Azure Analysis Services vs. Microsoft Power BI

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Azure Analysis Services
Score 8.5 out of 10
N/A
Azure Analysis Services delivers enterprise-grade BI semantic modeling capabilities with the scale, flexibility, and management benefits of the cloud. Azure Analysis Services helps transform complex data into actionable insights. Azure Analysis Services is built on the analytics engine in Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services.N/A
Microsoft Power BI
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft Power BI is a visualization and data discovery tool from Microsoft. It allows users to convert data into visuals and graphics, visually explore and analyze data, collaborate on interactive dashboards and reports, and scale across their organization with built-in governance and security.
$10
per month per user
Pricing
Azure Analysis ServicesMicrosoft Power BI
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Azure Analysis ServicesMicrosoft Power BI
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Azure Analysis ServicesMicrosoft Power BI
Top Pros

No answers on this topic

Top Cons

No answers on this topic

Features
Azure Analysis ServicesMicrosoft Power BI
BI Standard Reporting
Comparison of BI Standard Reporting features of Product A and Product B
Azure Analysis Services
8.7
10 Ratings
7% above category average
Microsoft Power BI
7.2
138 Ratings
12% below category average
Pixel Perfect reports8.810 Ratings6.5118 Ratings
Customizable dashboards8.89 Ratings8.0138 Ratings
Report Formatting Templates8.510 Ratings7.2126 Ratings
Ad-hoc Reporting
Comparison of Ad-hoc Reporting features of Product A and Product B
Azure Analysis Services
8.9
10 Ratings
10% above category average
Microsoft Power BI
7.0
139 Ratings
14% below category average
Drill-down analysis9.08 Ratings7.2138 Ratings
Formatting capabilities8.99 Ratings6.4137 Ratings
Integration with R or other statistical packages8.89 Ratings7.5102 Ratings
Report sharing and collaboration9.110 Ratings7.0134 Ratings
Report Output and Scheduling
Comparison of Report Output and Scheduling features of Product A and Product B
Azure Analysis Services
9.0
10 Ratings
8% above category average
Microsoft Power BI
7.8
133 Ratings
7% below category average
Publish to Web9.110 Ratings8.1128 Ratings
Publish to PDF8.99 Ratings8.1121 Ratings
Report Versioning9.39 Ratings7.3101 Ratings
Report Delivery Scheduling8.910 Ratings8.7103 Ratings
Delivery to Remote Servers8.89 Ratings6.773 Ratings
Data Discovery and Visualization
Comparison of Data Discovery and Visualization features of Product A and Product B
Azure Analysis Services
9.0
9 Ratings
11% above category average
Microsoft Power BI
7.5
135 Ratings
7% below category average
Pre-built visualization formats (heatmaps, scatter plots etc.)9.38 Ratings7.5130 Ratings
Location Analytics / Geographic Visualization9.19 Ratings7.7121 Ratings
Predictive Analytics8.68 Ratings7.3101 Ratings
Access Control and Security
Comparison of Access Control and Security features of Product A and Product B
Azure Analysis Services
9.2
10 Ratings
8% above category average
Microsoft Power BI
8.2
126 Ratings
4% below category average
Multi-User Support (named login)9.29 Ratings8.2120 Ratings
Role-Based Security Model9.310 Ratings8.9102 Ratings
Multiple Access Permission Levels (Create, Read, Delete)9.110 Ratings8.4110 Ratings
Single Sign-On (SSO)9.39 Ratings8.694 Ratings
Report-Level Access Control00 Ratings7.01 Ratings
Mobile Capabilities
Comparison of Mobile Capabilities features of Product A and Product B
Azure Analysis Services
8.8
9 Ratings
10% above category average
Microsoft Power BI
7.9
117 Ratings
1% below category average
Responsive Design for Web Access8.58 Ratings8.0111 Ratings
Mobile Application9.45 Ratings7.493 Ratings
Dashboard / Report / Visualization Interactivity on Mobile8.67 Ratings7.4112 Ratings
Application Program Interfaces (APIs) / Embedding
Comparison of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) / Embedding features of Product A and Product B
Azure Analysis Services
8.8
9 Ratings
11% above category average
Microsoft Power BI
8.4
80 Ratings
6% above category average
REST API8.97 Ratings8.172 Ratings
Javascript API8.77 Ratings9.656 Ratings
iFrames9.06 Ratings8.055 Ratings
Java API8.98 Ratings7.946 Ratings
Themeable User Interface (UI)8.36 Ratings8.263 Ratings
Customizable Platform (Open Source)9.25 Ratings8.444 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Azure Analysis ServicesMicrosoft Power BI
Small Businesses
BrightGauge
BrightGauge
Score 8.9 out of 10
BrightGauge
BrightGauge
Score 8.9 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Reveal
Reveal
Score 9.9 out of 10
Reveal
Reveal
Score 9.9 out of 10
Enterprises
Jaspersoft Community Edition
Jaspersoft Community Edition
Score 9.7 out of 10
Jaspersoft Community Edition
Jaspersoft Community Edition
Score 9.7 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Azure Analysis ServicesMicrosoft Power BI
Likelihood to Recommend
9.1
(11 ratings)
7.9
(140 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(56 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
7.9
(52 ratings)
User Testimonials
Azure Analysis ServicesMicrosoft Power BI
Likelihood to Recommend
Microsoft
We would have many technical issues and glitches with previous similar providers but found that Azure Analysis Services can simply handle our workload and memory better. I remember we lost an account due to cloud issues not fully saving or corrupting some files. Granted, this is rare with any cloud but haven't had that issue with the same load of memory with Azure Analysis Services.
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Microsoft
