Business Intelligence Power BI vs. Tableau vs. Qlik Sense: Which BI Tool Is the Winner? By Ritinder Kaur Business Intelligence 35 comments June 12, 2024 We’ve all bought something we thought was a splurge, only to end up loving it. But unlike that fancy appliance, there’s no easy return process for a BI system, and missing out on the perfect features can give you buyer’s remorse. Our analysts compared Power BI vs. Tableau vs. Qlik Sense to help you choose a suitable BI tool. Spoiler alert: Power BI is the winner. Let’s dive in! Compare Power BI, Tableau and Qlik Sense Against Your Needs What This Article Covers Feature Comparison Dashboards and Data Visualization Reporting Embedded Analytics Mobile BI Data Management Data Querying Advanced Analytics Augmented Analytics Geospatial Visualizations and Analysis Which BI Tool Wins? FAQs Next Steps Fortune Business Insights expects the BI software market value to double to $63.76 billion by 2032. Still, businesses struggle with manual data entry, siloed data and adoption issues. My friend, a hotelier, says they work with Excel, though there are better alternatives. It’s how they’ve worked until now, she says. With several BI tools in the market, why should you settle for less? We hope this Power BI vs. Tableau vs. Qlik Sense will help you decide on a suitable BI platform. Power BI vs. Tableau vs. Qlik Sense Overview Our scoring engine computes the analyst score based on an apples-to-apples software comparison. It includes functional, technical and vendor qualification requirements. This analysis includes only the functional requirements. Here’s a summary of the three contenders. Product Power BI Tableau Qlik Sense Analyst Rating 89 79 87 User Sentiment Score 88% 87% 85% Free Trial Yes Yes Yes Deployment Cloud, On-premise. Cloud, On-Premise Cloud, On-Premise Company Size S M L S M L S M L Starting Price $10 $15 $30 user/mo Compare Power BI, Tableau and Qlik Sense Against Your Needs Features Comparison Our analysts elevate product comparison to a science, making it easy to evaluate products side-by-side with a score-based assessment. The following table gives you a glimpse of what’s coming. Feature Power BI Tableau Qlik Sense Data Visualization Graphs and charts with clickable datasets. Animations and data refreshes. Dashboard Starters, extracts, live connections, and the Show Me feature. Guided searches, auto chart building and a rich graphics library. Data Analysis DAX for advanced calculations. Relies on Azure for AutoML. Calculate probability and test ideas using statistics. Go beyond basic functions with APIs. Relies on the Qlik Cognitive Engine and AutoML for machine learning. Reporting Instant reporting with self-service BI. Sign up for alerts and subscribe to receive regular updates. Ad hoc reporting, subscriptions and (versioning. Instant reports and data alerts. Limited versioning support. Embedded Analytics View dashboards and reports where you work. Write back updates to the database. View your data within web apps and websites. White label dashboards and assign access permissions. Access your data within regular workflows. Supports write-backs to the database. Data Management Direct query databases and transform data with the Power Query Editor. Handle large datasets with SSAS. Tableau Prep prepares data and sets up workflows. A data catalog for organizing records. Manage data, users and business rules from a central hub. Visual transformation tools and scripts. Mobile BI View and explore reports, sign up for push notifications and view data even when offline. View dashboards in a single view. Interact with data and stay connected even when offline. Create charts on your mobile device and discuss them with your teams. Offline access is available. Dashboards and Data Visualization Data visualizations and reports monetize your data by revealing what’s important. BI tools have basic graphics and use R and Python scripts for data displays. Here’s how the three products score for dashboarding. Power BI Tableau Qlik Sense Analyst Score: 94/100 Analyst Score: 100/100 Analyst Score: 100/100 Winner: Tableau and Qlik Sense lead in rich data displays and handling large datasets. With Power BI, create dashboards with tiles and animations and allow users to interact with them. Build custom apps without writing code. Ensure everyone works with the latest information. Keep your data up-to-date by refreshing it manually or scheduling updates. A procurement analysis dashboard in Power BI. Source Tableau offers ready graphics and lets you build your own. It supports live source connections and data extracts. Starter dashboards for Salesforce, Oracle Eloqua, Marketo and ServiceNow ITSM are available. Qlik Sense has a rich graphics library with