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Bharti Goel
- October 7, 2019
In 2019, Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms provided a surprise for both buyers and providers of BI Consulting. For the first time, Microsoft Power BI, a business intelligence tool always lagged a little behind its main competitor, Tableau, had finally surpassed it. So, Power BI vs Tableau – Which one is going to lead?
We need to know what has made Microsoft Power BI rage ahead in this fierce race to the top. Is it Microsoft’s constant investment in the tool, or is it the affordable price? Or could it be Tableau’s uncertain future with Salesforce’s acquisition for a hefty $15.7 billion?
Whatever the reasons behind these market positions, you can be sure that this rivalry is set to continue.
In this fast-paced world of Machine Learning and surplus data, everyone needs the help of some visual data analysis tools.
So comes the question again, which one is the best tool for you?
While Power BI is the less expensive of the two, its scaled features and additional users make up for the lower price.
Tableau, on the other is a data analyst’s dream, while Power BI is more in tune with the needs of the general public.
The key parameters for using such tools are ease of use, brand recognition, power, and price. So what makes Tableau and Power BI the market leaders in the business intelligence space? Let’s have a deeper look.
Tableau makes more bang for the buck by offering beautiful visualisations with extensive capabilities targeted for data engineers and companies with bigger budgets. We have a very comprehensive self-paced online certificate course on Tableau.
Whereas Power BI is a prime option for quick access to specific analytics or intensive reporting. It has extensive R and big data related to integrations that are better for smaller companies looking for more affordable solutions.
Comparison: Power BI vs Tableau
| S. No. | Basis of Differentiation | Power BI | Tableau |
| 1 | Date Established | 2015 | 2003 |
| 2 | For whom | Beginner as well as advanced users | Advanced user or Data Analysts |
| 3 | Price | Power BI Desktop Free Version: Data cleaning and preparation, Customization, and the ability to publish to the Power BI service.
Pro Version: $9.99/month. Data sharing, building dashboards with a 360-degree real-time view, and the ability to publish reports anywhere. |
Tableau Viewer: $12/user/month. View and interact with dashboards and visualizations in a secure, easy-to-use platform.
Tableau Explorer: $35/user/month. Explore trusted data and answer your questions faster with full self-service analytics. |
| 4 | Trial period | Users can try it for free for 60 days before purchasing the subscription | Users can try it for free for 14 days before purchasing the subscription – Get a 1-year free license if you are a student or teacher |
| 5 | Create Visualizations Online | Y | Y |
| 6 | Desktop Version Available for | Windows Only | Windows and Mac |
| 7 | Multiple Visualizations representation | Can be done on both Page & dashboard | Can be done on Dashboard but not on a worksheet |
| 8 | Extension/ Name | PBIX/ Report | TWB/ Workbook |
| 9 | Terms Used | Report, Visuals, Pages | Workbook, Visualizations, Worksheet |
| 10 | Ask a Question Feature | Q&A | Ask Data |
| 11 | Data Cleaning & Transformation Tool | Power Query | Tableau Prep |
| 12 | Data Warehousing | As per Start Schema | No Schema as such depends upon various other factors |
| 13 | Name of Visualization Section | Visualizations | Show Me |
| 14 | Visual Marketplace | Yes | NA |
| No. of Visualizations | Power BI has 31 built-in visualizations. In Power BI you can import additional visualizations from the Marketplace (some you must purchase). | Tableau has 24 built-in Show Me options. | |
| 15 | Backend Language | M Query | VizQL |
| 16 | Walkthrough Visualization | There is no way to walk through visualizations in a storyboard format | Stories |
| 18 | Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | Company Investment | It is better for smaller companies looking for more affordable solutions. | It is a value for money service for data engineers and if the company’s budget is bigger. |
| 20 | Integration | Being a Microsoft-based product, it has many pre-built dashboards and APIs (Application Program Interface) for ready insights from popular services such as Salesforce, Google Analytics, and other Microsoft products. | Offers support for JavaScripts. But it is less reliant on customized programming as you need to identify which tool and data to be used to make a connection. |
| 21 | Deployment | SaaS-based Model A software application that is hosted by a provider on their servers, but accessible to users across the Internet. | It has got both on-premise and cloud services. On-premise means that a company keeps all of this IT environment onsite either managed by themselves or a third party. Cloud means that it is housed offsite with someone else responsible for monitoring and maintaining the data. |
