Exploring Microsoft Power BI, Sigma Computing & Visivo
Microsoft Power BI vs. Sigma Computing vs. Visivo
Compare key features, capabilities, and differentiators between Microsoft Power BI, Sigma Computing, 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 | Sigma Computing | Visivo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment Model | Desktop + Cloud Service (PowerBI.com), on-prem Report Server | Cloud (SaaS) - AWS, Cloud (SaaS) - GCP, Multi-tenant deployment | Open-source, Cloud Service, Self-hosted |
| Pricing | Free desktop for windows; Pro $10/user/mo for sharing; Premium by capacity. Proprietary license. | Commercial SaaS; no free tier (trial available). Proprietary. | 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
Sigma Computing
Visivo
Ease of Development & Deployment
Development experience directly impacts team productivity and time-to-value.
Microsoft Power BI
Sigma Computing
Visivo
Key Integrations & Ecosystem
A robust ecosystem of integrations is essential for modern BI tools.
Microsoft Power BI
Sigma Computing
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.
Sigma Computing
Spreadsheet-like UI on cloud data: users drag columns, create formulas in cells (Excel-style). Visualizations are built atop these 'workbooks.' Good variety of charts, but geared towards data in tables first. Custom visuals possible via SQL or minimal coding (no full script extensions as in PowerBI).
Visivo
Highly custom UI with easy defaults
Detailed Differentiators
Each platform's unique strengths and limitations.
Microsoft Power BI
Sigma Computing
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.
Sigma Computing
DB Access: Yes – requires direct access to cloud DB (Sigma sends SQL to your warehouse). Virtualization: Yes – leaves data in DB, no local storage (except temp cache), effectively a virtualization approach. Push: Not typical; however, users can push (materialize) a result back to DB if needed. Other: Data never leaves your cloud environment (Sigma runs within cloud region). Supports row-level security via warehouse and within Sigma. SSO support available.
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
