# Microsoft Power BI: what it does, who it is for and alternatives > Microsoft Power BI: Dashboards and reports from your business data, with Copilot to build visuals and explain numbers. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/microsoft-power-bi · Updated 2026-10-20 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) Updated October 20, 2026 · By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) Dashboards and reports from your business data, with Copilot to build visuals and explain numbers. [Data & spreadsheets](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/data-spreadsheets) · Free plan Official site: [microsoft.com](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/products/power-bi) ## What Microsoft Power BI does Power BI connects to cloud and on-premises data, brings it into a shared model, and turns it into interactive reports you build in Power BI Desktop or the web. You can ask Copilot to create a report or add a written summary of why a number changed. Reports can be shared in Microsoft Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and SharePoint, and viewed on mobile. ## Who Microsoft Power BI is for - Financial analysts - Business analysts - Operations managers - Sales managers ## Key features - Copilot builds visuals and reports from natural-language requests - AI-written summaries and narratives on dashboards - Connects to cloud and on-premises sources through OneLake and Microsoft Fabric - Share insights in Teams, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint - Free Power BI Desktop app and mobile apps ## Privacy and data Microsoft Power BI says the Power BI service requires TLS 1.2 or above for all incoming traffic and is built under Microsoft's Security Development Lifecycle. Source: [Microsoft Power BI’s own page](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/guidance/white-paper-powerbi-security). Before you put client data in, check your company’s AI rules and the plan’s data settings. ## Learn Microsoft Power BI free on Stepthrough - Guide: [Tableau alternatives](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/alternatives/tableau) ## Alternatives to Microsoft Power BI Other AI data and spreadsheet tools in the directory. - [**Coefficient**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/coefficient) Free plan Pulls live data from CRMs, databases and other sheets into Google Sheets and Excel and refreshes it on a schedule. The free plan refreshes by hand; automatic refresh needs a paid plan. - [**Docparser**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/docparser) Free trial Pull data out of PDFs, Word files and scanned documents such as invoices and bank statements, then send it to Excel, Google Sheets or other apps. Free trial, no credit card. - [**Julius AI**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/julius-ai) Free plan Upload a spreadsheet and ask questions to get charts, analysis and forecasts in plain English. - [**Rows**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/rows) Free plan An online spreadsheet with a built-in AI Analyst. Import a CSV or connect tools like HubSpot, Google Analytics or Google Ads, then ask questions about your numbers in plain English. - [**Airtable**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/airtable) Free plan A database that feels like a spreadsheet, with AI fields that summarize, tag and draft for every row. - [**Tableau**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/tableau) Free trial Visual analytics and dashboards, with AI that explains data and answers questions. [All 31 AI data and spreadsheet tools](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/data-spreadsheets) ## Frequently asked questions **What is Microsoft Power BI?** Dashboards and reports from your business data, with Copilot to build visuals and explain numbers. Power BI connects to cloud and on-premises data, brings it into a shared model, and turns it into interactive reports you build in Power BI Desktop or the web. You can ask Copilot to create a report or add a written summary of why a number changed. Reports can be shared in Microsoft Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and SharePoint, and viewed on mobile. **Who is Microsoft Power BI for?** Microsoft Power BI fits financial analysts, business analysts, operations managers and sales managers, and other office teams with the same job to do. **Is Microsoft Power BI free?** Microsoft Power BI has a free plan; paid plans add more usage or features. Plans change often, so check the official pricing page before you commit. **What are some alternatives to Microsoft Power BI?** Other AI data and spreadsheet tools include Coefficient, Docparser, Julius AI, Rows and Airtable. **Is Microsoft Power BI safe for work data?** Microsoft Power BI says the Power BI service requires TLS 1.2 or above for all incoming traffic and is built under Microsoft's Security Development Lifecycle. Check your own company’s rules, and use a business plan with training turned off for client data. ## “Listed on Stepthrough” badge Add this badge to the Microsoft Power BI website, press page or docs. It links to this page, so your visitors can see the listing. Copy the HTML ```text Listed on Stepthrough ``` Checked against Microsoft Power BI’s official site on October 20, 2026: [source 1](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/products/power-bi), [source 2](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/guidance/white-paper-powerbi-security). Spotted something out of date? Email [rbreen@ynteractive.com](mailto:rbreen@ynteractive.com). Listings are free; [submit your AI tool](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/submit). [The full AI tools directory](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools) · [Data & spreadsheets](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/data-spreadsheets) · [Tool comparisons](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/compare)