Expert Opinion - Qlik vs Power BI

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of Business Intelligence (BI), I've had the opportunity to work extensively with two leading platforms: Power BI and Qlik Sense. As an expert in Power BI with 8 years of experience, I've developed a deep understanding of its capabilities and strengths. Over the past 2 years, I've also been honing my expertise in Qlik, and now that I've had a chance to work with both tools, I can see their differences more clearly. Both tools have their unique strengths and are tailored for different types of users and organizational needs. But which one should you be using? Let me share my insights and experiences with you to help you understand the nuances of each tool better and make an informed decision.

I will consider eight criteria’s to see how these two tools stack up.

Overview of Power BI

Power BI, developed by Microsoft, is a cloud-based BI service that offers data visualization and business analytics tools. It is part of the Microsoft Power Platform and integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft services like Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics 365.

Key Features of Power BI

1. Ease of Use: Power BI is designed for users with varying levels of technical expertise, offering an intuitive interface and a variety of templates for quick report creation.

2. Data Connectivity: Power BI provides connectors to a wide range of data sources, including SQL Server, Excel, Azure, and many third-party services.

3. AI and Machine Learning: Power BI leverages Microsoft AI to help users find insights quickly with automated machine learning capabilities and natural language processing.

4. Scalability and Deployment Options: Power BI can be deployed on-premises with Power BI Report Server or in the cloud, offering flexibility to meet organizational needs.

Overview of Qlik

Qlik, developed by QlikTech, is a comprehensive BI platform known for its associative data model and robust data discovery capabilities. It encompasses two main products: Qlik View and Qlik Sense.

• Qlik View

  is Qlik's original product, offering guided analytics with detailed dashboards and reports.

• Qlik Sense

  is a more modern, self-service BI tool designed for ease of use and rapid insights.

Key Features of Qlik

1. Associative Data Model: Qlik's associative model allows users to explore data freely without being constrained by predefined hierarchies or queries. This model supports ad-hoc queries and enables users to uncover hidden relationships in data.

2. Self-Service Visualization: Qlik Sense provides a highly interactive and user-friendly environment for creating visualizations, dashboards, and reports.

3. Data Integration: Qlik integrates data from various sources, including databases, cloud services, and flat files, offering extensive ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) capabilities.

4. Advanced Analytics: Qlik supports advanced analytics through integration with R and Python, allowing for sophisticated data modelling and statistical analysis.

5. Collaboration: Users can share insights and collaborate on data analysis within the platform.

Gartner's Analysis of BI Market Dynamics

Gartner's latest analysis highlights the ongoing rivalry between Qlik and Power BI. Qlik, known for its strong data visualization and analytics tools, has been a major player in the BI space. However, Power BI has emerged as a strong contender. With its user-friendly interface, powerful features, and seamless integration with other Microsoft products, Power BI has quickly risen to the top of the market. Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms clearly shows Microsoft's lead, showcasing the strength and popularity of Power BI in today's competitive landscape.

Both tools share the same overall rating (4.4/5) but have slight differences in user satisfaction distribution. Power BI has a higher number of reviews, indicating broader usage, while Qlik Sense has a slightly higher percentage of 5-star reviews.

Comparative Analysis

1. Features and Capabilities

Power BI: Power BI shines in its seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. If you’re already using Excel, Azure, or other Microsoft tools, Power BI feels like an extension of these platforms. Its drag-and-drop functionality makes it easy for users at all technical levels. One standout feature is the AI capabilities, such as natural language querying, which allows users to ask questions in plain English and get insights. This is particularly useful in meetings when quick answers are needed.

Qlik: Qlik impressed me with its associative data indexing engine. This feature is incredibly powerful for users who need to explore data without predefined paths. It's like having a magic wand that reveals hidden connections in your data, making it perfect for deep dives and complex data relationships. The scripting capabilities in Qlik are robust, allowing for significant data manipulation and transformation. For example, if a project requires data integration from multiple disparate sources, Qlik’s data handling capabilities will make it a breeze.

2. Usability and User Experience

Power BI: Power BI’s user-friendly interface is one of its biggest advantages. It’s intuitive enough for beginners, yet powerful for advanced users. The integration with familiar tools like Excel makes it a favourite among many of my clients. At a former client, I used Power BI to create dynamic KPI Dashboard that could be easily updated and shared across teams and regions which significantly improving their decision-making processes.

Qlik: Qlik's interface is designed for advanced users who need detailed analytics. While this can be a bit daunting at first, once you get the hang of it, the level of control and insight it offers is unparalleled. For example, one of my current project is with procurement team who needed to structure vendor Savins/Actuals outcomes across various business units. Qlik's associative model allowed us to link these diverse data points seamlessly.

3. Performance and Scalability

Power BI: Power BI also performs well, particularly when integrated with Azure for scalability. However, I've noticed that with a large volume of data and/or very complex models, performance can sometimes be a bit sluggish unless properly optimized. For example, during my experience in a finance team of the relocation company, their extensive historical data needed to have Power BI setup fine-tuned to ensure optimal performance during peak reporting times.

Qlik: Qlik is built to handle large datasets with ease. Its in-memory data processing ensures that even with substantial data volumes, the performance remains fast. In one of my projects with a manufacturing firm, we had to analyse years of production data. Qlik handled the data volume without a hitch, providing real-time insights that were crucial for operational efficiency.

