Every BI tool user understands the importance of choosing the right tools for providing Embedded Analytics services. In your search for the best BI tool to embed into your existing software, you must have heard about these two tools; Power BI and Tableau Embedded. They are both effective tools that are popular in the BI market.
In this guide, we have compared these tools to each other. We have discussed the pros and cons, price, required technical expertise level, and other necessary features. By the end of this guide, you should have enough information about both tools to make the right decision for your needs.
Ready? Let’s get started.
What is Power BI?
Power BI is a popular Business analytics service developed by Microsoft. Using a simple interface, it allows end users to create reports and dashboards, providing useful visualizations and effective BI features. Power BI provides invaluable insights into the metrics required by end users to make the best decisions.
Its data modeling features are powerful, enabling users to gain insight into the performance of their business and make data-driven decisions. It can be accessed through mobile devices, website browsers, or desktop applications.
Key Features of Power BI
Power BI offers a wide variety of features that end users can leverage to analyze, visualize, and share data. Some of the key features of Power BI include;
- An adaptive user experience: Microsoft has an active online community that provides top-notch feedback. Microsoft listens to the feedback, and they are always eager to implement by providing regular updates.
- Easy collaboration: Power BI allows integration with other Microsoft tools like Microsoft Office tools. Users can easily share their ideas and findings about reports and dashboards with their co-workers.
- Data visualization: There is a wide range of visual elements on Power BI. Graphs, Charts, Maps, and many more directional elements help to keep users updated.
- Data Exploration: Power BI has some data exploration tools that make the process of data analysis easier to present and understand. This can be done by drilling into data points and filtering data with these available features.
- Data Modelling: Power BI enables users to create relationships between different data sources. It is easy for users to develop relevant KPIs and follow through with them.
- Availability of real-time data: Power BI connects to real-time data sources like Azure Stream to display real-time data in visualizations.
Dataset reusing: One of the interesting features of Power BI is that end users have a choice to reuse datasets across multiple platforms. This feature is only unlocked in the Pro and Premium versions.
What is Tableau Embedded?
Another popular BI tool is Tableau Embedded. It has a highly interactive interface, allowing users to collect, view, and share data. It uses a drag-and-drop interface to allow users to analyze and explore complex datasets. This interface requires no coding or programming, making it suitable for all kinds of end users.
Tableau can link to different sources of data like databases, spreadsheets, and other cloud-based services. Several tasks can be performed on this platform thanks to its advanced analytics features. Users can create custom calculations, generate insights, and perform some transformation tasks.
It has a suite of platforms related to it, like Tableau Prep, Tableau Server, and Tableau Desktop.
Key Features of Tableau
Tableau offers a wide variety of features that can be used to analyze, view and share data. Some of the key features of Tableau include;
- Informative dashboard: Tableau makes it easy for users to navigate around its dashboard. Using several visual elements, it provides a comprehensive view of your data. It has several layouts and styles, filters, and objects, all of which are put in place for ease of use.
- Connected to live and in-memory data: Tableau provides in-memory data connection. This gives users access to both live and external data sources. Users have the option of consuming data from the source using a live connection or using the data already stored in the memory of the system.
- Easy collaboration and sharing: With Tableau, users can exchange data in real time. You can easily share data with colleagues and co-workers on specific projects.
- Advanced visualization capabilities:Visualization is made very easy with Tableau. The presence of different visual elements, from the simple charts and graphs to the more complex graphs and maps, increases its functionality. There is also a section for pre-installed map data like cities and postcodes, providing more concrete information.
Pros of Power BI
Some of the benefits of Power BI include the following;
- Integration with Microsoft: Power BI allows integration with other Microsoft products like Excel and other Microsoft products.
- Ease of use: It has a user-friendly interface which makes site navigation easier.
- Fast data processing: Power BI processes data fast so users can get insight fast and make decisions.
- Affordability: Power BI is affordable. It has a free plan which has some limitations, and a pro plan with affordable pricing.
Cons of Power BI
Here are some drawbacks to using Power BI;
- Customization options are limited
- Data sources are limited
- The free version has several limited features
- High dependence on Microsoft: Since it is developed by Microsoft, Power BI might require the mandatory use of other Microsoft features to function well.
Pros of Tableau
- High flexibility: Tableau lets users connect to a wide variety of data sources.
- High customization level: With its numerous visual features, Tableau lets users customize their reports and dashboards extensively.
- Strong community support: You will scarcely get lost as a community member of Tableau. There is always a tip or resource to help you, and their customer service is very active.
- Advanced data visualization capacities.
Cons of Tableau
- Complex learning curve: When starting out, getting the hang of Tableau is not very easy for people without technical knowledge.
- Large data sets can affect performance.
- Limited support for real-time data
Power BI vs. Tableau
Let us compare both tools in terms of some relevant features:
Power BI vs. Tableau Pricing
When it comes to understanding the costs associated with Power BI Embedded, it's crucial to account for the capacity selected. Taking the A2 SKU as a case in point, which possesses 5GB of RAM, it is priced at $2.008 per hour (as of Sept 2023). Breaking this down into a monthly cost, we can apply a simple calculation. Multiply the hourly rate by 24, giving us an estimated daily rate, which we then multiply by 30 to achieve a monthly figure.
Upon conducting these calculations, we find that the daily cost rounds out to approximately $48.19, subsequently making the estimated monthly cost around $1,445.70.
