableau?
Choose Microsoft Power BI if you're enterprises or analysts and value affordable for Microsoft shops.
Choose Tableau if you're enterprises or bi analysts and value best-in-class visualisation.
Overall we rate Microsoft Power BI slightly higher. Both are worth trying, and at least one has a free plan or trial. See all Data & Analytics tools for more options.
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