4. Pricing and Licensing

Power BI: Power BI offers a more straightforward and affordable pricing structure, with Pro and Premium subscription models that are especially cost-effective for businesses already using Microsoft products. Users can also try Power BI for free by downloading the Power BI Desktop application, which makes it a compelling choice for small to medium-sized organizations needing a powerful yet affordable BI solution.

However, as much as Power BI’s pricing seems simple at first glance, the reality is much more complex. The cost breakdown for a new Power BI solution is often convoluted. Microsoft’s pricing structure can be difficult to navigate, which leads to uncertainty in cost forecasting. The intricacies of licensing, the introduction of Microsoft Fabric, and hidden product complexities create a pricing labyrinth that is quite hard to navigate through.

Qlik: Qlik's pricing can be a bit higher, especially for small to medium-sized businesses. However, the flexibility of their pricing models, including perpetual and subscription-based options, can be advantageous depending on your financial strategy. I’ve worked with enterprises that appreciated the long-term cost savings from Qlik’s perpetual licenses despite the higher upfront cost.

It's important to highlight that Qlik's pricing is generally more transparent and straightforward compared to Power BI, whose cost estimates can often be complex and difficult to decipher. This clarity makes Qlik particularly attractive to organizations that value predictable and easily understood expenses.

5. Integration and Extensibility

Power BI: Power BI’s integration capabilities are robust, especially within the Microsoft ecosystem. The ease of connecting to Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics 365 streamlines data workflows. For example, manufacturing company I worked with could integrate their dealer information systems with Power BI to gain valuable insights into dealers performance.

Qlik: Qlik’s ability to integrate with a wide range of data sources and its open API for custom solutions are impressive. I’ve used Qlik to connect with various databases, cloud services, and third-party applications, providing a holistic view of organizational data. This was especially beneficial for companies requiring comprehensive departmental data analytics.

6. Training Needs

Both Power BI and Qlik require a level of expertise to maximize their capabilities, but the training needs differ significantly between the two platforms.

Power BI: The platform’s intuitive design makes it easier for users to start creating reports and dashboards with minimal formal training. Microsoft’s extensive learning resources, including Microsoft Learn, YouTube tutorials, and community forums, support user onboarding. However, for advanced functionalities such as DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) or integration with Azure services, structured training becomes essential. Businesses adopting Power BI may need to allocate time and resources for upskilling their teams to fully leverage its potential.

Qlik: Qlik's steeper learning curve, particularly for QlikView, necessitates a more structured and intensive training program. The scripting and associative data model require users to have a strong grasp of data transformation and modelling concepts. Qlik does offer robust training and certification programs, but businesses should be prepared for a longer ramp-up time when adopting this tool.

7. Security

Data security is a critical consideration when choosing a BI platform, and both Power BI and Qlik offer robust security frameworks but with key differences.

Power BI: As part of the Microsoft ecosystem, Power BI benefits from Azure's comprehensive security measures, including role-based access control, data encryption, and compliance with global standards such as GDPR and ISO 27001. However, organizations need to carefully manage permissions, especially when sharing dashboards externally, to avoid potential data breaches. Additionally, hybrid scenarios where data resides on-premises and in the cloud may require advanced configurations to ensure data security.

Qlik: Qlik’s platform provides enterprise-grade security, focusing on granular control over data access. Its associative engine ensures that users only access the data they are authorized to see, offering enhanced privacy for sensitive information. Qlik’s security architecture is well-suited for organizations with complex data governance needs, though its implementation can be more technically demanding than Power BI’s.

8. Community and Support

Power BI: Power BI benefits from Microsoft’s extensive support network and a large, active user community. The regular updates and new features keep the platform at the forefront of BI technology. I frequently turn to the wealth of learning resources available, especially the Microsoft Learn platform with its structured learning tracks, as well as online tutorials and forums, which provide quick solutions and valuable tips

Qlik: Qlik has a vibrant user community and extensive support resources. The training programs and certification courses are there to help users get the most out of the platform.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Power BI:

• Strengths

  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface

  • Seamless integration with Microsoft ecosystem

  • Cost-effective, especially for existing Microsoft users

  • Strong AI and machine learning capabilities

• Weaknesses

  • Limited flexibility in data exploration compared to Qlik

  • Performance can be dependent on data source and connection mode

  • Less robust ETL capabilities compared to tools specifically designed for ETL

Qlik:

• Strengths:

  • Powerful associative data model

  • Robust self-service BI capabilities

  • Advanced data integration and transformation

  • Strong community and support resources

• Weaknesses

  • Steeper learning curve, especially with QlikView

  • Higher cost for smaller organizations

  • Requires more technical expertise for advanced use

Conclusion

Both Qlik and Power BI are formidable tools in the BI landscape, each with its own set of advantages. Power BI is perfect for businesses seeking an easy-to-use, cost-effective solution with strong integration into the Microsoft ecosystem. Qlik is ideal for organizations that need deep, complex data analysis and have the technical expertise to leverage its full capabilities.

Choosing between Qlik and Power BI ultimately depends on your specific needs, budget, and existing infrastructure. By evaluating these factors, you can determine which tool will best help your organization achieve its data-driven goals.

I encourage readers to explore a trial of both tools or consider an in-depth consultation to identify which solution best aligns with specific business needs.

Ket Kharashvili, Senior Manager, Data, Analytics & Visualisation.