animations and the option to pick and display static values. It has a central console for managing data and content libraries for storing logos. The Qlik vs. Tableau comparison sees them at par, with both excelling in visualization. Compare Power BI, Tableau and Qlik Sense Against Your Needs Reporting Reports are no longer static, instead, they update in real time and offer immediate insights. Forget boring tables — think visuals with text descriptions. With self-service BI tools, anyone can build reports. Power BI Tableau Qlik Sense Analyst Score: 89/100 Analyst Score: 93/100 Analyst Score: 88/100 Winner: Tableau wins for its report-sharing options and the ability to retain all report versions. Power BI reports keep you informed when production or inventory levels drop. Subscribe to receive reports after the latest data refresh or as per schedule. With conditional formatting, you will never miss key metrics and patterns. A separate solution, Power BI Version Control Download, saves report versions. Power BI offers many report-sharing options. Source Reporting with Tableau requires laying the groundwork. You must first create a sample workbook and report and publish them on the Tableau Server. Sign up for email updates and share reports as images or PDFs. Report export and versioning are available, and the Ask Data feature answers text queries. But older Tableau versions can’t open new files. Qlik Sense relies on Qlik NPrinting to report in MS Office, PDF and web formats. For ad hoc reporting, first, you must create master lists of data fields and publish them on the Qlik Management Console. Alerts are available at the admin and user levels. Context-aware links take users to their dashboards. Insight Advisor provides text searches and creates charts. Embedded Analytics All three products support separate workspaces for different teams. It gives clients the freedom to set up displays and interact with their data without privacy issues. Power BI Tableau Qlik Sense Analyst Score: 100/100 Analyst Score: 91/100 Analyst Score: 78/100 Winner: Power BI wins for secure write-backs and triggered actions. Power BI Embedded is the vendor’s bespoke analytics solution. It’s for developers to create custom apps for embedding. You can set up workflows with Power Automate and write back to the database with Power Apps. You can embed Tableau dashboards in web pages, portals, Wiki pages and custom apps. Webhooks trigger actions and update databases. Get analytics capabilities within your application with embeddability. Source Qlik Sense comes with a design that uses APIs as building blocks to extend its functionality. It can embed content into portals, web apps and websites. Set off workflows in the host application. Select a region and watch the metrics update in the dashboards. Write back to operational systems like Salesforce, Jira and HubSpot or data platforms like Snowflake or MySQL. Mobile BI Reports that fit on any screen keep you connected when out of the office. Offline access and data caching will ensure you stay updated in areas with low internet connectivity. Power BI Tableau Qlik Sense Analyst Score: 100/100 Analyst Score: 71/100 Analyst Score: 93/100 Winner: Power BI wins due to shared reports and location data on mobile. Power BI supports mobile-optimized reports and has a mobile app. Text querying and push notifications are available. Dashboard viewing is allowed, but sharing requires signing up for the paid versions. Tableau Mobile displays published content from Tableau Server and Tableau Cloud. You need a Tableau Server or Online account. You can’t create dashboards, but interactivity is available. Metrics for Tableau is a particular content type for tracking data from several dashboards in a single view. With Qlik Sense mobile, you can create data stories using Qlik Sense apps and mashups. These are web pages or apps with embedded Qlik Sense objects. Offline access is available. In the Qlik vs. Tableau comparison, Qlik scores for being more user-friendly. Benefits Track how marketing campaigns and sales teams perform. Target customers with the correct data. Decide upon a product price that’ll suit buyers and keep you profitable. Decide whether to restock or pause orders by monitoring inventory on mobile. Compare Power BI, Tableau and Qlik Sense Against Your Needs Data Management Is siloed data getting you down? You won’t know what you missed unless you gather data from all sources. With so much data, it can devolve into madness unless there’s a method to it, and that’s what data management does. All three products score equally for this feature. Power BI Tableau Qlik Sense Analyst Score: 100/100 Analyst Score: 100/100 Analyst Score: 100/100 Winner: All three products tie for excellent