Comparing The Best BI Tools: A Complete Breakdown

This article compares leading BI platforms (Looker, Power BI, Holistics, Tableau, Sisense, and Domo) side by side to help you evaluate which tool best fits your data stack.

LAST UPDATED September 25, 2025

AUTHOR

Holistics Team

Over the years, we've received over hundreds of RFPs (Requests for Proposal) from a wide range of prospects and customers, from small businesses to international Fortune 500 companies. This has given us valuable insight into how data teams evaluate BI tools, the key questions they ask, and the capabilities they prioritize.

We’ve distilled those insights into a BI comparison matrix and used it to compare today’s leading BI platforms side by side.

Because every team’s priorities look a little different, we’ve also shared a Google Sheet version you can copy, adapt, and use directly with any vendors you’re assessing.

Our approach:

Facts are prioritized over opinions, no recommendations pushed
Details are backed by official documentation
High-level criteria are broken down into specific, measurable sub-points
Findings are presented in in clear, comparable tables
Linking to real-world discussions from actual users

We understand we might come across as biased, since we're also a vendor selling BI solution. Rather than claiming neutrality, we'll let the content below speak for itself.

Found an inaccuracy or want your tool added? Use this form.

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Dimension	Holistics	Tableau	Power BI	Looker	Sisense	Domo	Omni	Thoughtspot
Demo Playground Learn more Availability and quality of demo playground for testing the tool before purchase.
Demo Playground	Available Free 14-day trial with sandbox demo environment for evaluation. source 1 , source 2 , source 3	Available Free trials, demos, and Tableau Public for evaluation and skill development. source 1 , source 2 , source 3	Available Free account and Power BI Desktop for creating and viewing reports. source 1 , source 2	❌ No free trial. Sales-led demo model for enterprise clients. source	Available Developer Playground for hands-on exploration with 7-30 day free trials. source 1 , source 2	30-Day Free Trial Full platform access for unlimited users with onboarding support and self-service education. source 1 , source 2	Available Public demos hub with feature walkthroughs and official demo booking for evaluation. source 1 , source 2	Available Free trial and demo access for hands-on evaluation and exploration. source 1 , source 2
Pricing Structure Learn more Pricing model and cost structure of the BI tool.
Pricing Metric	Feature Tier Feature-tier pricing with user-based licensing and usage-based for embedded. source 1 , source 2	User-Based Subscription User-based annual billing with Creator, Explorer, and Viewer licenses. source 1 , source 2 , source 3	User & Capacity Based Free account, user-based licenses, and capacity-based pricing for enterprise. source	Platform & User-Based Platform pricing for core instance plus user-based pricing for Developer, Standard, and Viewer roles. source	User-Based Custom Pricing Customized solutions based on users, data size, hosting type, and usage intensity. source	Consumption-Based Credit System Pay for what you use with credit system and base user fee starting at $750/year per user. source	❌ No information available.	User-based or Usage-based ThoughtSpot offers subscription options starting at $25 per user per month, or a usage-based model at $0.10 per query. source
Pricing Estimate	$9,000+/year Entry plan starts at $800/month. Enterprise plans available for larger teams. source	Contact Sales No pricing estimate available. Contact sales for a custom quote. source	$9,000+/year Power BI pricing starts at $14 per user per month for the Pro plan (annual billing) and $24 per user per month for the Premium plan. source	$35,000-150,000/year Base cost starts at $35,000-60,000/year. Average mid-sized company cost is $150,000/year. source	$40,600-327,000/year Essential $40,600-60,000/year, Advanced $69,600-138,000/year, Pro $109,000-327,000/year. source	$50,000-200,000/year Small businesses $30,000/year, enterprise-level organizations can exceed $100,000 annually. source	❌ No information available.	$140,000/year On average, organizations report paying around $140,000 annually for ThoughtSpot licenses and usage, according to Vendr. source
Visualizations Learn more Chart and visualization capabilities of the tool.
Built-in Visualizations	40+ Chart Types Native chart types with Canvas Dashboard for free-form narrative reports. source 1 , source 2 , source 3	Extensive Native Charts Wide array of native chart types including advanced visualizations like Boxplot, Bullet, Gantt, Histogram. source 1 , source 2	Extensive Native Charts Hundreds of native chart types including bar, pie, line, area, matrix, and advanced visuals. source	Intuitive Dashboard Canvas Drag-and-drop canvas with diverse visualization options including tables, charts, and maps. source	Out-of-the-Box Charts Library of out-of-the-box charts, maps, and widgets for quick dashboard building. source	150+ Native Chart Types Over 150 native chart types including pie, line, bar charts, maps, scatter plots, and Gantt charts. source	Native Chart Types Broad set of native visualizations including AI summary, area, bar, line, KPI, maps, and tables. source	Visual Explorer Multiple measures, faceted groupings, layers, and manual disaggregation capabilities. source
