Power BI Embedded vs Superset: What are the differences?

Introduction

Here, we will compare the key differences between Power BI Embedded and Superset.

1. Deployment Model: Power BI Embedded is a cloud-based service provided by Microsoft that allows developers to embed Power BI analytics into their applications. It provides a fully managed, scalable, and secure cloud hosting environment. On the other hand, Superset is an open-source business intelligence web application that can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud. It offers more flexibility in terms of deployment options.

2. Data Source Connectivity: Power BI Embedded supports a wide range of data sources, including cloud services like Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, and Google BigQuery, as well as on-premises data sources like SQL Server and Oracle. It also provides connectors for popular SaaS applications like Salesforce and Dynamics 365. In contrast, Superset can connect to various databases, including SQL databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle, as well as NoSQL databases like MongoDB. However, it may require additional configuration and custom development to connect to some data sources.

3. Data Visualization Capabilities: Power BI Embedded offers a rich set of data visualization capabilities, including interactive charts, graphs, maps, and tables. It provides a wide range of pre-built visualizations and allows customization and creation of custom visualizations using Power BI visuals SDK. Superset also provides a range of visualizations, including charts, graphs, and maps. However, it may have a smaller set of pre-built visualizations compared to Power BI Embedded. Customization options in Superset may require more technical expertise.

4. Collaboration and Sharing: Power BI Embedded provides comprehensive collaboration and sharing features. It allows users to securely share dashboards, reports, and visuals with specific individuals or groups. It also allows embedding dashboards and reports within external applications with controlled access. Superset also offers collaboration and sharing capabilities, including the ability to create and share dashboards and reports. However, the level of control and security may be more limited compared to Power BI Embedded.

5. Enterprise-grade Features: Power BI Embedded provides enterprise-grade features like row-level security, data governance, and data encryption at rest and in transit. It also integrates with Azure Active Directory for user authentication and access control. Superset, being an open-source solution, may have limited out-of-the-box enterprise-grade features. However, it can be customized and extended to meet specific enterprise requirements.

6. Cost and Licensing: Power BI Embedded is a paid service, and the cost is based on the number of embed tokens and the usage of computational resources. It may require additional licensing for Power BI Pro features like collaboration and sharing. Superset, being an open-source solution, is free to use. However, there may be additional costs for infrastructure, maintenance, and customization.

In Summary, Power BI Embedded is a cloud-based service provided by Microsoft with a fully managed hosting environment, wide range of data sources support, rich data visualization capabilities, comprehensive collaboration and sharing features, enterprise-grade security and scalability, and a cost-based licensing model. Superset, on the other hand, is an open-source web application that provides flexibility in deployment options, supports various databases, offers a range of visualizations, has collaboration and sharing capabilities, can be customized for enterprise requirements, and is free to use.