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SQL Server 2017 VS Microsoft Power BI

Compare SQL Server 2017 VS Microsoft Power BI and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

SQL Server 2017 logo SQL Server 2017

Jul 1, 2017 - Learn about tools and services for mobile and paginated Reporting Services reports and Power BI reports on premises.

Microsoft Power BI logo Microsoft Power BI

BI visualization and reporting for desktop, web or mobile
  • SQL Server 2017 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20
  • Microsoft Power BI Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-14

SQL Server 2017 features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    SQL Server 2017 offers cross-platform support, enabling it to run on Windows, Linux, and Docker containers, providing flexibility and integration into various environments.
  • Graph Database Capabilities
    Introduces graph database capabilities, allowing the modeling of complex data relationships easily and efficiently, expanding its use cases.
  • Advanced Analytics
    Integrates with Microsoft R and Python services, facilitating advanced analytics and machine learning directly within the database, which helps organizations to perform sophisticated data analysis.
  • Adaptive Query Processing
    Includes adaptive query processing features to optimize query performance automatically, improving application speed and efficiency.
  • Enhanced Security
    SQL Server 2017 continues to enhance security with features like Always Encrypted, Dynamic Data Masking, and Row-Level Security to protect sensitive data.

Possible disadvantages of SQL Server 2017

  • Cost
    Licensing and support costs for SQL Server can be relatively high, particularly for enterprise editions, which may not be cost-effective for smaller organizations.
  • Complexity
    SQL Server 2017 includes a vast array of features and configurations that can introduce complexity, requiring substantial expertise to manage and optimize.
  • Resource Intensive
    Requires significant system resources for optimal performance, which may necessitate additional investment in hardware to operate efficiently at scale.
  • Limited NoSQL Functionality
    While SQL Server 2017 introduces some NoSQL features through its support for JSON and graph databases, it still lags behind dedicated NoSQL databases in terms of flexibility and scalability for unstructured data.
  • Version-Specific Features
    Some advanced features are only available in the latest versions or specific editions, which may necessitate upgrades or specific licensing to access the full capabilities, leading to additional expenses.

Microsoft Power BI features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Power BI has an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for users to create reports and dashboards without extensive technical knowledge.
  • Integration with Microsoft Products
    Seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products like Excel, Azure, and Office 365, enhancing productivity and data accessibility.
  • Real-Time Data
    Supports real-time data streaming, which allows users to get up-to-date insights and make informed decisions quickly.
  • Custom Visualizations
    Offers a wide range of built-in visualizations, as well as the ability to create custom visuals, helping users present data in a meaningful way.
  • Robust Security
    Provides strong security features including role-based access, data encryption, and compliance with global regulatory standards.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Power BI

  • Complex Licensing
    The licensing model can be confusing and expensive, especially for small businesses or individual users.
  • Performance Issues with Large Data Sets
    Performance can be impacted when handling very large data sets, making it less suitable for extremely data-intensive applications.
  • Limited Customization
    While offering many built-in features, deep customization options may require advanced knowledge of DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) and Power Query.
  • Learning Curve
    Users new to business intelligence tools may find there is a significant learning curve to fully utilize all of Power BI's features.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Many features, especially those involving cloud services, require a stable internet connection, which may be a limitation for some users.

Analysis of Microsoft Power BI

Overall verdict

  • Power BI is a highly recommended tool for business intelligence and data visualization, particularly within organizations that are already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. Its integration capabilities, ease of use, and robust feature set make it an excellent choice for turning data into actionable insights.

Why this product is good

  • Microsoft Power BI provides a robust data visualization and business intelligence tool, allowing users to transform raw data into informative insights through interactive dashboards and reports.
  • The platform integrates seamlessly with a wide range of Microsoft services, such as Azure, Excel, and SQL Server, and offers connectivity with numerous third-party data sources, enhancing its versatility.
  • Power BI is known for its user-friendly interface, which makes it accessible to both technical and non-technical users. The drag-and-drop functionality makes creating visualizations straightforward.
  • It offers strong data security features, including authentication and data encryption, which are essential for maintaining data integrity and confidentiality.
  • Power BI is cost-effective, providing a competitive pricing model that scales from individual users to large organizations, ensuring value for businesses of all sizes.

Recommended for

  • Businesses that already use Microsoft products and services, as they can fully leverage the integrations Power BI offers.
  • Data analysts and business professionals who need to create visual reports and dashboards without extensive technical knowledge.
  • Organizations looking for a scalable and affordable BI solution to facilitate data-driven decision-making.
  • Teams or companies that need to collaborate on reports and share insights easily within a secure and controlled environment.