data management and governance. Power BI forms live connections to datasets. However, these connections should be published on the Desktop or the Power BI Service. The platform queries databases without importing data. Microsoft SSAS manages multidimensional data for Power BI and routes all data through a single source of truth. The Power Query Editor checks data for types, completeness and correctness. You can preview and modify data before publishing. Back-end data management serves up the desired insight on demand. Source Tableau provides a blueprint for developing analytics at scale. It supports virtual connections to shared datasets. Your Tableau instance must provide row security at the connection level. The blueprint defines Tableau Catalog as the table of contents for data discovery. The last element is Tableau Prep, which blends, cleanses and organizes data. It keeps data up-to-date using refresh workflows. The platform supports linked tables for complex calculations. Tableau supports cube data only on Windows. Qlik exchanges data with R and Python for complex calculations. The platform can join tables even if they don’t have the same fields. Using AI, users can combine, transform and load data from several sources. The Qlik Catalog serves as a data map. For OLAP, Qlik enables slicing and dicing data with simple selections. When several fields form a natural hierarchy, it creates a drill-down group. Data Querying This functionality involves sending queries to data sources using scripts or screen selections. Live connections are life savers when you must cater to large volumes, though they can slow down performance. It’s a Qlik vs. Power BI face-off, as both platforms support direct queries. Power BI Tableau Qlik Sense Analyst Score: 90/100 Analyst Score: 99/100 Analyst Score: 92/100 Winner: Tableau wins for efficient batch updates and SQL querying. Power BI offers separate workspaces. Teams can use shared datasets and collaborate on dashboards. The Power Query Editor’s 250 DAX functions and the M language make it a powerful tool. Tableau establishes a live connection at first. If you don’t need live data, extracts are a better option. Selections for queries and an in-memory engine make Tableau a powerful tool that uses multiple cores to process data. Comparing Qlik vs. Tableau for data exploration, Qlik Sense uses an associative engine. Tableau has a drag-and-drop query approach. The Qlik Sense engine maps how datasets relate and allows open-ended data exploration. Direct query with Snowflake is also available. You can reload data in batches or partially. Qlik Sense uses QVD files that can read Qlik scripts at speed. Qlik Sense can query Snowflake records directly. Source Benefits Intelligent data management and querying will reveal helpful patterns in data. Assured data quality promotes confident decisions. It can help you course-correct if your sales strategy is weak or if a campaign falls flat. Besides, it assists in planning. Advanced Analytics Data storytelling is increasingly popular, and teams rely on AI/ML and NLP to convey insight. When dealing with big data, you need all the help you can get. Combining it with predictive modeling opens up a host of possibilities. You can segment buyers based on behavior and create campaigns that consider their preferences. Are these tools up for it? Power BI Tableau Qlik Sense Analyst Score: 85/100 Analyst Score: 75/100 Analyst Score: 91/100 Winner: Qlik Sense wins this comparison for its server-side data exchange capabilities. Power BI uses R and DAX for calculations and statistics, including regression, correlation and variance. The platform relies on Azure for text and sentiment analysis, though the free Desktop version lacks them. Tableau connects to Python, R and MATLAB for forecasting. Regression analysis helps you predict events and control how you run your business. Tweak the outcome and backtrack to what the deciding variables should be. Now you know what inventory levels and production levels you want. Tableau uses Python to analyze text based on words that indicate a positive, negative or neutral emotion. Time-based comparisons are available. Analyze and respond to customer reviews using AI. Source You can invoke R functions from Qlik scripts, perform calculations and pass back the results to Qlik. The Insight Advisor enables simple and complex analysis. Qlik Sense works with KNIME to build forecast models. The platform also supports regression, grouping and time-series analysis. Compare Power BI, Tableau and Qlik Sense Against Your Needs Augmented Analytics This term refers to the tools and technologies that improve data analysis. These techniques include AI/ML and text processing. Though unconventional, they maintain