Custom Visualizations	Vega & Vega-Lite Custom visualizations via Vega and Vega-Lite integration with Highcharts support. source 1 , source 2	Customizable Dashboards Flexible dashboard creation with drag-and-drop interface and storytelling features. source 1 , source 2	AppSource & Custom Dev Custom visuals from AppSource marketplace and self-developed using PBIViz tools. source	Marketplace Plug-ins Custom plug-ins for visualizations through Looker Marketplace with community and partner options. source	Custom Visuals via Code Create custom visualizations using JavaScript, third-party libraries, or Compose SDK. source 1 , source 2	Extensive Customization Customize visuals and dashboards with no-code design approach for personalized layouts and themes. source	Markdown & iFrame Custom visuals via Markdown including iFramed external content like YouTube, Maps, and Twitter. source	via VitaraCharts Custom charts are available via Vitara Charts. source
Custom Styling	Custom Theming Comprehensive theming with custom CSS for brand alignment and styling. source	Theming for Branding Custom styling and branding with white-labeling for client-ready embeds. source	JSON Themes Custom styling through JSON themes with color palettes, typography, and branding. source	Embedded Interface Branding Customize Looker interface to match branding for external analytics and custom applications. source	Branded Experiences Interactive visualizations matching product look and feel with complete white-labeling in Pro plan. source	Personalized Branding Extensive custom styling and branding with user-friendly no-code design interface. source	Basic Theming On-brand embedded analytics with basic theming controls, full CSS customization not detailed. source	❌ No global theming or white-label styling documented for native charts.
Data Storytelling & Annotations	AI Narratives & Annotations GenAI data stories (Alpha) with manual chart annotations and text blocks. source 1 , source 2	Interactive Narratives Storytelling feature with AI-powered explanations from Tableau Pulse and Einstein AI. source 1 , source 2	AI Narratives & Text Smart Narratives, embedded text summaries, and Copilot for conversational insights. source	Narrative Dashboarding Craft compelling data stories with automated narratives and insightful text summaries. source	AI-Powered Narratives Sisense Intelligence features assistant and narrative generation for natural-language exploration. source	AI-Enhanced Data Stories Conversational AI (AI Chat) for natural language questions and automated alerts for key data changes. source	AI Narratives & Markdown AI-driven narrative tiles and Markdown text blocks for data storytelling and context. source 1 , source 2	AI Highlights Auto-surfaces insights on Liveboards for narrative exploration and data storytelling. source
Ease of Use & Self-Service Learn more How user-friendly and self-service oriented the tool is for non-technical users.
Drilldown & Cross Filtering	Interactive Dashboards Drilldown, cross-filtering, and drill-through with dynamic date granularity. source 1 , source 2 , source 3	Interactive Dashboard Exploration Drilldowns, filters, and click-through exploration for data analysis. source	Interactive Drilldowns Drilldowns, filters, and click-through exploration for deeper data insights. source	Drill-to-Row-Level Detail Expand filters and drill down to row-level detail for comprehensive data comprehension. source	Interactive Dashboards Interactive no-code dashboards for exploration with filtering capabilities. source	Interactive Data Exploration Interactive dashboards with filters and customizable views for intuitive data analysis. source	Cross-Query Filtering Cross-filtering between queries and seamless dashboard drill-down for interactive exploration. source 1 , source 2	Liveboard Exploration Drill-down, filtering, and ad-hoc exploration directly from Liveboard interface. source
Search & Discovery	Search & Discovery Keyword search, filtering, bookmarking, and tagging for content organization. source 1 , source 2	Natural Language Search Ask Data feature for natural language queries and immediate visualizations. source	Q&A Visual AI-assisted natural language queries using Q&A visual for instant answers. source	Marketplace Content Discovery Discover pre-built content, blocks, and custom plug-ins through Looker Marketplace. source	Natural-Language Exploration Sisense Intelligence features assistant and narratives for natural-language data discovery. source	AI-Driven Data Exploration AI Chat for natural language questions and instant actionable insights through conversational AI. source	Content Discovery Find & manage content with dashboard search capabilities for content discovery. source	Analyst Studio Hub Central hub for organizing reports, Liveboards, and data objects discovery. source
