Brandwave

Microsoft Power BI vs Plotly:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Microsoft Power BI had more branded searches than Plotly among data visualisation platforms worldwide. Microsoft Power BI had about 2.6 million branded searches, while Plotly had 33,100. Microsoft Power BI made up 58% of all data visualisation platform searches we track, and Plotly accounted for 0.75%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about data visualisation platforms, Microsoft Power BI appeared in all five answers and Plotly in four. Microsoft Power BI was mentioned before Plotly in every answer.

Among data visualisation platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Microsoft Power BI, about 77 searches for every 1 for Plotly

Microsoft Power BI 2.6M searchesPlotly 33.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Microsoft Power BI, mentioned in every answer we collected

Microsoft Power BI in 5 of 5Plotly in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Microsoft Power BI, named ahead of Plotly in every answer

Microsoft Power BI first in 5Plotly never first

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Top data visualisation platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Power BI appeared in all five answers. Plotly was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Microsoft Power BI was listed before Plotly in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Microsoft Power BI1st
  2. Tableau2nd
  3. Looker Studio3rd
  4. Qlik4th
  5. Plotly5th
  6. Domo6th
  7. Flourish7th
  8. Datawrapper8th
  9. Grafana9th
  10. Metabase10th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Microsoft Power BI5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tableau5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Looker Studio5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Plotly4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Qlik3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Grafana3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Metabase2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Datawrapper2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Flourish2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Domo1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about data visualisation platforms

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Microsoft Power BI or Plotly more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Microsoft Power BI and Plotly by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten data visualisation platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Microsoft Power BI and Plotly among data visualisation platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Microsoft Power BI, Plotly. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMicrosoft Power BITableauLooker StudioDomoQlikMetabaseDatawrapperPlotlyFlourishGrafana
Oct 202555%15.1%12.9%8.2%3.8%2%1.3%1.3%0.27%<0.01%
Nov 202559.6%13.3%11.5%7.2%3.5%2.1%1.4%1.2%0.24%<0.01%
Dec 202555.6%12.5%13%10.1%3.6%2.5%1.4%1.1%0.27%<0.01%
Jan 202658.6%13.1%11.5%8.6%3.4%2.1%1.2%1.2%0.28%<0.01%
Feb 202659.7%13.4%11.8%7.2%3.4%2.2%1.2%0.97%0.19%<0.01%
Mar 202658.5%13%11.4%8.5%3.3%2.6%1.4%1.1%0.19%<0.01%
Apr 202658.9%13.1%11.3%8.6%3.3%2.1%1.4%1.2%0.19%<0.01%
May 202661.3%10.9%11.4%8.8%3.2%2.1%1.2%0.97%0.19%<0.01%
Jun 202657.8%12%12.5%9.7%3.4%2.4%1.1%1.1%0.17%<0.01%
Jul 202660%12.1%12.5%8%3.1%2.4%0.88%0.88%0.21%<0.01%
Aug 202660.3%12.1%10.4%9.8%3.1%2.4%0.88%0.88%0.18%<0.01%
Sep 202658%12.6%10.8%10.2%3.8%2.5%1.1%0.75%0.15%<0.01%

How has the Microsoft Power BI and Plotly comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for data visualisation platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Microsoft Power BI lost share of searches among data visualisation platforms worldwide, from 60.3% to 58%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Plotly worldwide fell 55.3% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 33.1K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

7 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Microsoft Power BI’s and Plotly’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

6 branded search terms

  • microsoft power bi
  • microsoft power bi app
  • microsoft power bi software
  • microsoft powerbi
  • power bi desktop
  • powerbi

Plotly

1 branded search term

  • plotly

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among data visualisation platforms

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