It's essential to bear in mind that these figures are merely an estimation, and the actual costs are subject to Microsoft's pricing model and can fluctuate based on real usage, the specific features used, and the actual number of days in a month, among other factors.
The cost of running Power BI Embedded on A2 SKU for just one month underscores the significant investment required for even a relatively small use case server.
On the other hand, as we examine Tableau's Embedded Analytics offering, the situation is quite different. Perusing their official pricing page, you'll quickly notice they do not publicly disclose their specific costs.
This lack of transparent pricing often suggests that Tableau's Embedded Analytics service may be a more expensive, custom-priced solution. It's not uncommon in this circumstance for sales representatives to determine the price based on multiple factors, including the size and needs of the client, perceived value, and how much they believe the market will bear.
The lack of upfront pricing can create an air of uncertainty and may indicate potentially high costs that businesses should take into consideration when assessing Tableau's Embedded Analytics service.
Power BI vs. Tableau Performance
Both tools have a high performance. Power BI performs better for a limited dataset, but when it comes to handling bulk data, Power BI can be a bit slow.
Tableau can handle large volumes of data quickly. It is also faster and has more features. It doesn’t limit the number of data points used in visualization.
Power BI vs. Tableau User Interface
The UI of BI is friendly. It is easy to understand and can easily integrate with other Microsoft products.
The UI of Tableau is equally welcoming. It is smart, and it encourages the creation and customization of dashboards.
Both tools have a commendable UI. The choice here is based on personal preference.
Power BI vs. Tableau Data Sources
Power BI supports various data sources like Microsoft Excel, MS SQL, Oracle database, and MySQL database. However, when compared with Tableau, it has limited access to other servers.
Tableau provides extensive access to data sources and servers. It connects to Excel, Google Analytics, Cloudera Hadoop, JSON, etc.
Power BI vs. Tableau Customer Support
Power BI has a smaller community since it is younger in the business. Therefore, you will likely get less support.
Tableau, on the other hand, has been here for a while. It has a large community containing over 160,000 users.
Power BI vs. Tableau Programming Support
Power BI offers Data Manipulation and Modelling. Enterprise-level users have the option to connect to the R programming language using Microsoft Revolution Analytics.
Tableau allows easier integration with the R language. You can implement the software development kit using C, C++, Java, and Python.
Power BI vs. Tableau measurement
Power BI uses DAX for calculating and measuring columns.
Tableau uses MDX for measurement and dimensions.
Power BI vs. Tableau: Which one should you use?
When it comes to choosing between Power BI and Tableau, the decision is highly subjective and contingent on several factors specific to your business or project requirements.
Power BI is a product of Microsoft and offers seamless integration with other Microsoft products like Excel and SQL Server. It is particularly prominent for its user-friendly interface and being a cost-effective solution, making it highly suitable for small to medium-sized businesses or those just starting with data visualization.
On the other hand, Tableau is recognized for its advanced data visualization capabilities. It offers a higher degree of flexibility and allows more complex data analysis. Large corporations and businesses with complex datasets often lean towards Tableau, despite it often having a steeper learning curve and potentially higher cost.
While both tools offer robust capabilities, the decision depends largely on the level of technical expertise within your team. Power BI's user-friendly nature is excellent for beginners or those with basic data visualization needs. Conversely, Tableau is better suited to teams with advanced technical skills who need to carry out complex data analyses.
Your data source compatibility is another factor to consider. Power BI's seamless integration with Microsoft products may prove advantageous if your data sources are primarily in this ecosystem. In contrast, Tableau supports a broad range of data sources, making it a flexible choice for diverse data environments.
Lastly, think about your budget. Power BI is generally more cost-effective, especially for smaller businesses or startups. Tableau can be a more significant investment, but its powerful features and broad data source compatibility can justify the higher cost for some enterprises.
Both Power BI and Tableau are powerful tools, each with its strengths. The key is to clearly identify your business needs, technical capabilities, data ecosystem, and budget before deciding. Taking a careful and thorough approach helps guarantee your choice will effectively support your business's data analytics objectives.
An Alternative to Power BI and Tableau: Yurbi
While Power BI and Tableau certainly have their advantages, it's important to consider the variety of other robust data visualization solutions in the market. One such noteworthy alternative is Yurbi. Yurbi offers a compelling balance between cost-effectiveness and quality, often making it a more accessible choice for businesses of all sizes.
Yurbi stands out for its user-friendly platform, designed to enable individuals with varying levels of technical expertise to easily navigate and make the most out of their data. It bridges the gap between powerful data analytics and a straightforward, intuitive user interface.
One feature that sets Yurbi apart from many competitors is its transparent, upfront pricing model. This approach eliminates the concern for scaling costs and hidden fees, providing businesses with a clear understanding of their investment from the outset.
In terms of capabilities, Yurbi matches up to the more expensive names like Power BI and Tableau. Yurbi’s extensive API support, real-time reporting capabilities, interactive dashboards, and team sharing options make it an appealing and versatile tool in the realm of business intelligence.
In essence, Yurbi challenges the notion that high quality necessarily equals high cost in the world of data visualization. It presents not just a viable, but a potentially superior alternative to pricier options such as Power BI and Tableau. It's evidence that getting valuable, actionable insights from your data doesn't have to break the bank.
You can always see Yurbi in action through our free live demo sessions, or schedule a meeting with us so we can discuss things further.