Power BI vs Figma

Excel's smarter cousin that makes data pretty, but good luck escaping Microsoft's ecosystem meets the design tool that finally made collaboration not feel like pulling teeth. Here's our take.

Power BI

Nice Pick

Excel's smarter cousin that makes data pretty, but good luck escaping Microsoft's ecosystem.

Pros

• Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 and Azure
• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for quick visualizations
• Powerful DAX language for complex calculations
• Affordable pricing with a robust free tier

Cons

• Performance can lag with large datasets
• Limited customization compared to open-source alternatives

Figma

The design tool that finally made collaboration not feel like pulling teeth.

Pros

• Real-time collaboration that actually works without version conflicts
• Browser-based so no more 'sorry, I don't have the right software' excuses
• Component libraries and design systems that stay in sync across teams
• Prototyping that doesn't require exporting to three different tools first

Cons

• Offline mode is basically 'good luck with that'
• Performance can chug when you have too many frames (we see you, design system hoarders)
• The free tier is generous until you need more than three projects

The Verdict

Use Power BI if: You want seamless integration with microsoft 365 and azure and can live with performance can lag with large datasets.

Use Figma if: You prioritize real-time collaboration that actually works without version conflicts over what Power BI offers.

The Bottom Line

Power BI wins

Excel's smarter cousin that makes data pretty, but good luck escaping Microsoft's ecosystem.