Power BI Desktop vs Service

Previous
Quiz
Next

Power BI Desktop vs Power BI Service

The major components of the Power BI tool −

  • Power BI Desktop
  • Power BI Service

Power BI Desktop

It is a desktop application where users follow ETL process and add colorful visuals to the report for storytelling. Schemas, eye-catching reports, and data models are developed in the Power BI desktop. Users can merge data from numerous data sources and combine them into a glass to explore the data.

Core Phases of Power BI Desktop

  • Extract the data from the specific data source.
  • Data cleansing using power query editor.
  • Creating schemas and data models.
  • Develop and visualize the report.
  • Broadcast the report to the Power BI Service.

Disadvantages of Power BI Desktop

  • Complex data models are difficult to manage and interpret.
  • Using multiple datasets and adding so many fields in the visuals creates confusion for the users and difficult to take result-oriented action.
  • Reports cannot be shared in the Power BI desktop environment.
  • Several users can't edit a report at the same time since workspaces are not developed on a Power BI desktop.

Power BI Service

Power BI is an online service where you can collaborate and broadcast your reports with business users and other organizations. It facilitates the report alteration, acquiring data from limited sources.

Features of Power BI Service

  • Workspaces and apps are created to share their work remotely. Internet connectivity is required for sign-in to Power BI service. Multiple users can work on a report and coordinate with each other to optimize the report.
  • It contains the data refresh options where the report is updated promptly.
  • Users upload dashboards and reports to other websites to gain rich insights.
  • Import and DirectQuery connection are to be provided by the Power BI service.
  • Only authenticated users can gain access to Reports through a gateway connection.

Disadvantages of Power BI Service

  • Dependability on an Internet connection is required for signing.
  • Poor performance and less productivity if the internet connection is slow.
  • Profiling and transforming data are not provided in the Power BI service.
  • Python script is not supported in the Power BI service.
  • The DAX formulas and measures are not executed in this component.

Difference between Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service

The following table compares and contrasts the important features of Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service −

Features Power BI Desktop Power BI Service
Data Sources It covers a wide range of data sources. It covers limited data sources.
Data Cleansing and Data Preprocessing The data cleansing and preprocessing is done through Query Editor. This phase is not included in the Power BI service.
New Measures The new column and new measures can be created to write the DAX expression. It isn't employed in Power BI service.
Paginated Report Paginated report visuals cannot be created on the Power BI desktop, you need to sign in Power BI service. It is efficiently created in the Power BI service.
Internet Connectivity An internet connection is not necessary. Designers merely develop the report in it. An internet connection is mandatory for signing to share and present your data to the end users.
R Visuals Yes, you can write an R script and execute its code. Yes, you can also write an R script by selecting R visuals and deploying it to obtain the result.
Python Script It is available on the Power BI desktop. Python script cannot be written in the Power BI service.
Themes Yes, you can change the themes of the visuals in the report. Themes are not available in the Power BI service.
Team Collaboration No, there is no team collaboration. Yes, you can collaborate with business users and share your content.
Data Modeling Unlimited as you can connect with numerous data sources, complex modeling can be developed. A limited relationship between datasets is provided.
Report Publishing Reports are usually developed but not published on the Power BI desktop. Reports are shared and published in the Power BI service.
Workspaces and Apps These are not supported in the Power BI desktop. These are seamlessly created in the Power BI service where reports are shared with the team.

When to Use Power BI Desktop

It is helpful to users while creating reports, developing data models, and reshaping and eradicating anomalies in data. The themes of the report can be modified to make it more attractive. You can also modify the existing dataset and add a new column to evaluate the DAX expression.

When to Use Power BI Service

Power BI service provides you excellent facility to present your reports and dashboards to the audience and communicate with others worldwide. The content of the report is refreshed, updated regularly, and shared with you as it includes timestamps. The latest report can be accessed by you.

Print Page
Previous
Next
Advertisements