Exploring Microsoft Power BI, Sisense & Visivo
Microsoft Power BI vs. Sisense vs. Visivo
Compare key features, capabilities, and differentiators between Microsoft Power BI, Sisense, 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 | Sisense | Visivo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment Model | Desktop + Cloud Service (PowerBI.com), on-prem Report Server | Windows/Linux on-prem, Sisense Cloud (managed), Private cloud | Open-source, Cloud Service, Self-hosted |
| Pricing | Free desktop for windows; Pro $10/user/mo for sharing; Premium by capacity. Proprietary license. | Commercial (Proprietary). Pricing by seat and consumption. | 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
Sisense
Visivo
Ease of Development & Deployment
Development experience directly impacts team productivity and time-to-value.
Microsoft Power BI
Sisense
Visivo
Key Integrations & Ecosystem
A robust ecosystem of integrations is essential for modern BI tools.
Microsoft Power BI
Sisense
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.
Sisense
Two flavors merged: traditional dashboard builder (drag-drop charts, with advanced widget for custom UI via scripting) and a notebook-style interface (from acquired Periscope Data) for SQL/Python. Visualizations include a wide range of widgets and the special Sisense BloX for custom coded infographic-like blocks. Highly customizable via JavaScript (for those inclined).
Visivo
Highly custom UI with easy defaults
Detailed Differentiators
Each platform's unique strengths and limitations.
Microsoft Power BI
Sisense
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.
Sisense
DB Access: Depending on setup – Live mode: Sisense queries your DB on the fly (needs access); Elasticube mode: data is extracted into Sisense's proprietary in-memory cube (so queries don't hit source DB at runtime). Virtualization: Allows combining multiple sources in one view via its cubes (not exactly virtualization, more like federation into a single cache). Push: In Elasticube mode, data is essentially pushed into Sisense's storage on a refresh schedule. Other: Robust security – single sign-on, row-level security in Elasticubes, and extensive admin controls.
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
