Power BI Pricing 2026
Complete pricing guide with plans, hidden costs, and negotiation tips
Power BI pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $20 per user/month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: Yes
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Power BI offers 3 pricing tiers: Free, Pro, Premium. Standard paid plans include Free at $0/user, Pro at $10/user/month, Premium at $20/user/month. The Pro plan is teams.
Compared to other business intelligence software, Power BI is positioned at the budget-friendly price point.
Microsoft Power BI integrates deeply with the Microsoft ecosystem, offering affordable BI for over 5 million organizations.
All Power BI Plans & Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free 0 | Individual use |
| Pro | $10 /user/month | $10 /user/month | Teams |
| Premium | $20 /user/month | $20 /user/month | Enterprise |
View all features by plan
Free
- Desktop authoring
Pro
- Cloud sharing
Premium
- Advanced features
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Frequently Asked Questions
01 How much does Power BI cost?
Power BI Desktop is free. Power BI Pro costs $10/user/month for collaboration and sharing. Power BI Premium costs $20/user/month for advanced features or $4,995/month for capacity-based licensing with unlimited viewers. Most teams start with Pro at $10/user/month.
02 Is Power BI really free?
Power BI Desktop is completely free for individual use. You can build reports and dashboards locally at no cost. However, to share reports or collaborate with teammates, you need Power BI Pro at $10/user/month. The free tier has no time limit.
03 What's the difference between Power BI Pro and Premium?
Power BI Pro ($10/user/month) is designed for collaboration - users can share and edit reports together, but all users need Pro licenses. Power BI Premium ($20/user/month or $4,995/month capacity) adds AI features, larger datasets, and with capacity licensing, allows unlimited free viewers.
04 Do viewers need Power BI Pro licenses?
Yes, if using Pro licensing, all users viewing reports need a Pro license ($10/user/month each). However, with Premium capacity ($4,995/month), viewers can access reports with free licenses. Premium becomes cost-effective at roughly 100+ viewers.
05 How does Power BI compare to Tableau on price?
Power BI is significantly cheaper. Power BI Pro ($10/user/month) vs Tableau Explorer ($42/user/month). Power BI Premium Per User ($20/user) vs Tableau Creator ($75/user). For most use cases, Power BI costs 50-75% less than Tableau.
06 When should I buy Power BI Premium instead of Pro?
Buy Premium capacity ($4,995/month) when you have 100+ viewers (breaks even vs Pro licenses), need to share with external users, want to embed reports in apps, or require AI features and larger datasets. Otherwise, stick with Pro ($10/user/month).
07 Can I use Power BI with non-Microsoft data sources?
Yes, Power BI connects to 100+ data sources including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Salesforce, Google Analytics, AWS, and Snowflake. While it's optimized for Microsoft SQL Server and Azure, it works well with non-Microsoft systems.
08 Does Power BI work with Excel?
Yes, Power BI has deep Excel integration. You can analyze Excel files in Power BI, publish to Excel from Power BI, and use Excel features like PivotTables with Power BI datasets. This integration is a major advantage for organizations with Excel-heavy workflows.