Power BI

Verified

Business intelligence by Microsoft

Data verified Sep 5, 2026

Pundit
Score

#6 Trending in Analytics & BIAlternatives

Alternatives

Editorial Verdict

AI-researched, not hands-on tested

Power BI connects to a genuinely broad range of sources (200+, more via connectors) with a real low-code data-prep layer in Power Query. The honest catch: Pro pricing rose from $10 to $14 (and Premium Per User $20 to $24) in April 2025, and Pro is capped at 8 daily refreshes versus 48 on the higher tier.

Reviewed by AIToolPundit Editorial Team · last verified October 2026

About Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is a unified, scalable platform for self-service and enterprise business intelligence. Connect to hundreds of data sources, model complex data, and create stunning visualizations to share insights across your organization.

Commonly Cited Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Connects to 200+ (up to 350+ via connectors) data sources
Low-code Power Query interface for data prep
Collaborative sharing and workspaces

Limitations

Pro raised from $10 to $14 and Premium Per User from $20 to $24 on April 1, 2025
Pro limited to 8 daily refreshes vs 48 on Premium Per User

Common Use Cases

Data visualization
Business intelligence reporting
Data integration from multiple sources
Team collaboration on analytics
Interactive dashboard creation

Details

Pricing Model: Freemium
Starting Price: $14/mo
Founded: 2014
Team Size: 1000+
Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States
Platforms: WebMacWindowsiOSAndroid
Category: Analytics & BI

Who is Power BI for?

Data analysts

Use Power Query to connect, clean, and merge data from 200+ sources and build interactive reports.

Business teams

Publish, share, and collaboratively edit dashboards in shared workspaces to keep insights current.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Power BI free?

Power BI offers a free plan, with paid plans starting at $14/mo.

Does Power BI offer a free trial?

Yes, Power BI offers a free trial.

Does Power BI have an API?

Yes, Power BI provides an API for developers.

What platforms does Power BI support?

Power BI is available on Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android.

What does Power BI integrate with?

Power BI integrates with Excel, Snowflake, Databricks, Salesforce, BigQuery, Dataverse, Dynamics 365, OData, and more.

Is Power BI cloud-based or self-hosted?

Power BI is offered as a cloud-based (SaaS) deployment.

What are the downsides of Power BI?

Pro raised from $10 to $14 and Premium Per User from $20 to $24 on April 1, 2025 Also, Pro limited to 8 daily refreshes vs 48 on Premium Per User

Who is Power BI best for?

Power BI is best suited for Data analysts, Business teams.

What can I use Power BI for?

Common uses for Power BI include data visualization, business intelligence reporting, data integration from multiple sources, team collaboration on analytics.

How does Power BI compare to Mixpanel?

Power BI and Mixpanel are both used for analytics & bi -- specifically analytics & bi tools. See the full side-by-side comparison for pricing and feature differences.