In a world where data analysis has become the norm for any business, to get insights and make better decisions, data teams must have rapid and simple access to the company's data and data sets. This is where data visualization tools come in. Data visualization tools help businesses transform raw data into meaningful insights by presenting it in a visual format. They enable businesses to analyze data in real time, identify patterns and trends, and make data-driven decisions faster and more efficiently.

Many businesses use Microsoft's Power BI as their preferred business intelligence platform so that teams can self-serve data insights. Power BI is a business analytics service provided by Microsoft that leverages its data to generate interactive visualizations and reports. Users can obtain insights into their businesses and make wise decisions using the tools it offers for data analysis, data visualization, and data sharing.

However, Power BI is not for everyone. Some individuals might discover it to be challenging to use, expensive, incompatible with their OS, or simply looking for Power BI alternatives. In this blog post, we will walk you through Power BI’s limitations and show you power bi alternatives not only based on features but also pricing, and other criteria. Read on so that you can file the tool that best suits your business’s needs 

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Why should your business find Power BI alternatives?

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Power BI Pricing is something needed to consider

Though Power BI Desktop is free for individual users. Nevertheless, if you need to access advanced features and integrations, you need to pay more with the paid plans starting at around

Power BI Pro: $ 10 per user per month

Premium: $20 per user per month. Fo thewhole organization, the license costs from $4,995 per month.

For businesses on a tight budget, it may be worth considering more affordable alternatives that still offer the features you need.

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Complex user interface and steep learning curve

Even though Power BI is a powerful tool, users who are unfamiliar with its interface or who have little experience with data visualization tools may find it overwhelming. The program has a steep learning curve, and some users could find it challenging to manage the user interface.

Power BI is not a tool that is simple to use. To smoothly use it, your team will need a lot of time to get proficient with it, import data, develop dashboards, and then analyze them. It might end up being very time-consuming and exhausting with larger teams.

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Handling of huge data sources may be slow

Power BI can't manage a lot of data at once. When working with large data sets, Power BI can consume a significant amount of memory, and this can cause performance issues or crashes if the machine does not have enough available memory.

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Top 7 best Power BI alternatives in detail

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Now it’s time to explore each power bi alternative after considering the things above:

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Dataflake 

Dataflake is a data visualization and embedded analytics tool that enables data analysts and DevOps to quickly create highly customizable dashboards and securely embed data as URLs or iframe on any websites or portals. 

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Key features

• Create the query, connect to Data Sources, and create charts. Allow for individualized charts, styles, and other components like a design tool. Support pre-built templates to make things easier for users 
• Automated email delivery schedule: By planning email delivery to the appropriate member, you can distribute the dashboard.
• Add analytics dashboards or visualizations securely to any websites or programs. Give your clients or partners quality insights.

Other upcoming Dataflake features to automate and shorten data processing time:

• Data anomaly detection: Identify and track any anomalies in the data that differ from the set thresholds. Receive a warning to quickly troubleshoot problems
• Data Incident Management: Allow team members to prioritize data and set adversity levels to improve the management of data incidents.
• Data Quality Management: Monitoring data volume, freshness, and schemas will help to guarantee that there are no stale data or unusual data changes. Receive alerts through channels of communication like Telegram, Email, and SMS.
• Data BOT: Ask and respond to questions pertaining to the query using data bots to conveniently gain quick insights.

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Which businesses should use Dataflake? 

Small to medium-sized businesses would benefit most from using Dataflake. The first reason is that Dataflake pricing is relatively cheap. With only 15$/ month, your businesses can have access to all features and empower your data analytics practices. It is also a great option for teams creating highly customizable data visualizations that tell a story through your dashboards. Moreover, collaborating with your team members along with experiencing automated dataops features. 

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Why is Dataflake Power BI alternative? 

Power BI is a powerful data visualization tool that allows users to collect, analyze, and visualize data from various sources. It offers a wide range of features, including custom visualizations, real-time data updates, and natural language processing. 

While it can be expensive and has a steep learning curve for some users, it is a popular choice for businesses of all sizes looking to make data-driven decisions. 

Dataflake is a data visualization tool that differs from Power BI in its approach to data analysis. Unlike Power BI, Dataflake requires users to be familiar with SQL in order to write complex queries that will help them extract the exact data they need. This can be a challenge for some users, but it also means that those who are well-versed in SQL can get highly specific and accurate results.

One of Dataflake's strengths is its focus on customization. It offers a range of customizable options so that data analysts can create visually appealing and engaging dashboards that deliver powerful insights. This emphasis on customization allows users to tailor their data visualizations to their specific needs, resulting in more impactful and effective presentations of data.

In addition to its focus on customization, Dataflake is also working on upcoming features that will automate and simplify data analysis, making it even more accessible to a wider range of users. These features will make Dataflake more than just a dashboard tool, but also a comprehensive solution for working with data.

Another advantage of Dataflake is its reasonable pricing, making it an ideal choice for small to medium-sized businesses that need a cost-effective solution for their data visualization needs. 

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Dataflake Pricing

Currently, Dataflake is offering a beta program for its first esteemed users to test out the newest improvements, and it is completely free to use until May.

After May, you can also use Dataflake for free. Yet, for more approach, spending $15/ month for the Pro option, and $30/ month for Premium. If you want to customize your plan, contact Dataflake.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• A design-like dashboard tool combined with fully customized and interactive dashboards 

• A lot of features for a minimal price that automates and streamline data process management

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Cons

• Ideal for freelancers, small and medium-sized organizations, and data analysts and engineers
• SQL usage is required 

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Tableau

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Tableau is a data visualization tool that is widely regarded as one of the most powerful on the market. It enables users to create interactive dashboards and reports that bring their data to life. One of the key strengths of Tableau is its versatility and flexibility. It can work with a wide range of data sources, from spreadsheets and databases to cloud-based services and big data platforms.

