Exploring Microsoft Power BI, Apache Superset & Visivo
Microsoft Power BI vs. Apache Superset vs. Visivo
Compare key features, capabilities, and differentiators between Microsoft Power BI, Apache Superset, Visivo. This comprehensive analysis will help you make an informed decision for your data visualization needs.
Quick Comparison
Key features and capabilities at a glance
| Feature | Microsoft Power BI | Apache Superset | Visivo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment Model | Desktop + Cloud Service (PowerBI.com), on-prem Report Server | Self-host (Apache OSS), Preset Cloud (managed), Docker deployment | Open-source, Cloud Service, Self-hosted |
| Pricing | Free desktop for windows; Pro $10/user/mo for sharing; Premium by capacity. Proprietary license. | Open-source (Apache 2.0); Preset Cloud offers paid hosting/support | Open source (GPL-3.0) |
| Cost | $$$ | $ | $ |
| Git Integration | |||
| CI/CD & Testing | |||
| Real-time | |||
| AI Features | |||
| Visual to Code | |||
| DAG-Based |
Target Users & Use-Cases
Each BI tool is designed with specific user personas in mind.
Microsoft Power BI
Apache Superset
Visivo
Ease of Development & Deployment
Development experience directly impacts team productivity and time-to-value.
Microsoft Power BI
Apache Superset
Visivo
Key Integrations & Ecosystem
A robust ecosystem of integrations is essential for modern BI tools.
Microsoft Power BI
Apache Superset
Visivo
Visualization Capabilities
The ability to create compelling visualizations is key to data storytelling.
Microsoft Power BI
Rich library of visuals (bar, line, maps, etc.) plus custom visuals marketplace. Highly customizable formatting. Dashboard-style layouts with interactive tiles. Advanced calculations via DAX formula language.
Apache Superset
Rich set of visualizations (bar, line, time-series, big number, etc.) via built-in plugins. Dashboards support filters and cross-highlighting. Customization is decent (colors, chart options) but not as polished as Tableau. Can create custom viz plugins with React/D3 if needed.
Visivo
Highly custom UI with easy defaults
Detailed Differentiators
Each platform's unique strengths and limitations.
Microsoft Power BI
Apache Superset
Visivo
Security & Architecture
Critical considerations for enterprise deployments.
Microsoft Power BI
DB Access: Import mode stores data in in-memory caches (no DB needed at view time); DirectQuery mode requires DB connection for each view. Virtualization: DirectQuery and live connect act as virtualization (query on demand). Push: Supports push data via streaming API for real-time dashboards. Other: Robust security with Azure AD; row-level security definable in reports; data encryption on cloud.
Apache Superset
DB Access: Yes, connects directly to databases with provided creds (queries run in DB). Virtualization: No internal data storage beyond caches – queries are delegated to sources. Push: No, data is pulled via queries on demand or scheduled caching. Other: Supports row-level security filters and role-based access to datasets/dashboards. Uses your DB's security for data access (you supply read-only creds).
Visivo
No db access required. Very strong security features due to the DAG-based access controls and the push based deployment model.
Why Visivo Stands Out
While each platform has its strengths, Visivo offers unique advantages for modern data teams.
Ready to Experience Modern BI?
Try Visivo today and see how it transforms your data analytics workflow.
$ curl -fsSL https://visivo.sh | bash
