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Compare IBM Cognos Analytics and Microsoft Power BI

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At a Glance
IBM Cognos Analytics
IBM Cognos Analytics
Star Rating
(450)4.1 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (59.1% of reviews)
Information
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $10.00 1 User Per Month
Free Trial is available
Browse all 3 pricing plans
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI
Star Rating
(1,459)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (42.5% of reviews)
Information
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Free 1 User
Browse all 3 pricing plans
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
  • Users report that Microsoft Power BI excels in Ease of Use with a score of 8.4 compared to IBM Cognos Analytics at 7.5. Reviewers mention that Power BI's intuitive interface and drag-and-drop functionality make it easier for non-technical users to create reports and dashboards.
  • Reviewers mention that Microsoft Power BI outperforms IBM Cognos Analytics in Data Visualization, scoring 9.2 versus 8.0. Users appreciate Power BI's rich visualizations and customizable dashboards, which allow for more engaging presentations of data.
  • G2 users highlight the superior Ease of Setup of Microsoft Power BI, scoring 8.8 compared to IBM Cognos Analytics at 7.0. Users report that Power BI's quick installation and straightforward configuration process significantly reduce the time to get started.
  • Users on G2 note that IBM Cognos Analytics has a strong focus on Data Governance, scoring 8.3, which is slightly lower than Power BI's 8.8. Reviewers mention that Cognos provides robust features for managing data access and compliance, making it a preferred choice for enterprises with strict governance needs.
  • Reviewers say that Microsoft Power BI shines in Collaboration / Workflow with a score of 8.4 compared to IBM Cognos Analytics at 7.5. Users appreciate Power BI's seamless sharing capabilities and integration with Microsoft Teams, enhancing team collaboration on data projects.
  • Users report that IBM Cognos Analytics offers strong Predictive Analytics capabilities, scoring 7.8, which is competitive with Power BI's 8.3. Reviewers mention that Cognos's advanced analytics features, such as forecasting and trend analysis, are beneficial for organizations looking to leverage data for strategic decision-making.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
IBM Cognos Analytics
Cognos® Analytics On Demand - Standard
Starting at $10.00
1 User Per Month
Browse all 3 pricing plans
Microsoft Power BI
Power BI in Microsoft Fabric
Free
1 User
Browse all 3 pricing plans
Free Trial
IBM Cognos Analytics
Free Trial is available
Microsoft Power BI
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.2
312
8.9
1,172
Ease of Use
7.5
335
8.5
1,196
Ease of Setup
7.1
194
8.8
635
Ease of Admin
7.0
143
8.5
391
Quality of Support
7.5
280
8.5
1,036
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
7.8
139
8.8
371
Product Direction (% positive)
7.9
295
9.3
1,144
Features by Category
8.7
258
9.0
1,117
Reports
8.1
204
|
Verified
8.9
1017
|
Verified
7.6
163
|
Verified
8.4
957
|
Verified
8.1
193
|
Verified
9.1
1019
|
Verified
7.7
144
|
Verified
8.8
673
7.9
187
|
Verified
9.1
1004
|
Verified
Self Service
8.1
176
|
Verified
8.6
875
8.5
193
|
Verified
8.9
882
8.0
177
|
Verified
8.7
962
|
Verified
7.7
164
|
Verified
8.5
849
7.5
159
|
Verified
8.4
938
|
Verified
7.3
126
|
Verified
8.2
873
|
Verified
Advanced Analytics
7.8
130
|
Verified
8.3
732
|
Verified
8.1
166
|
Verified
9.2
1004
|
Verified
8.0
118
|
Verified
8.5
733
|
Verified
Building Reports
8.2
122
|
Verified
8.8
581
|
Verified
8.1
120
|
Verified
8.8
571
|
Verified
7.9
106
|
Verified
8.5
506
|
Verified
7.5
91
|
Verified
8.5
502
|
Verified
Platform
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
8.1
265
8.5
1,125
Reports
8.1
204
|
Verified
8.9
1017
|
Verified
7.6
163
|
Verified
8.4
957
|
Verified
8.1
193
|
Verified
9.1
1019
|
Verified
7.7
144
|
Verified
8.8
673
7.9
187
|
Verified
9.1
1004
|
Verified
Data Preparation
8.3
72
|
Verified
8.9
634
|
Verified
8.3
72
|
Verified
8.8
623
|
Verified
Data Modeling and Blending
8.4
77
|
Verified
8.9
648
|
Verified
8.5
77
|
Verified
9.1
662
|
Verified
8.2
73
|
Verified
8.8
644
|
Verified
Generative AI
7.3
36
7.7
301
7.5
37
7.7
299
Agentic AI - Analytics Platforms
7.8
9
7.7
146
8.0
9
8.1
147
8.0
9
8.4
146
8.1
9
8.2
147
8.1
9
7.9
146
8.0
9
8.2
145
7.8
9
8.4
149
Self Service
8.1
176
|
Verified
8.6
875
8.5
193
|
Verified
8.9
882
8.0
177
|
Verified
8.7
962
|
Verified
7.7
164
|
Verified
8.5
849
7.5
159
|
Verified
8.4
938
|
Verified
7.3
126
|
Verified
8.2
873
|
Verified
Deployment & Integration - Analytics Platforms
8.6
6
8.7
114
8.1
6
8.8
114
7.8
6
8.4
113
8.1
6
9.1
115
Advanced Analytics
7.8
130
|
Verified
8.3
732
|
Verified
8.1
166
|
Verified
9.2
1004
|
Verified
8.0
118
|
Verified
8.5
733
|
Verified
Performance & Scalability - Analytics Platforms
8.3
6
8.6
114
8.6
6
8.7
112
Advanced Analytics & Modeling - Analytics Platforms
8.6
6
8.8
112
8.9
6
8.7
111
8.6
6
8.4
109
