Power BI vs Tableau
                     Power BI vs Tablea
u: The Better Choic
e To Go With
HENRY HARVIN EDUCATION
Most of you would have heard of terms 
like business intelligence, data 
science, data visualization and data 
analysis. Have you ever wondered 
what these terms are and why are 
these terms in high demand at 
present? The answer is, today the 
world is run on data. Even the smallest 
organization collect and analyse data 
for the developing their business and 
to make quicker and better decisions. 
If you are searching for Business 
Intelligence or Data Visualization tool, 
you will come across the two front-
runners in the category, Microsoft 
Power BI vs Tableau.
Before looking into the tools Power BI vs Tableau, lets us have an 
understanding on what is business intelligence and data visualization.
What is Business Intelligence?
Business Intelligence comprises software and services to 
transform data into actionable insights. BI tools access and 
analyse data and provide data visualization about the state of 
the business. Business intelligence is an umbrella term that 
includes the processes and methods of collecting, storing and 
analysing date to create new strategic business opportunities.
Importance of business intelligence
• Find ways to increase profit
• Analyse customer behaviour
• Comparing competitor’s data
• Track performance
• Enhance operations
• Calculate success
• Spot market trends
• Determine issues or problems
What is Data 
Visualization?
Data visualization is a graphical representation of 
information that finds clarity by discovering insights 
hidden in your data. The concept of Data Science is the 
analysis of data. This analysis becomes easy when data is 
represented in the form of patterns than looking at 
thousands of rows on a spreadsheet. Data visualisation 
helps to deliver visual summary of data which can bring 
out insights or signals easily.
The advancement of technology has allowed the skills of 
data visualization to drill deep into graphs and charts for 
analysing and gaining insights which will otherwise go un-
noticed in text-based data. Human brains can process 
images much faster than data. Hence, data visualization 
helps to grab the attention of audience and hold the 
attention through data storytelling. It also helps in saving 
time and effort on comprehending data that may or may 
not have a solution.
Data visualization elements
• Charts
• Tables
• Graphs
• Maps
• Infographics
• Dashboards
Tools for business 
intelligence and 
data visualization
There are plenty of tools available for 
data visualization and data analysis. 
Not every tool is apt for every 
organization. While looking for the 
perfect data analytics tool, many 
people compare Microsoft Power BI 
vs Tableau. The reason is, to stay at 
the forefront of data science field, a 
tool must have a specific mix of 
power, brand recognition, user 
friendly and price. Microsoft Power BI 
and Tableau have the perfect blend 
of the above-mentioned features.
Gartner’s Magic Quadrant is a third-party 
analysis of the leading tools for data 
visualization and data analysis. This graphical 
representation was published by Gartner to 
give a picture of the clear winners in the field of 
Business intelligence platform. Gartner 
Research has placed gracefully placed Microsoft 
Power BI in first position and Tableau in the 
second position.
Power BI vs Tableau
From Gartner’s Quadrant it is very clear that when it comes to 
Business Intelligence tools, Tableau and Microsoft Power BI are the 
top performers throughout the years. Tableau is the leader of BI 
market as it was the first BI vendor to add data visualization to its 
BI tool. However, Power BI relatively younger has emerged as a 
remarkable competition to Tableau in recent times and racing to 
be the market’s top BI tool. Both being popular tools, offers 
different features. When we compare Power BI vs Tableau, both 
the tools have their own strength and weakness. Both tools suit 
business based on requirements and you can choose the best 
product based upon the organization’s budget and requirements.
Power BI vs 
Tableau: History
Tableau was released in the year 2003 and became 
a gold standard in data visualization. Power BI was 
released in the year 2011 as a part of Microsoft 
pack. Gartner recognised Tableau as the leader 
among BI tools for seven consecutive years from 
2012 to 2019. Power BI picked up a lot from Excel, 
resembling a bunch of its features combined with 
charts and dashboard sharing.
Power BI vs Tableau: Overview
What is Power 
BI?
Power BI is a business analytics service by 
Microsoft which bridges the gap between data 
and decision making. It creates amazing data 
experience by easily connecting to the models, 
visualize your data and create memorable 
graphical reports. It helps you to gain insights by 
connecting to all your data sources with the 
scale to analyse, share and promote insights 
across your organization. It also maintains data 
accuracy, consistency and security. It helps your 
organization to make confident and quick data 
driven decision that drive strategic action.
“Power BI is a collection of software services, 
apps, and connectors that work together to turn 
your unrelated sources of data into coherent, 
visually immersive, and interactive insights”. 
Microsoft
What is 
Tableau
Tableau is a fastest growing data visualization tool that 
empowers everyone to see and understand their data. It 
explores and download data in seconds. Tableau helps 
you quickly and confidently transform and shape your 
data. It has smart algorithms which helps you to 
reorganize and combine data from multiple sources. It 
helps you to transform your data into powerful 
interactive dashboards that can be easily shared in the 
organization through tableau platform. The dashboard 
can be easily accessed online, on your desktop, tablet or 
even on your mobile phone.
“From connection through collaboration, Tableau is the 
most powerful, secure, and flexible end-to-end analytics 
platform for your data. Elevate people with the power of 
data. Designed for the individual, but scaled for the 
enterprise, Tableau is the only business intelligence 
platform that turns your data into insights that drive 
action”. Tableau
Power BI vs 
Tableau: 
Power BI Tableau Price
Power BI is cheaper that Tableau as it Tableau is a paid only tool with no 
uses the existing Microsoft systems free version. However, it offers a 
like Azure, SQL and Excel to build short 14-day free trial. After the trial, 
data visualization. As Power BI is set the user has to pay and you will get 
up within the Microsoft ecosystem, it more access to tool if you pay more. 
is a good low-price option for start- It is a tiered pricing system which you 
ups without breaking the bank. Power can choose based on your 
BI’s desktop version is free tool, requirement. If you want direct 
available to download without any connection to third party tools, you 
basic charges. According to Gartner’s will need to pay for the professional 
research, the price of the tool has edition. Tableau also has a non-profit 
played an important role in its tool and a version for academic 
popularity. setting.