SQL Server 2017 videos

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SQL Server 2017 โ€“ Everything you need to know

More videos:

  • Review - SQL Server 2017 Features

Microsoft Power BI videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SQL Server 2017 and Microsoft Power BI)

SQL Server 2017

Microsoft Power BI

Data Dashboard
3 3%
Data Dashboard
97% 97
Data Visualization
3 3%
Data Visualization
97% 97
Business Intelligence
3 3%
Business Intelligence
97% 97
Analytics Dashboard
100 100%
Analytics Dashboard
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare SQL Server 2017 and Microsoft Power BI

SQL Server 2017 Reviews

We have no reviews of SQL Server 2017 yet.
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Microsoft Power BI Reviews

Top 10 BI Tools in 2026 (with Pricing, AI Features & Enterprise Fit)
Microsoft Power BI is a leading business intelligence tool that helps organizations turn raw data into interactive dashboards and real-time insights. This business intelligence tool integrates seamlessly with Microsoft products like Excel, making data analysis and reporting more efficient.
Source: supaboard.ai
Business Intelligence Tools You Need to Know in 2026
Traditional BI tools like Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, and Looker deliver powerful analytics, but they typically rely on technical expertise to build dashboards, write DAX formulas, and structure data models. It transforms how teams interact with data in four key ways
Source: supaboard.ai
Explore 7 Tableau Alternatives for Data Visualization and Analysis
Microsoft Power BI is a robust data visualization and business intelligence tool that enables users to create interactive, real-time dashboards and reports with minimal coding. It supports over 100 data connectors, integrates seamlessly with the Azure SQL Database, and features advanced data modeling with the DAX language. Power BI's intuitive interface, frequent AI-driven...
Source: www.draxlr.com
Explore 6 Metabase Alternatives for Data Visualization and Analysis
It offers multiple pricing options, including a free version for individual users and paid plans like Power BI Pro and Power BI Premium. Pricing is based on user and capacity needs.
Source: www.draxlr.com
5 best Looker alternatives
Power BI: Microsoft Power BI is a legacy BI tool that is known for its seamless integration to Microsoft ecosystem, which is one of its strongest advantages. However, this tight integration can also be a drawback, as it tends to have limited compatibility with other ecosystems and often relies on Microsoft tools for optimal functionality.
Source: www.draxlr.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Microsoft Power BI seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 17 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

SQL Server 2017 mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of SQL Server 2017 yet. Tracking of SQL Server 2017 recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Microsoft Power BI mentions (17)

  • Unified Analytics Platform: Microsoft Fabric
    Microsoft Fabric is currently in preview and provides data integration, engineering, data warehousing, data science, real-time analytics, applied observability, and business intelligence under a single architecture by integrating services such as Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Data Activator, and Power BI. In addition, it comes with a SaaS, multi-cloud data lake called "OneLake" that is built-in and... Source: about 3 years ago
  • NSS Data Analytics Program Question
    I'd suggest spending some time learning the material before you invest thousands in tuition only to find that you don't like it or aren't good at it. Download Tableau Public or Power BI and force yourself to use them for a few months. That's how I taught myself R. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Why Is Data Analytics Important?
    Discover why business analytics is crucial for your business and how to utilise data analytics and PowerBI to make informed and data-backed decisions! Source: over 3 years ago
  • Cloud dB reporting tool?
    Power BI is popular... But for table reports with Excel/PDF export you can use Pebble Reports. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Asking for guidance on migrating to a database from Excel
    Yes, MySQL can do the job. You can use Airforms to do data entry. No need to learn MySQL syntax. You will also need a reporting tool, such as Power BI. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SQL Server 2017 and Microsoft Power BI, you can also consider the following products

JasperReports - JasperReports Server is a stand-alone and embeddable reporting server.

Tableau - Tableau can help anyone see and understand their data. Connect to almost any database, drag and drop to create visualizations, and share with a click.

Telerik Reporting - Deliver Reports to Any Application. Add reports to any business application. View reports on mobile devices and in web, desktop and cloud apps. Export reports to any format.

Looker - Looker makes it easy for analysts to create and curate custom data experiencesโ€”so everyone in the business can explore the data that matters to them, in the context that makes it truly meaningful.

Pentaho - Pentaho is a Business Intelligence software company that offers Pentaho Business Analytics, a suite...

Qlik - Qlik offers an Active Intelligence platform, delivering end-to-end, real-time data integration and analytics cloud solutions to close the gaps between data, insights, and action.

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