In operations we use the tool for many different topics, from factory quality systems to high level reviews. We have created kind of an internal "App Store" based on Power BI where you have a lot of different dashboards for different solutions (cost, cash, health and safety, sales, factories, distribution centers...) and you as an user just need to get in that "App Store" and enter in whatever tool can be useful for you. It is open to all the operations employees and can use on demand. Also it has raised the imagination of our colleagues, as they are not only working by themselves creating new reports, but also raising fantastic ideas that can be extended for the usage of all the community.
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Pros
Microsoft
  • Providing role based access or we can say privilege based on the role to the user if it is integrated with Azure active directory and hence securing the access to sensitive data.
  • We use to run different type of analytics services to get the better result which is hectic if done manually or with human efforts.
  • We also use to collect bulk of data with the help of this tool and run customized test cases for better efficiency of result and better decision making. The result are very crucial and helps in taking big decision.
  • It supports different or we can say heterogeneous database vendors like the Oracle, SQL, and hence make the task easy.
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Microsoft
  • Quickly filter and view granular data sets with easily configurable reporting figures.
  • The ability to quickly switch between tabs allows for historical data comparisons and progress tracking.
  • It's helpful to dive into the data and break it down from high levels to small.
  • Achieve actionable insights faster by using real-time data. It's incredible to have online access to reports.
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Cons
Microsoft
  • Microsoft Azure Analysis Services is very costly solution and in that price we can get some better business intelligence tool with lot more of capabilities
  • The dashboard or we can say user interface is complex and need time to understand and gain expertise in order for proper working.
  • It needs continuation monitoring which is sometime a big task.
  • Sometime, the tool shows unusual behavior and become unstable, so we need to clear temp files for proper functioning.
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Microsoft
  • The desktop app is great but needs a lot of performance improvements
  • No MacOS Version for the Desktop app, this is a big limitation for business since executives prefer Macs
  • Premium Cloud Version of Power BI is awfully expensive
  • On-Premise Version of the Power BI Reports Server is bundled only with SQL Server Enterprise License and cannot be purchased separately and requires Software Assurance Subscription
  • On-Premise Power BI Report Server doesn't support ADFS, AzureAD or any Claims-Based authentication platform, a sad disadvantage for enterprises
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Likelihood to Renew
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
I find it helpful and easy to use
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Usability
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
At this point, I think we all know who has taken the lead in the business intelligence and analytics market worldwide. With fresh new updates every other day on top of an already robustly built product with all features that one can dream of is a no brainer, I feel. Microsoft will invariably be synonymous with quality and professionalism.
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Support Rating
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
I can't really speak to the support overall, [but] I will say that in the almost three years I have used the system, I have only needed to contact their support team once. I think the team was helpful, but it did take some time for us to resolve the issues/ request that they had. I guess the good news is that the system is pretty stable, and I personally have rarely needed to contact their technical support team.
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Alternatives Considered
Microsoft
The best thing about it is the ability to create a query and drill down the data to a more granular level when needed. The best thing about Azure Analysis Services is. It provides secured access anytime from anywhere, it also provides REST API for this, which is very easy to use, and it provides video tutorials for beginners means you get the whole package of learning and implementation!!
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Microsoft
[Microsoft] Power BI is practical and effective, like a hammer for a nail, it is easy to use and produces very quickly the results that in most cases are urgently required by clients (nice reports to share on the web). To start using [Microsoft] Power BI you need a business email address, with that you create an account in Power BI Service and in less than 1 hour you will have installed Power BI Desktop, a report will have been created and it will have been published on the web .
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Return on Investment
Microsoft
  • Azure Analysis Service scale resources to match our business needs.
  • Helps us to govern, deploy, test and deliver our BI solution with confidence.
  • Stores our business data and clients data in a safe place where it's easy to access and visible to all our teams.
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Microsoft
  • It helps us track and achieve company goals.
  • It shows us [our] performance in areas we could not previously track and allows us to see and work on how to improve their performance.
  • Quick easy access for executives to use in helping teams and addressing issues.
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ScreenShots

Microsoft Power BI Screenshots

Screenshot of Microsoft Power BI - Turns insights into impact for business usersScreenshot of Power BI integrates easily with Microsoft 365Screenshot of Microsoft Power BI - AI-Powered CapabilitiesScreenshot of Microsoft Power BI - Copilot can be used to create reportsScreenshot of Microsoft Power BI - Data HubScreenshot of Microsoft Power BI - Scales as organizational needs grow