Microsoft Power BI vs Tableau:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Microsoft Power BI had more branded searches than Tableau among retail analytics platforms worldwide. Microsoft Power BI had about 4.5 million branded searches, while Tableau had 558,000. Microsoft Power BI made up 83% of all retail analytics platform searches we track, and Tableau accounted for 10.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about retail analytics platforms, Microsoft Power BI and Tableau each appeared in four of the five answers. Microsoft Power BI was mentioned before Tableau in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
Microsoft Power BI, about 8 searches for every 1 for Tableau
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Microsoft Power BI, named ahead of Tableau in 3 of 4 answers
Follow Microsoft Power BI vs Tableau and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top retail analytics platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Power BI and Tableau were each mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Microsoft Power BI was listed before Tableau in three out of four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Microsoft Power BI4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Tableau4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- RELEX Solutions2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
NielsenIQ1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Circana1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Kantar0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Euromonitor0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about retail analytics platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which retail analytics platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best retail analytics platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best retail analytics platform for a retail team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“retail analytics software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“retail analytics tools”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Microsoft Power BI or Tableau more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Microsoft Power BI and Tableau by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven retail analytics platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Microsoft Power BI, Tableau. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Microsoft Power BI | Tableau | NielsenIQ | Kantar | Circana | Euromonitor | RELEX Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 81.5% | 12.4% | 3% | 2% | 0.49% | 0.49% | 0.15% |
| Nov 2025 | 83.7% | 10.5% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 0.41% | 0.51% | 0.12% |
| Dec 2025 | 83.1% | 10.4% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.5% | 0.41% | 0.15% |
| Jan 2026 | 83.5% | 10.4% | 3.7% | 1.4% | 0.41% | 0.41% | 0.15% |
| Feb 2026 | 84.1% | 10.5% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 0.42% | 0.42% | 0.12% |
| Mar 2026 | 83.6% | 10.5% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 0.51% | 0.51% | 0.15% |
| Apr 2026 | 83.8% | 10.4% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 0.41% | 0.41% | 0.15% |
| May 2026 | 85.5% | 8.7% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 0.42% | 0.35% | 0.13% |
| Jun 2026 | 83.2% | 10.4% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.5% | 0.41% | 0.15% |
| Jul 2026 | 83.2% | 10.4% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.5% | 0.34% | 0.12% |
| Aug 2026 | 83.2% | 10.4% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.5% | 0.41% | 0.15% |
| Sep 2026 | 83% | 10.3% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.61% | 0.5% | 0.18% |
How has the Microsoft Power BI and Tableau comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Microsoft Power BI was ahead of Tableau in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Power BI’s share of searches among retail analytics platforms worldwide moved from 81.5% to 83%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.5M to 4.5M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Tableau’s share of searches among retail analytics platforms worldwide moved from 12.4% to 10.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 835K to 558K.
How did search popularity change for retail analytics platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Tableau worldwide fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 835K to 558K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Microsoft Power BI worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 5.5M to 4.5M in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Microsoft Power BI’s and Tableau’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Microsoft Power BI
2 branded search terms
- power bi
- powerbi
Tableau
2 branded search terms
- tableau
- tableau software
Other head-to-heads among retail analytics platforms
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.