Microsoft Power BI Reviews

“simple data interactions”

Pros

One thing I appreciated was how simple it felt to bring in data and start working with it. Importing datasets and interacting with the information is very easy.

Cons

I do wish it offered more capabilities when it comes to working with languages like SQL. In that area, it feels a little limited and somewhat one-dimensional.

“solid data presentation”

Pros

It's a solid tool for standardizing how data is presented and making it simpler for people to access.

Cons

Using it doesn't feel especially user friendly which may just come with how complex the platform is. Even so, I still get confused sometimes when working with filters and trying to clear them since there seem to be multiple different ways filters can be applied.

“Helpful features”

Pros

Connecting Microsoft Power BI to different data sources like SharePoint lists, SQL databases and Excel files is very easy. The data transformation features cover a wide range of cleaning and manipulation tasks which makes data modeling much more manageable. It also comes with plenty of built in charts and visual options and the drag and drop interface makes building reports feel simple and convenient.

Cons

The only real downside is that loading data can take quite a while when working with very large datasets. If that performance improves, it would be an even better tool.

“powerful data insights”

Pros

It gives my team and me a clear way to visualize data, spot trends and pull out useful insights.

Cons

Getting past the basic features does take some training and a bit of time to learn.

“efficient reporting”

Pros

Being able to build polished, impressive dashboards and reports ourselves has been a big plus.

Cons

Connecting it to a database can be a bit complicated.

“I love it!”

Pros

The data processing is fast and the feature set is extensive enough to handle just about any reporting need. It's also a big plus that the desktop version is available for free.

Cons

Because Power BI is part of the Microsoft ecosystem, integrating it with other platforms can sometimes be a little challenging.

“amazing presentations”

Pros

Out of all the tools I've used, this has been the best for building dashboards and putting together presentations.

Cons

Getting custom widgets to match exactly what you need can be a bit challenging though the default ones are usually more than good enough.

“advanced analytics powerhouse”

Pros

Packed with advanced capabilities, it handles everything Tableau can do and even goes beyond that.

Cons

DAX is the part I could do without. Having to rely on a separate custom language just for this feels unnecessary.

“impressive data visuals”

Pros

There are so many ways to present data and the visualization options are really the standout part for me.

Cons

The DAX queries could be simpler and it would be more helpful if they worked more like Excel.

“Strong reporting with endless connectors”

Pros

Getting started with Power BI Desktop doesn't cost anything which makes it simple to begin building reports right away. It connects to an almost endless range of data sources even directly from websites. There's a lot of capability packed into the platform which can be both a benefit and a challenge. It's also nice to see that the product continues to be actively developed.

Cons

It can be pretty complex to work through. The differences in features between the Pro and Premium tiers can be confusing and setting up or using the On-Premises Gateway can be tricky as well.

“Solid analytics that keep improving”

Pros

A really powerful tool and it keeps getting better with every update.

Cons

There honestly isn't much to complain about :) it's an excellent piece of software.

“dynamic dashboards with power bi”

Pros

Coming from SSRS and advanced Excel, Power BI feels like a natural next step for building dashboards and exploring visual data in a much more dynamic way.

Cons

It does come with a bit of a learning curve especially at the beginning when you're figuring out its limits and what it can or can't do. I had to spend some time experimenting before it really clicked. Another challenge is adoption, if your organization isn't fully committed to using it, getting others to buy in can be difficult.

“flexible program”

Pros

Building different kinds of dashboards in Power BI feels very easy and the flexibility it offers is a big plus. I can present results in multiple ways and the ability to display figures on a world map is especially valuable for a global company. That multifunctional approach really helps make the numbers more impactful.

Cons

One thing I'd still like to see is more built in analytical tools that can take an uploaded table and automatically run deeper analysis for us. I've heard that Copilot may help with that but I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet.

“Highly customizable visuals”

Pros

It offers strong capabilities for creating reports and dashboards and it also lets you integrate and use custom-built visuals.

Cons

People need a paid version to be able to view the dashboards and graphs you share.

“very broad connectivity”

Pros

Has a user friendly interface and plenty of data connection options which makes building insightful visualizations pretty easy.

Cons

The more advanced features take time to learn and performance can start to lag when you're working with larger datasets.

“powerful reporting depth”

Pros

Lets you dig really deep when it comes to building reports and setting up all kinds of automations which makes it a very capable tool.

Cons

Getting comfortable with the product takes time because the learning curve is fairly steep so it's not the kind of tool you can just jump into and start using right away.

“impressive insights”

Pros

I mainly use it to look up information and the amount of data this product holds is honestly impressive.

Cons

Sometimes, if it stays open for too long, the data doesn't load properly and I have to refresh the screen.

“user friendly analytics”

Pros

After trying several data tools, Power BI has been the simpler one to work with.

Cons

It can slow down when working with large datasets which gets frustrating.

“Great reporting automation”

Pros

It's automation is the standout for me and it has made my day to day work much easier especially when it comes to building reports.

Cons

Honestly, I don't have anything negative to point out.

“solid data visualization tools”

Pros

Excellent for data visualization, helping us present results to stakeholders in a way that's clear and easy to follow. It also has very strong ETL capabilities and connects with what feels like an endless range of data sources.

Cons

Getting dashboards set up can be a bit challenging when you're new to the software. It's also less user friendly than other tools in the Microsoft Suite.