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Qlik Sense vs Microsoft Power BI Desktop Comparison

Last updated:

Qlik Sense

4.3(1,718 reviews)

Starting at $30 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Qlik is an advanced analytics platform that makes business intelligence more powerful, engaging and simple. With Sense's all-in-one dashboard and interactive visualizations, user can create dashboards and reports, share…

Microsoft Power BI Desktop

4.3(1,137 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Enterprise
  • Large Enterprises

Microsoft Power BI Desktop helps you uncover hidden business value by quickly accessing actionable insights. Streamline your data-preparation tasks with powerful modeling tools while regaining hours in your day through t…

Qlik Sense vs Microsoft Power BI Desktop — at a glance

FeatureQlik SenseMicrosoft Power BI Desktop
Rating4.3 / 54.3 / 5
Reviews1,7181,137
Starting price$30 /User/MonthContact for pricing
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessEnterprise, Large Enterprises
CategoryBusiness Intelligence SoftwareBusiness Intelligence Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
APIAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001SOC 2
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Qlik Sense and Microsoft Power BI Desktop

  • Pricing: Qlik Sense starts at $30 /User/Month. Microsoft Power BI Desktop pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Target audience: Qlik Sense is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Microsoft Power BI Desktop targets Enterprise and Large Enterprises.

Qlik Sense vs Microsoft Power BI Desktop — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Business Intelligence Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Qlik Sense - Business Intelligence Software
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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Qlik Sense

Best for medium to large enterprises needing powerful, self-service BI with strong ETL.

Choose if
  • You need a flexible, all-in-one BI platform for interactive dashboards and reports.
  • Your team includes data analysts and business users requiring customizable, self-service analytics.
  • You require strong ETL capabilities integrated with frontend visualization for efficient data processing.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a small business with limited BI budget and need a simple, out-of-the-box tool.
  • Your priority is mobile/tablet BI performance or minimal learning curve for quick adoption.

Microsoft Power BI Desktop

Best for

Enterprise, Large Enterprises

Qlik Sense typically suits Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises. Microsoft Power BI Desktop tends to fit Enterprise and Large Enterprises better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Qlik is an advanced analytics platform that makes business intelligence more powerful, engaging and simple. With Sense's all-in-one dashboard and interactive visualizations, user can create ... Read More about Qlik Sense

Microsoft Power BI Desktop helps you uncover hidden business value by quickly accessing actionable insights. Streamline your data-preparation tasks with powerful modeling tools while ... Read More about Microsoft Power BI Desktop

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $30
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available
  • Free Trial available

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.2/10

8.1/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

51-500 employees500+ employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

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How do Qlik Sense and Microsoft Power BI Desktop Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

5 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Qlik Sense and Microsoft Power BI Desktop on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $30
      • Not Available

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Qlik Sense pricing

      Pricing information not available

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Medium Business
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Medium Business
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Mobile - Android
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✓ Yes
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      ISO 27001

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      Qlik Sense User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      315

      91

      11

      0

      1

      22

      2

      1

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use and powerful self-service BI features, tempered by concerns over complexity and mobile performance.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Self-service BI empowerment
      • Strong ETL capabilities

      Common complaints

      • Complexity in customization
      • Mobile/tablet app performance issues

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is positive across 25 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

      What buyers like

      • Actionable insights
      • Powerful modeling tools
      • Data-driven decisions

      Common complaints

      • Limited to Microsoft ecosystem
      • Can be complex for beginners
      • Requires Excel knowledge

      Pros and Cons

      • Empowers self-service BI enabling users to create dashboards easily

      • Strong ETL capabilities for efficient data processing

      • Intuitive interface for both developers and end-users

      • Complexity in customization and design of charts with some visualization limitations

      • Limited governance capabilities making standard enforcement difficult

      • Seamless integration with Excel enhances usability.

      • Powerful modeling tools streamline data preparation.

      • User-friendly interface makes data analysis accessible.

      • Limited functionality outside the Microsoft ecosystem.

      • Complex features may require training.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      Lenovo

      Lenovo

      McKesson

      McKesson

      aramark

      aramark

      OSIsoft

      OSIsoft

      Fordham University

      Fordham University

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Dashboard screenshot

      1 Screenshots

      Microsoft Power BI Desktop

      3 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Qlik Sense and Microsoft Power BI Desktop in 2026

      Expand your shortlist

      Add another option to compare side by side

      Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Qlik Sense or Microsoft Power BI Desktop?
      Qlik Sense and Microsoft Power BI Desktop are closely matched with equal user ratings of 4.3. The right choice depends on your team size, budget, and specific Business Intelligence Software needs.
      Do Qlik Sense and Microsoft Power BI Desktop offer a free trial?
      Yes, both Qlik Sense and Microsoft Power BI Desktop offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Qlik Sense vs Microsoft Power BI Desktop?
      Qlik Sense starts at $30 /User/Month. Microsoft Power BI Desktop starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to Qlik Sense?
      Top alternatives to Qlik Sense include Alteryx, iDashboards, Entrinsik Informer, Tableau, Looker.
      What are the top alternatives to Microsoft Power BI Desktop?
      Top alternatives to Microsoft Power BI Desktop include Entrinsik Informer, Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, Dundas BI, QlikView.

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