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Visualize data, share insights, and ask questions with natural language

Free plan available, paid tiers aboveVisit Website
Reviews on G2 Capterra
3,548 reviews tracked 2 press mentions

The Bottom Line

Price
Free plan available, paid tiers above. Compare plans

Key facts

  • Microsoft BI for everyone
  • Excel-like interface, enterprise power
  • Free desktop version available

Pros

  • Free desktop version
  • Excel integration
  • Good value

Cons

  • Best with Microsoft stack
  • Complex DAX language

What is Microsoft Power BI?

Editorial review
Microsoft Power BI is a business analytics platform for visualizing data and sharing insights. Connect to hundreds of data sources with built-in connectors. Create interactive reports and dashboards. Natural language queries let anyone ask questions of data. Deep integration with Microsoft 365 and Azure. The BI tool that comes with your Microsoft subscription.

Available on: Web, Windows

Ratings Across the Web

4.6 (3,548 reviews)

Microsoft Power BI holds an aggregate rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 3,548 reviews across G2 and Capterra, last checked September 17, 2026.

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

  • Business intelligence
  • Dashboards
  • AI insights
  • Microsoft integration
  • Data modeling
  • Enterprise

Pricing Plans

60-day Free Trial

Pricing checked Oct 4, 2026

Microsoft Power BI plans and prices, checked October 2026
PlanPriceDetails
Free

$0

Desktop

  • Desktop app
  • 1GB storage
  • Personal use
Pro Popular

$10/user/month

Sharing

  • Share reports
  • Collaborate
  • 10GB storage
Premium

$20/user/month

Scale

  • 100GB storage
  • AI features
  • Paginated reports

Is Microsoft Power BI worth the price?

Good value

Microsoft Power BI's pricing is very fair and competitive, especially with the free Desktop version and the Pro tier at $10/user/month offering essential sharing capabilities.

The Premium tier at $20/user/month provides significant scalability and advanced features. This pricing model is best for businesses of all sizes looking for a robust and integrated business intelligence solution.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Integration with other Microsoft services can increase overall spend

Full Microsoft Power BI pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

How Microsoft Power BI's pricing compares

At $10/user/mo, Microsoft Power BI is the most affordable of its 2 comparable direct competitors.

Microsoft Power BI
$10

Entry paid plan, monthly, per user. Pricing checked Oct 4, 2026.

Reviews

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4.6/5

Across 3,548 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2

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Microsoft Power BI FAQ

How does Microsoft Power BI help users understand their data?

Microsoft Power BI allows users to visualize data and share insights through interactive reports and dashboards. It also supports natural language queries, enabling anyone to ask questions directly of their data.

Which teams benefit most from using Microsoft Power BI?

Teams that are already integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem will find Power BI particularly beneficial due to its deep integration with Microsoft 365 and Azure. It is well-suited for business intelligence and analytics teams.

How does Microsoft Power BI compare to Tableau for data visualization?

Microsoft Power BI offers a free desktop version and strong integration with Excel, providing good value, especially for users within the Microsoft stack. Tableau also provides robust data visualization, but Power BI's strength lies in its seamless connection to other Microsoft products.

What kind of data sources can Microsoft Power BI connect to?

Microsoft Power BI can connect to hundreds of different data sources. It includes built-in connectors to facilitate these connections and gather data for analysis.

What are the main considerations when adopting Microsoft Power BI?

While Power BI offers a free desktop version and good value, it performs best when used within the Microsoft stack. Users should also be aware that its Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) language can be complex.

Does Microsoft Power BI include a free tier?

Yes, Microsoft Power BI is available on a free tier. Paid plans are also offered for users requiring more extensive usage and advanced features.

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