| 22 | Data Sources and Data Access | Access to External Sources like Oracle, SAP, MySQL, etc. Users can connect to the Microsoft Azure database, third-party database, and some well-known online services like Salesforce and Google analytics. | Offers more external, Third-party database and data access services than Power BI has. |
| 23 | Data visualization | – Numerous visualization types donut charts, combo charts, gauge charts. Real-time access to data with a drag-and-drop facility. – Utilizes many of the same functions as Excel for visually appealing and informative reports. |
– Tableau lets you create various visualizations such as line chart, Gantt chart, scatter plot, and more. – It provides opportunities for visualizing geographical data with maps including graphics in tables and also allows using different forecasting models. – Having invested heavily in advanced data federated, clustering, segmentation, and powerful analytics functions Tableau is the clear leader. |
| 24 | Data Performance | The datapoint limit for Power BI is 3,500, so dashboard design can or can not be sufficient. | It does not have any limit for data points so users can create dashboards of any size. |
| 25 | Analytics and Reporting | Better for predictive analytics. | Better with advanced and complex dataset analytics. |
| 26 | Decision Services | It can be used as a financial analysis tool with fraud protection, and compliance monitoring.
Collaborated with companies like DELL, Avande Inc. for the Power BI-partner program. A Team of over 300 organizations is bringing solutions and expertise to users. |
Assist in data analysis interpretation with Fraud detection tools and self-service data preparation. More control over governance and metadata management. Also, there is an addition to embedded advanced analytics. |
| 27 | Data Storage | In the Free Version, users can have up to 1 GB of data storage capacity.
In the Pro Version, Each workspace/group could handle up to 10 GB of Data. For more than 10 GB, data needs to be in the Cloud. |
It stores unique values for each column making it possible to fetch billions of rows. At the same time, it has data storage of 15 GB for a personal workbook and 100 GB for an online site. |
| 28 | Compatibility | – Has a basic setup with Azure tenant that connects to your Power BI through an Office 365 admin interface. It can quickly connect to existing spreadsheets, data sources, and apps via built-in connections and API.
– Users needing to use Power BI independently of the Microsoft stack can become a stumbling block. However, Power BI does offer an on-premise solution albeit at a higher price requires installing Power BI Server and SQL Server regardless. |
– Can install Tableau on any Windows-run device and use it without Microsoft SQL Server.
– Has a list of available connections on display. Can start connecting to your data sources and build your visualizations. You can also share them via Tableau Server or Tableau Online. |
| 29 | Customer Support | Customer support functionality is limited for users with a free Power BI account. | Direct support is available by phone. You can also email by logging into the customer portal to submit a support ticket. |
Similarities (Power BI vs Tableau)
| Basis | Power BI | Tableau |
Set-Up |
Has a basic setup with Azure tenant that connects to your Power BI through an Office 365 admin interface. It can quickly connect to existing spreadsheets, data sources, and apps via built-in connections and API. | It also has a basic setup with a list of available connections on display. Can start connecting to your data sources and build your visualisations. You can also share them via Tableau Server or Tableau Online. |
Machine Learning |
This tool allows you to ask questions of the data, such as “how often are sales promotions needed?” or “which geographic area has maximum sales?” |
It also has a similar feature to Power BI’s natural language query tool that Tableau calls “Ask Data”. Additionally, it has the “What if question” feature that enables users to ask questions like “what if the ratio is X, not Y?” |
Online resources and Community forums |
It also includes guided learning, a user community forum, and samples of how partners use the platform. | It guides you about getting started, best practices and how to optimally use the platform’s top features.
Users can also access the Tableau community forum and attend training and other events. |
Live Data Access |
It has real-time data access and easy-to-use drag and drop features. | It also features drag-and-drop features. And gives you live query capabilities and extracts that are helpful for data analysts. |
User Interface |
Power BI is more user-friendly with its drag-and-drop functionality. | Easy to use, also comes with Drag-and-drop functionality. |
Conclusion: Power BI vs Tableau – Which one wins?