Agentic AI Capabilities - Analytics Platforms
8.9
6
8.1
107
8.6
6
8.1
108
8.1
6
8.4
106
7.8
6
7.8
106
Personalized Intelligence - Analytics Platforms
8.1
6
8.0
107
8.3
6
8.2
108
8.6
6
8.1
106
Building Reports
8.2
122
|
Verified
8.8
581
|
Verified
8.1
120
|
Verified
8.8
571
|
Verified
7.9
106
|
Verified
8.5
506
|
Verified
7.5
91
|
Verified
8.5
502
|
Verified
Embedded Business IntelligenceHide 15 FeaturesShow 15 Features
8.6
258
Not enough data
Reports
8.1
204
|
Verified
8.9
1017
|
Verified
7.6
163
|
Verified
8.4
957
|
Verified
8.1
193
|
Verified
9.1
1019
|
Verified
7.7
144
|
Verified
8.8
673
7.9
187
|
Verified
9.1
1004
|
Verified
Self Service
8.1
176
|
Verified
8.6
875
8.5
193
|
Verified
8.9
882
8.0
177
|
Verified
8.7
962
|
Verified
7.7
164
|
Verified
8.5
849
7.5
159
|
Verified
8.4
938
|
Verified
7.3
126
|
Verified
8.2
873
|
Verified
Building Reports
8.2
122
|
Verified
8.8
581
|
Verified
8.1
120
|
Verified
8.8
571
|
Verified
7.9
106
|
Verified
8.5
506
|
Verified
7.5
91
|
Verified
8.5
502
|
Verified
Not enough data
Not enough data
Deployment & Integration - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Data Connectivity & Federation - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Data Modeling & Metrics - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Performance Optimization - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Governance - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Advanced Intelligence - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Agentic AI Enablement - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
8.4
34
Not enough data
Statistical Tool
8.2
31
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Data Analysis
8.7
33
Not enough data
8.8
33
Not enough data
Decision Making
8.7
31
Not enough data
8.5
33
Not enough data
8.4
33
Not enough data
8.3
31
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.9
17
Not enough data
8.1
17
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
IBM Cognos Analytics
IBM Cognos Analytics
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI
IBM Cognos Analytics and Microsoft Power BI are categorized as Analytics Platforms
Unique Categories
IBM Cognos Analytics
IBM Cognos Analytics is categorized as Embedded Business Intelligence and Predictive Analytics
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI is categorized as Semantic Layer Tools
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
IBM Cognos Analytics
IBM Cognos Analytics
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
15.3%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
25.6%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
59.1%
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
21.3%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
36.3%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
42.5%
Reviewers' Industry
IBM Cognos Analytics
IBM Cognos Analytics
Information Technology and Services
11.3%
Insurance
8.4%
Financial Services
8.1%
Computer Software
6.5%
Banking
5.5%
Other
60.2%
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI
Information Technology and Services
16.2%
Computer Software
6.6%
Financial Services
4.9%
Hospital & Health Care
3.2%
Telecommunications
3.0%
Other
66.0%
Alternatives
IBM Cognos Analytics
IBM Cognos Analytics Alternatives
Tableau
Tableau
Add Tableau
Qlik Sense
Qlik Sense
Add Qlik Sense
GoodData
GoodData
Add GoodData
Spotfire Analytics
Spotfire Analytics
Add Spotfire Analytics
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI Alternatives
Tableau
Tableau
Add Tableau
Oracle Analytics Cloud
Oracle Analytics Cloud
Add Oracle Analytics Cloud
Looker
Looker
Add Looker
Sisense
Sisense
Add Sisense
Discussions
IBM Cognos Analytics
IBM Cognos Analytics Discussions
Where can I find more answers on my questions?
2 Comments
Mike D.
MD
We're IBM Gold partners with a ton of experience implementing Cognos, and have lots of good free technical information on our blog at...Read more
I heard Cognos Analytics 11.11 was out - where can I find more information?
2 Comments
Mike D.
MD
As of October 2019, the latest version is 11.1.4. We just did a livestream earlier this week to review the latest updates. You can check that out here:...Read more
Have you used DMR ? Have you found it better than a relational or a powercube?
1 Comment
Corey M.
CM
Yes, I have used DMR. However, the performance here is not so great compared to a PowerCube. However, you don't have to worry about building cubes. I...Read more
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI Discussions
What is Microsoft Power BI Desktop used for?
3 Comments
Darewin M.
DM
PowerBI desktop is the desktop version of PowerBI unlike the web version which you open in a web browser like Google Chrome or EDGE. The desktop version has...Read more
What are some of the top features of Microsoft BI?
3 Comments
Prakash R.
PR
Data Visualization: Microsoft Power BI excels in creating interactive and visually compelling data dashboards and reports, making ramified data easy to...Read more
How I can have the free version of this application?
2 Comments
Daniel Z.
DZ
Here: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/Read more