Built-in Calculation	1-Click Calculations Native support for PoP, moving calculations, percent of total, and statistical operations. source 1 , source 2 , source 3 , source 4	Calculated Fields Extensive built-in calculation capabilities for common business metrics and KPIs. source	AI-Assisted DAX AI-assisted DAX calculations with point-and-click analytics for common operations. source	Table Calculations & LookML Standard calculations via Table Calculations. Complex analyses require LookML modeling. source	Quick Functions Natural language support for contribution, pastYear, and difference calculations via AI Assistant. source	Table Calculations Self-serve calculated fields in Analyzer without complex dataflows or advanced Beast Modes. source	AI-Assisted Calculations AI-powered table calculations reducing formula friction with smart assistance. source	Aggregation Functions Robust set of built-in aggregation functions for custom calculations. source
Ease of Report Building	Canvas Dashboard Drag-and-drop interface for creating charts and arranging visuals on free-form canvas. source 1 , source 2 , source 3	Intuitive Builder User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality and guided report creation. source	Drag-and-Drop Builder User-friendly report canvas with drag-and-drop builders and guided tours. source	Drag-and-Drop Canvas Intuitive drag-and-drop canvas for creating visually appealing dashboards. source	Visual Report Builder Build dashboards with out-of-the-box charts, maps and widgets, using a visual report builder. source	Worksheets & Analyzer Worksheets for data prep and intuitive Analyzer for report building and visualization. source	Workbook Interface Workbook interface for exploration and building with field picker and model promotions. source	Visual Explorer Builder Layered visuals, mark selection, and drag-and-drop style report building. source
AI-Assisted Data Analytics	AI Chat Interface Natural language queries with AI assistant for data exploration and insights. source	Tableau AI AI-powered features including natural language queries and automated insights. source	Comprehensive AI AI insights, auto-charting, natural language queries, and Key Influencer visual. source	Gemini AI Assistant AI assistant for visualization creation, formula building, data modeling, and report generation. source	Sisense AI Assistant Natural language queries with limitations: no calculated fields, no query history retention. source	AI-Driven Data Exploration AI Chat for natural language questions and instant actionable insights through natural language. source	Dashboard AI Assistant Chat-based dashboard assistant for drill-down, re-aggregation, and summaries with MCP server integration. source 1 , source 2	Spotter AI AI-driven conversational analytics with natural language query capabilities. source 1 , source 2
Data Delivery Learn more How data and reports are delivered to end users.
Alerts & Subscriptions	Alerts & Subscriptions Data alerts and scheduled subscriptions via Email, Slack, and SFTP. source 1 , source 2 , source 3	Comprehensive Alerts Advanced alerting system with customizable thresholds and multiple notification channels. source	Custom Alerts Custom alerts and scheduled subscriptions for timely information delivery. source	Data-Driven Alerts Create subscriptions and data-driven alerts based on insights for individual users and teams. source	Data Alerts Custom notification messages with rebranded emails and custom SMTP server support. source	Automated Alerts Automated alerts for key data changes to keep users updated on important information. source	Schedule & Alert Native scheduling and alerting capabilities, specific channels not detailed. source	Scheduled Jobs Schedule Liveboard jobs for automated delivery and subscription management. source
Sharing & Distribution	Secure Sharing Internal RBAC sharing and external distribution with multiple export formats. source	Enterprise Sharing Enterprise-grade sharing with granular permissions and secure distribution options. source	Multi-Channel Sharing Secure sharing via Teams, PowerPoint, Excel with PDF, CSV, Excel export options. source	Content Sharing Guide Comprehensive documentation and guidance for effective content sharing within the platform. source	❌ No explicit sharing or distribution features mentioned in documentation. source	❌ No explicit sharing or distribution features mentioned in documentation. source	Governed Sharing Document-level permissions and content sharing with governance controls. source	PDF & Slideshow Export Secure link sharing with authentication, PDF downloads, and slideshow presentations. source 1 , source 2
Embedded Analytics Learn more Capabilities for embedding analytics into other applications.
Embedding Mechanism	Iframe + API Basic dashboard embedding and self-service embedding for report creation. source	Multiple Methods Supports iframe embedding, REST API, and JavaScript API for integration. source	Azure PaaS Power BI Embedded as Azure PaaS for embedding interactive reports into applications. source	API-Driven Embedded Powerful embedded capabilities with robust API coverage for extensive data experiences. source	iFrames, APIs & SDKs iFrame embedding across all plans with REST API and Compose SDK for React, Angular, Vue. source	Embedded Analytics Embed analytics into any application, portal, or website to extend data reach and deliver insights. source	Embed Documentation Dedicated embed capabilities for customer-facing reports with on-brand integration. source	Visual Embed SDK Embed Liveboards and visualizations via SDK with event handling capabilities. source
