Microsoft Power BI vs Sigma Computing
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Microsoft Power BI starts at $14/mo and Sigma Computing starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Power BI Desktop
- Copilot report creation
- DAX measures
- Scheduled refresh
- Microsoft Fabric integration
- Spreadsheet-style workbooks
- Live warehouse queries
- Input tables with write-back
- AI query assistant
- Embedded analytics
| Feature | Microsoft Power BI | Sigma Computing |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Microsoft's BI tool with Copilot for reports and data questions | Spreadsheet-style BI on top of your cloud data warehouse |
| Category | Data & analytics | Data & analytics |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Starting price | $14/mo | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | No, trial available |
| Made by | Microsoft | Sigma Computing |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Microsoft Power BI starts at $14/mo and Sigma Computing starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- Power BI Desktop
- Personal reports
Pro
$14/mo
- Per user
- Share and collaborate on reports
Premium Per User
$24/mo
- Per user
- Larger models and AI features
- Paginated reports
Fabric capacity
Usage-based
- Organization-wide capacity
- Pay as you go or reserved
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Microsoft Power BI
- Low cost per user
- Deep Microsoft integration
- Free desktop authoring
- Copilot needs higher capacity licenses
- DAX has a learning curve
- Desktop app is Windows only
Sigma Computing
- Familiar for Excel users
- No data extracts needed
- Scales to huge tables
- Requires a cloud warehouse
- Pricing not public
Which one should you choose?
Choose Microsoft Power BI if you want:
- Low cost per user
- Deep Microsoft integration
- Free desktop authoring
Watch out: copilot needs higher capacity licenses.
Choose Sigma Computing if you want:
- Familiar for Excel users
- No data extracts needed
- Scales to huge tables
Watch out: requires a cloud warehouse.
Microsoft Power BI vs Sigma Computing FAQ
What is the difference between Microsoft Power BI and Sigma Computing?
Microsoft Power BI: Microsoft's BI tool with Copilot for reports and data questions. Sigma Computing: Spreadsheet-style BI on top of your cloud data warehouse. Both are data & analytics tools.
Is Microsoft Power BI or Sigma Computing cheaper?
Microsoft Power BI starts at $14/mo and Sigma Computing starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Microsoft Power BI and Sigma Computing have free plans?
Microsoft Power BI: Yes. Sigma Computing: No, trial available.
Who makes Microsoft Power BI?
Microsoft Power BI is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes Sigma Computing?
Sigma Computing is made by Sigma Computing, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Microsoft Power BI or Sigma Computing?
Choose Microsoft Power BI if you value low cost per user and deep microsoft integration. Choose Sigma Computing if you value familiar for excel users and no data extracts needed.