data quality and accuracy. AI can take data prep off your hands if you set it up. The system will cleanse, combine and catalog data on its own. Power BI Tableau Qlik Sense Analyst Score: 69/100 Analyst Score: 18/100 Analyst Score: 67/100 Winner: Power BI takes the lead for ML and contextual insight, though the Qlik vs. Power BI comparison is a close one. The platform excels at selecting the best data and algorithms for forecasts. Acquire predictions and predictive analytics with machine learning. Source Power BI relies on Azure to create new models and import existing ones from other platforms. AutoML trains and runs the models on data. Analyzing the selected data is easy — click on the Quick Insight button. Tableau’s Explain Data feature explains outliers and anomalies. Behind it are powerful statistics that suggest the most likely explanation after checking hundreds of them. The results include charts and text descriptions. With Ask Data, you can get answers by typing text queries. Qlik has AutoML, the Insight Advisor and Smart Search. AutoML helps in predictive modeling, automatic insights, natural language analytics and workflow building. Smart Search allows searching the entire data store. The Qlik Cognitive Engine helps you analyze data by suggesting how to connect it and visualize it. Benefits Regression analysis can help you determine where to spend your money. You can backtrack to see which channels have the most impact. Predicting demand can help you plan production and allocate resources. Assess your performance over time with built-in date/time functions. Identify segments and test marketing strategies with AutoML. Geospatial Visualizations and Analysis Power BI Tableau Qlik Sense Analyst Score: 86/100 Analyst Score: 100/100 Analyst Score: 76/100 Winner: Tableau scores a perfect 100 for powerful maps and spatial files. The platform can convert addresses into coordinates. Power BI can use maps from Bing, ArcGIS, Google Maps and the web. The platform connects to TopoJSON and Esri files. Power Query and DAX have built-in geospatial functions. Tableau allows symbol, heat, choropleth, flow and spider maps in its charts. Geocoding is built-in, and map searches use predictive text and geospatial calculations. Vector mapping tiles are new to Tableau and show clear images when zoomed in. Tableau has vector mapping tiles to maintain the image quality when zoomed in. Source Qlik GeoAnalytics Connector gives access to map data and groups similar locations. It helps you determine how close customers are to a store and define regions based on sales territories. You can analyze routes and enrich your data using lookups. You can display an airport map with WiFi hotspot locations using URLs for Qlik Sense maps. Benefits Traffic patterns, residential areas and road routes are critical in deciding where to do business. Mapping delivery routes saves fuel costs and time. Delivery vehicles, field workers and remote equipment send GPS data that’s critical for business. Compare Power BI, Tableau and Qlik Sense Against Your Needs Which BI Tool Wins? Power BI comes out on top, scoring a perfect 100 for data management, embedded analytics and mobile BI. The platform wins for augmented analytics but trails Qlik Sense in advanced analytics. It also lags behind Tableau in reporting and version control. However, strong analysis dashboards and AI/ML make it the overall winner. FAQs What is the price difference between Tableau and Power BI? A Tableau vs. Power BI cost comparison is inevitable if these two products feature on your list. Power BI Desktop is perpetually free, while Power BI Pro is affordable at $10 per user monthly. You can create reports, but sharing them requires signing up for the paid versions. Power BI Premium Per User costs $20 monthly. A capacity-based subscription is available at $4,995 per SKU. Advanced AI, dataflows and paginated reports are its shining features. Sturgeon Christie, CEO of Second Skin Audio, had this to say. (Power BI) offers a more attractive price point, which is particularly appealing for startups and small businesses looking to maximize their resources. This aspect makes Power BI accessible without compromising on functionality.” A Tableau Creator license will cost $75 per user monthly. Visual data prep, robust analytics and secure sharing are its stellar features. Tableau Explorer allows self-service data discovery and will cost you $42 monthly. At $15 monthly, Tableau Viewer is the basic version for viewing and interacting with dashboards. Custom plans are available on request. Does Power BI require coding? No, but learning DAX can help you make good use of the platform to transform and visualize data. Does Tableau require coding? No, but programming skills will