White-Labeling	Custom Theming Visual customization with custom CSS for client-ready embedded analytics. source 1 , source 2	Branding Options Customizable branding and theming for embedded analytics with CSS customization. source	Custom Styling Custom styling and branding of dashboards using themes and color palettes. source	Embedded Interface Branding Customize Looker interface to match branding for external analytics and custom applications. source	Customizable White-Labeling Complete white-labeling in Pro plan with limited options in lower tiers for OEM scenarios. source	Custom Branding White-labeling and custom theming for embedded content to reflect brand's look and feel. source	Basic Branding On-brand embedded analytics with AI assistant branding controls, full theming API not detailed. source	Customization framework Teams can whitelabel and customize ThoughtSpot embedded using style customization framework and custom CSS. source
Embedded Report Builder	Self-Service Embedding Embedded users can create and edit their own reports and dashboards. source	Limited Self-Service Basic self-service capabilities for embedded users with appropriate licensing. source	❌ No direct embedded report builder for end users in embedded context. source	❌ No embedded report builder for end users in embedded context. source	Intuitive Dashboard Designer Dashboard Designer feature with Basic in Essential plan and Advanced in higher tiers. source	Self-Serve Analytics Simple drag-and-drop tools for teams to create visualizations within embedded content. source	Customer Self-Service Customers can build customizable dashboards and natural language queries within embedded product. source	❌ No information available.
Reliability & Performance Learn more System reliability, performance optimization, and monitoring capabilities.
Query Optimisation	Smart Caching & Pushdown Smart caching, query pushdown, pre-aggregations, and high-performance streaming engine. source 1 , source 2 , source 3 , source 4	Advanced Optimization Comprehensive query optimization with caching, incremental refresh, and performance tuning. source	Import Mode Import mode, pre-aggregation, and summary tables for performance optimization. source	In-Database Architecture In-database architecture optimizing performance by directly querying cloud databases in real time. source	Proprietary Elasticube System Proprietary Elasticube system for data storage and processing with scalable analytics and low latency. source	❌ No specific information on query optimization, caching, pushdown, or pre-aggregation mentioned. source	Caching Controls Admin and user caching controls with visualization performance improvements. source	❌ Not available.
Monitoring & Alerting	Performance Monitoring Jobs monitoring dashboard, usage monitoring, and error alerts via email. source 1 , source 2 , source 3	Enterprise Monitoring Enterprise-grade monitoring with comprehensive performance insights and alerting. source	❌ No explicit built-in monitoring, freshness indicators, or error alerts. source	System Activity Explores System Activity Explores provide insights into user interactions, content engagement, and query performance. source	WAT Usage Stats Web Access Token usage statistics and monitoring with REST API support. source	Automated Alerts Automated alerts for key data changes, but no explicit freshness indicators or error alerts mentioned. source	Admin Analytics In-app workbook analytics for administrators to monitor usage and system efficiency. source	❌ No information available.
Semantic Modeling Learn more Data modeling and semantic layer capabilities.
Semantic Layer	Data Modeling Layer Centralized semantic layer for consistent metrics, KPIs, and business definitions. source 1 , source 2	Data Model Tableau data model provides semantic layer capabilities with calculated fields and parameters. source	OneLake Data Hub Semantic modeling with OneLake data hub for single source of truth. source	Universal Semantic Layer Universal semantic modeling layer as single source of truth with LookML modeling language. source	Data Modeling & Unified Data Data modeling capabilities with intuitive workflows for unifying data across sources into actionable visualizations. source	Magic ETL Magic ETL and Worksheets provide GUI-based transformations and analyst-level data shaping. source	Query Views & Topics Workbook queries become reusable model views with parameters and governed topic management. source	Spotter Model Readiness Column naming, synonyms, indexing guidance for semantic model context. source
Git Version Control	Native Git Control Native Git version control for models and dashboards with standard development workflows. source 1 , source 2	Limited Version Control Basic version control through Tableau Server/Online with limited branching capabilities. source	Git Integration In Power BI Desktop, enable the preview feature to save reports as .PBIP projects and check into Git, while Microsoft Fabric provides native Git integration. source	Git Version Control Git-based version control for data models with proprietary dashboard versioning capabilities. source	Git Integration Git integration for developers with version control capabilities and marketplace add-ons. source	❌ No information about Git version control for managing semantic models or BI artifacts mentioned.	Branch Mode & Git Branch mode for safe changes with Git integration for versioned development workflows. source	Git Integration Data teams can govern Liveboards, Answers and TML changes via Git Integration. source