Power BI vs 
Tableau: Setup
Power BI is available in three forms: Power BI 
Desktop, Power BI mobile apps and Power BI service. 
These three elements let you create, share and 
consume business insights in the way that serves you 
more effectively. It also has a fourth element, Power 
BI Report Server, which allows you to publish Power BI 
reports to an on-premises report. Power BI is user 
friendly and can connect quickly to existing 
spreadsheet, data sources and apps via built-in 
connections.
Tableau has four products Tableau Prep, Tableau 
Desktop, Tableau Online and Tableau Server. Prep 
prepares your data for analysis. Desktop uses 
powerful drag and drop analytics. Online helps you to 
share data and insights with server or online. Server 
watches data-driven decisions spread.
Power BI vs 
Tableau: 
Visualisation
Both the tools Power BI and Tableau have their 
mastery on visualization, both tools offer different 
approaches.  Power BI is handier and focus on data 
manipulation first and provides simple 
visualization later. With Power BI it is easier to 
upload data and you can select various 
visualization as blueprints. The drag and drop 
feature of Power BI is at your disposal through a 
sidebar. Wherein,
Tableau scales better to larger sets and gives 
users better drill down features. In Tableau, while 
analysing data, you can get answers to your 
questions simultaneously. If your prime purpose is 
visualization, Tableau has an edge over Power BI, 
but unable to manipulate data as good as Power 
BI.
Power BI vs 
Tableau: Dashboard
Power BI is designed to give the users the 
access to data analytics and discover 
insights even without much prior knowledge 
and experience. Power BI has real time data 
access, i.e. teams can react instantly to 
business changes loaded to Power BI from 
the CRM, project management, financial or 
sales tools.
Tableau features are as powerful as Power BI. 
However, it is less handy compared to Power 
BI as many of the features are hidden behind 
menus. Tableau balances query-based data 
visualization and drag and drop features 
wisely.  You can use drag and drop table view 
to ask question and put your data type in x 
and y-axis. Tableau will instantly build your 
visualization.
Power BI vs 
Tableau: Learning
Business Intelligence and Data Visualization are the areas that has attractive 
professional opportunity in the modern data-driven world. Power BI and 
Tableau are going to be the most important tool for aspiring candidates as 
data visualization is the future of business. If you are the interested in doing 
deep prep and analysis and would like to understand more about Tableau or 
Power BI follow these steps. Follow the blogs and vlogs on tableau, which can 
give you an insight on Tableau and Power BI.
If you are willing to pursue a certificate course, Henry Harvin Education offers 
you certificate course on both Tableau and Power BI. Certified Business 
Intelligence Specialist (Power BI) from Henry Harvin is a 16 hour live online 
training that helps you create powerful storylines, effective presentation and 
highly interactive Dashboards. Certified data Visualization Specialist 
(Tableau) is a 24- hour training and certification programme from Henry 
Harvin Analytics academy. The programme equips participants to master 
data visualization using the tool Tableau.
Power BI vs 
Tableau: Job 
Opportunities
Microsoft Power BI has a wide range 
of career opportunities including 
data scientist, product managers, 
Software Engineer, Business 
Intelligence Developer, and Business 
Analyst. Like Power BI, Tableau also 
have a variety of job roles to choose 
from. Some of the hottest job titles 
for Tableau Professionals are Tableau 
Consultant, Data Analyst, Business 
Analyst, Business Intelligence 
Analyst, and Business Intelligence 
Developer.
Power BI vs 
Tableau: Skills
Skills required 
for Microsoft 
Power BI
• Power BI works as an advanced version of Excel, so it 
is better to have advanced knowledge in MS Excel to 
pursue a career in Power BI.
• Knowledge of data modelling strategies is required as 
data modelling is an important aspect of
• Power BIPower BI use DAX formulas, similar to MS 
Excel formulas, so need to have DAX formulas 
knowledge.
• Power Query knowledge is another skill required to 
organize the data to fit in the needs of the users.
• Structured Query Language is required to fetch the 
data from SQL servers.
Skills required 
for Tableau
• Basic knowledge of data comprehension, i.e., knowledge of databases and 
spreadsheets, as well as how to gather and query data is required.
• ETL (Extract, Transform and Load) skills help to clean, massage and mould 
data together to present it in an easily consumable format.
• Basic Maths and Statistical skills help you to process the data into something 
much more valuable than just a list of numbers and information.
• The ability to put analytic data into charts, graphs and other types of visual 
reports is very important so that your audience can quickly and easily 
consume the information that is being presented.
• Filtering, sorting and grouping skills will help to effectively communicate the 
results with clarity to your company and client.
• The best skill required is to obtain training from a certified training centre on 
how to use the different pieces of Tableau software.
Data visualization is the best bet for your career in 
the upcoming years. When you learn this skill, focus 
on your own strength and explore your personal 
style in data visualization and dashboards. 
Regardless of the tools that you are using, it is 
important to build a foundation of analysis and 
storytelling. Tableau vs Power BI 2019 is more like 
two seemingly identical products continuously 
cause debate over what’s better. Both are 
reputable, powerful tools which makes it difficult to 
decide which one is better.
HENRY HARVIN EDUCATION
www.henryharvin.com/
[email protected]
+91 15266266