give you that extra edge, helping in table calculations or LOD (Level of Detail) expressions. Plus, integrating Tableau with other systems, including custom sources, will require script writing. Is Tableau better than Power BI? Tim White, Founder of milepro.com, a travel website using multi-channel marketing and data analytics, found Power BI a good fit for his team. Power BI is great for my team of traveler-creatives. Because they tend to be visual learners, but also non-technical, it’s helpful to have drag and drop user features. This way, each user can manipulate the data, without having to understand how to create formulas. The ramp up time just takes a month or two to develop basic capacity, as opposed to years for spreadsheets.” Rafael Estrada, Owner of Estrada Consulting, said Power BI is the default in Microsoft environments. Power BI scores over Tableau in organizations that are already invested in Microsoft technology. As a Microsoft Certified Gold partner in Business Intelligence and Custom .NET Development Solutions, we often use Power BI in organizations regularly using Excel, MS SQL Server, and the Azure ecosystem – especially where much of the organization’s data is captured and processed within an Azure environment. In such organizations, Power BI is essentially a seamless add-on for visualizing Azure data. It certainly has a learning curve of its own, but integrating it with existing Microsoft software is virtually seamless.” But Tableau has much to offer. Estrada goes on to say. As a Tableau Certified Partner since 2015, we’ve seen that Tableau scores over Power BI in organizations with a more disparate architecture – perhaps a mixture of Apple, Linux, and Windows products. Tableau is primarily focused on data visualization and analytics. Its drag-and-drop builder is a bit more modern than Power BI, which is also a plus for organizations not invested in the Azure ecosystem. Tableau supports a large variety of data sources – including Microsoft products – but connectivity isn’t going to be as plug-and-play with Azure as Power BI is. In some cases, data preparation and transformation requires third-party software before Tableau can make the best use of it.” Christie was all praise for Tableau’s support ecosystem. Tableau’s community is engaged and resourceful, providing a wealth of knowledge and support. This can be incredibly valuable for troubleshooting, learning, and networking with other data professionals.” Compare Power BI, Tableau and Qlik Sense Against Your Needs Next Steps The ideal BI tool depends on your unique requirements. We recommend signing up for free trials of your preferred products to see which best suits your team’s workflow and data challenges. Planning ahead is a smart move. As data volumes and user demands evolve, consider how these tools plan to address future needs like Gen AI integration and decision intelligence. Get our free software comparison report to evaluate leading BI platforms by feature. What are your thoughts on this Power BI vs. Tableau vs. Qlik Sense comparison? Let us know in the comments below. SME Contributors Tim White is the founder of MilePro, a platform that provides pro travel tips, deals, reviews, and hacks. Tim is also a seasoned IT sales executive with a broad functional background and a proven track record of developing and maintaining lasting, profitable business relationships in a complex sales environment. Sturgeon Christie is the CEO of Second Skin Audio, a company that specializes in providing automotive noise control solutions. Since its inception in 2000, Second Skin Audio has established itself as an industry leader in automotive insulation and sound deadening. The company prides itself on producing a comprehensive range of high-quality, USA-made sound and heat insulation solutions. Rafael Estrada is the President and Founder of Estrada Consulting, Inc. (ECI). He has led the IT consulting organization to deliver top-tier IT solutions to government agencies and Fortune 100 corporations. Rafael holds an MBA from Sacramento State, and he actively participates in that university’s Professional Pathways Networking Program, where he offers business leadership mentoring to current students. Top Competitors Tableau Server Starting at $35 per user per month Dundas BI Starting at $6 per user per month Oracle Analytics Cloud Starting at $350 per named user SAP Business Objects Starting at $21 per user per month SAS Visual Analytics Starting at $1,365 per month with limited user capacity Domo Starting at $2,100 per user per year MicroStrategy Starting at $5000 per named user per year Sisense Starting at $21,000 per year for 5 users Ritinder KaurPower BI vs. Tableau vs. Qlik Sense: Which BI Tool Is the Winner?06.12.2024