Automated Metadata Sync	dbt Metadata Sync Integrates with dbt to sync metadata from manifest.json to BI layer. source 1 , source 2	Manual Sync Manual metadata management with limited automated synchronization capabilities. source	❌ No explicit automated metadata sync from dbt or data warehouses. source	❌ No explicit automated metadata syncing from dbt or other warehouses into semantic layer. source	❌ No explicit automated metadata synchronization from dbt or data warehouses mentioned. source	❌ No explicit automated metadata synchronization from dbt or data warehouses mentioned.	dbt Semantic Layer (WIP) Early implementation of dbt Semantic Layer integration, marked as work-in-progress. source	❌ No information available.
Analytics-as-Code	Analytics as Code AML/AMQL DSL for defining BI artifacts with CI/CD workflows and version control. source 1 , source 2 , source 3	Limited Code Support Limited code-based management with some API capabilities for automation. source	❌ No explicit analytics-as-code for dashboards or models. source	LookML Analytics-as-Code LookML modeling language enables code-based definition of dimensions, measures, and business logic. source	Pro-Code to No-Code Pro-code, low-code, and no-code capabilities for building dashboards with JavaScript and Compose SDK. source	❌ No information about defining dashboards or models in YAML/DSL formats or CI/CD workflows mentioned.	Model DSL & APIs YAML-like model definitions with Query Run and AI Query Generation APIs for programmatic management. source 1 , source 2	❌ No information available.
Security and Governance Learn more Security features and governance capabilities.
Access Control	RBAC & SSO Role-based access control with RLS/CLS and SSO integration via SAML. source 1 , source 2 , source 3 , source 4	Enterprise Security Comprehensive RBAC, SSO, and group-based access control for enterprise environments. source	Microsoft Governance Microsoft security standards with data governance and sensitivity labeling. source	Unified User Management Unified user management with SSO via Google Cloud IAM and role-based access control. source	Trust & Security Enterprise-grade security in Pro plan with marketplace add-ons for data governance and SSO. source	Enterprise-Level Security Enterprise-level security, compliance, and governance with SSO and encryption capabilities. source	Role-Based Permissions Multiple permission roles including Restricted Querier, Modeler, Connection Admin, and Organization Admin. source	SSO Authentication Link sharing requires authentication via sign-in or SAML integration. source
Audit & Compliance	SOC2 Type II & GDPR SOC2 Type II certified with GDPR/CCCP compliance. Audit logs for user actions and data access via SFTP/SQL export. source 1 , source 2 , source 3 , source 4	Compliance Features Built-in compliance features with audit logs and monitoring for regulatory requirements. source	❌ No explicit audit compliance features mentioned in documentation. source	System Activity Explores System Activity Explores serve as audit logs for monitoring platform usage and system efficiency. source	❌ No explicit audit compliance features mentioned in documentation. source	Multi-Framework Compliance ISO 27001/27018, SOC 1/2, HIPAA, HITRUST certifications with responsible disclosure program. source	❌ No audit logs or compliance documentation available in provided materials.	❌ No information available.
Data Masking & Encryption	Column Security & AES Column-level security for data masking. AES encryption for credentials, decrypted only in memory during queries. source 1 , source 2	Advanced Security Advanced data masking, encryption, and security features for enterprise data protection. source	❌ No explicit data masking or encryption features mentioned. source	❌ No explicit data masking or encryption features mentioned in documentation. source	❌ No explicit data masking or encryption features mentioned in documentation. source	BYOK Encryption Bring Your Own Key encryption with customer-managed key rotation and data access revocation. source	❌ No data masking or encryption features documented in provided materials.	❌ No information available.
Monitoring & Logging	Built-in Monitoring Usage monitoring, activity logs, and job monitoring dashboard. Export audit logs for external SIEM integration. source 1 , source 2 , source 3	Enterprise Monitoring Enterprise-grade security monitoring and logging with comprehensive visibility. source	❌ No explicit monitoring or logging capabilities mentioned. source	System Activity Explores System Activity Explores provide insights into user interactions, content engagement, and query performance. source	❌ No explicit monitoring or logging capabilities mentioned in documentation. source	❌ No explicit monitoring or logging capabilities mentioned in documentation. source	AI Data Security Dedicated AI data security configuration, general monitoring/logging not detailed. source	❌ No information available.