To put it simply, you cannot isolate the comparisons between Tableau and Power BI. While Power BI offers more compatibility within the Microsoft ecosystem, Tableau’s advantage lies in self-contained data visualization and its advanced capabilities and scalability.
If Data visualisation is your priority, then Tableau is the clear winner. Power BI, on the other hand, is a better choice when it comes to predictive modeling and reporting with superb serviceability and a lower cost of ownership.
However, Tableau is a better option. Though Power BI is narrowing the gap with significant investments of Microsoft in its enhancements and updates. This is reflected in the latest Gartner report of 2019. The report states that “Microsoft Power BI is a market leader” of the business intelligence platforms.
“Well, then… should you invest in Tableau? Would Power BI benefit me more?” The war between Power BI vs Tableau continues.
Power BI and Tableau remain the closest competitors. Both deserve the user’s trust, so the answer would be that it’s too soon to comment on a clear winner yet. We provide the training for these tools – Power BI & Tableau, apart from other skills development training to the corporate.
FAQ: Power BI or Tableau
1. I’ve always worked with Excel, do I really need to learn Power BI or Tableau now?
Yes, absolutely. Excel is great for static reporting, but the Power BI tool and Tableau tool are built for interactive dashboards, automation, and deeper insights. They help you move from just reporting numbers to understanding stories behind data.
2. If Power BI is cheaper, why do so many companies still prefer Tableau?
Because Tableau still leads when it comes to advanced visualisation and design freedom. Power BI is more affordable and integrates better with Microsoft products, but Tableau’s visuals feel smoother and more customizable, especially for data-heavy teams.
3. How do I decide which one is right for me, Power BI or Tableau?
Ask yourself what you’ll use it for. If your work revolves around reports, Excel data, or Office 365, go for Power BI. If you love exploring data deeply, designing visuals, and working across large datasets, Tableau might fit better.
4. Is the Power BI tool enough to get a good analytics job, or should I also learn Tableau?
Power BI alone can get you started; it’s in huge demand across industries. But learning Tableau too gives you an edge. Many analysts switch between the tools depending on the project or client.
5. I’m just starting. Which is easier to learn: Power BI or Tableau?
The Power BI tool is easier for beginners, especially if you’ve used Excel. Tableau takes a little more practice because it offers more design control, but once you get it, you’ll love the creative side of it.
6. Why do some companies use both Power BI and Tableau together? Isn’t that redundant?
It sounds redundant, but it isn’t. Some teams use Power BI for company-wide reporting (since it’s cheaper and ties into Microsoft systems) and Tableau for deeper data exploration or client-facing visuals.
7. Does Tableau really perform better with large data than Power BI, or is that just hype?
When we compare Power BI vs Tableau, people usually ask which works better with larger data. So, Tableau genuinely handles huge datasets more smoothly. Power BI can slow down a bit with extremely large data, unless you use premium setups or optimise models. However, this issue is also improving with time.
8. I work in a small company. Is investing in Tableau even worth it?
If the budget is tight, start with Power BI. It’ll do most of what you need and integrates easily with your existing data. Tableau makes sense if your company plans to scale fast and handle complex, multi-source data later.
9. How often do these tools update? I don’t want to learn something that goes obsolete fast.
Both update frequently. Power BI gets monthly updates from Microsoft; Tableau rolls out major improvements every quarter. Learning either is a safe long-term bet.
10. I’m planning to build a career in data. Should I start with Power BI or Tableau first?
Start with Power BI. It’s simpler, cheaper, and gives you a quick entry into analytics. Once you’re comfortable, pick up Tableau; mastering both will make you unstoppable in the BI world. You can even learn Power BI through Edu4Sure’s structured training program, which helps you build real projects and earn a recognised certificate to boost your career confidence. We also help in Business Analyst Interview Preparation for jobs which require knowledge of such tools.
For any Training/ Online course on Power BI or Tableau, drop us an email at partner@edu4sure.com / WhatsApp at +91-95.5511.5533