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Key features 

• Using live visual analytics, you can explore data in real-time while also performing complex calculations without writing a single line of code.

• To provide quicker and more insightful results, use smart data preprocessing and augmented analytics.

• Utilize guided model building, what-if analysis, and predictive modeling powered by AI to make better decisions.

• Scale models by quickly integrating and visualizing findings from R, Python, Einstein Discovery, and MATLAB.

• Receive data-driven alerts and take advantage of seamless departmental and team collaboration.

• Utilize training videos, resources, and the Tableau online community to quickly set up the platform.

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Tableau Pricing

Tableau Creator: It costs $70 per user per month when billed annually, or $840 per user per year.

Tableau Explorer: It costs $42 per user per month when billed annually, or $420 per user per year.

Tableau Viewer: It costs $15 per user per month when billed annually, or $144 per user per year.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

• Offers an extensive collection of data sources and visualization options
• Features a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to create interactive dashboards and reports

Cons

• Users may need to invest some time to fully understand and master the platform
• Some limitations in terms of what users can accomplish

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QlikSense 

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One of other alternatives  to power bi is QlikSense. It  is a data visualization and business intelligence tool developed by Qlik, that allows users to create interactive dashboards and reports using a drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical users.

One of the standout features of QlikSense is its ability to combine data from multiple sources, including cloud-based and on-premise databases, spreadsheets, and even social media platforms. The platform also features powerful data analysis tools, including predictive analytics and machine learning capabilities.

QlikSense offers a variety of customization options, allowing users to tailor their dashboards to meet their specific needs. Additionally, the software has a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of building and sharing visualizations.

Overall, QlikSense is a powerful and flexible data visualization tool that can help organizations gain insights from their data and make better-informed decisions.

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Key features 

• Create interactive dashboards that provide a comprehensive overview of their data, allowing them to quickly make informed decisions.
• Ceanse, transform, and model their data without requiring any advanced technical skills.
• Collaborate and share their insights with others in real time, allowing teams to work together and make decisions faster.
• Create compelling data stories that provide context and insights into their data, allowing them to share their insights with others in a more engaging way.
• Provides enterprise-level security and governance features to ensure data is secure and compliant with regulations.

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QlikSense Price 

• For business: $30 per user per month
• For enterprise SaaS: $70 per user per month 

Qlik Sense also offers a free trial of its software for 30 days, which allows users to test the platform before committing to a paid subscription.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Created with a mobile-first mindset, mobile apps
• Create your own data warehouse by yourself

Cons  

• Limited visualization because certain fundamental charts are missing
• When working with large data sets, data solutions are typically sluggish.

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Sisense 

Sisense is a powerful business intelligence and analytics software that provides organizations with the ability to analyze complex data and generate actionable insights. The platform features an easy-to-use interface that allows non-technical users to access, visualize, and analyze large data sets. It also offers a wide range of features such as data preparation, visualization, reporting, and analytics.

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Key features 

• Built-in data connectors that allow users to transform and prepare data 
• Create interactive dashboards that allow for data exploration and drill-down analysis. 
• Use AI and machine learning algorithms to provide users with insights and predictions based on their data. 
• Detects patterns, anomalies, and trends, and offers suggestions for further analysis.
• Share dashboards and insights with colleagues, customers, and partners through secure portals and interactive widgets.
• Offer a mobile app that allows users to access their dashboards and analytics on the go, from any device.

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Sisense Price 

Sisense pricing is not publicly available on their website as it is tailored to each customer's specific needs and requirements. However, Sisense offers a free trial of their software, and interested customers can contact their sales team to get a quote based on their needs.

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Pros and Cons 

Pros:

• Extensive range of features for data preparation, analysis, and visualization
• Wide range of integrations with various data sources and applications

Cons:

• Prolonged lag times and bugs 
• Limited customization options for visualizations and dashboards

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Metabase 

Metabase is an open-source data visualization and business intelligence tool that enables users to create, share, and collaborate on customized reports and dashboards. It allows users to connect to various data sources, including SQL databases, MongoDB, Google Analytics, and more, and then easily visualize the data in the form of charts, graphs, and tables.

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Key features

• Allows users to create custom queries with an easy-to-use visual interface, allowing them to quickly analyze and visualize data.
• Enables users to create interactive dashboards with real-time data that can be shared with others.
• Supports ad-hoc data exploration, allowing users to drill down into data and ask complex questions.
• Integrates with a wide range of data sources, including databases, cloud services, and more.

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Metabase Price 

If you deploy on Cloud

• Starter: $85/month
• Pro: $500/month

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If you deploy On-Prem

• Open Source: Free
• Pro: $500/month

With both solutions, for a personalized quote, you must, nevertheless, chat with a sales representative.

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Pros and Cons 

Pros

• Free to use and open-source, which means that users can modify the code to fit their specific needs.
• Simple and user-friendly interface, making it easy for non-technical users to use and understand.
• Quickly create and share visualizations with their team, making collaboration easy.

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Cons:

• Lack of features that make it less suitable for more complex data analysis.
• It may not have as many customization options as some of the other data visualization tools.

Conclusion

All of the alternatives for Power BI mentioned above have their own advantages as well as disadvantages. To choose the right data visualization tool to deploy for your company, you, as a leader needs to consider a lot of areas such as features, budget, company size, and especially the problems you want to solve

Creating interactive dashboards that tell your data story so that you and your team can quickly yield insights and boost the decision-making process. Moreover, implementing automated dataops workflow to enhance your team collaboration and communication is something that you need to think about. It’s time to save your time, budget and improve efficiency in your data work

Dataflake can help you with that. Sign up and start to dive into using it to empower your team without data visualization constraints 

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