Metricly vs Power BI

Q: Is Power BI really cheaper than Metricly?

Power BI Pro starts at $10/user/mo, but many features require Premium ($20/user/mo or $4,995/mo capacity). When you factor in the lack of dbt integration and platform limitations, Metricly often provides better value.

Q: Does Power BI work with dbt?

Power BI does not have native dbt integration. You would need to query dbt models directly from Power BI, losing the semantic layer benefits. Metricly natively understands your MetricFlow definitions.

Q: Can I use Metricly if my company uses Microsoft?

Absolutely! Metricly works with any cloud data warehouse. You can connect to Azure Synapse, Fabric, or any other Microsoft data platform. You just get a better dbt experience.

Q: How does Power BI Q&A compare to Metricly AI?

Power BI Q&A offers natural language queries, but it is limited to the Power BI data model. Metricly AI understands your full dbt semantic layer and can answer questions across your entire data model.

Power BI offers low entry pricing but lacks dbt integration and is Windows-centric. Metricly brings AI-native analytics on your dbt semantic layer, platform-agnostic.

Try Metricly free Watch demo

Metricly

AI-native BI platform built on MetricFlow. Ask questions in natural language, get instant dashboards. Works with your existing dbt semantic layer at a fraction of the cost.

Power BI

Microsoft's business analytics service with deep Excel and Microsoft 365 integration. Popular for enterprises on Microsoft stack but Windows-centric with no dbt integration.

Feature comparison

Feature

Metricly

Power BI

Semantic layer

MetricFlow vs Power BI Tabular model

Natural language queries

Both offer Q&A features

AI-generated insights

Power BI has Quick Insights

dbt integration

Native MetricFlow support

Self-service dashboards

Embedded analytics

Version control

JSON definitions in git

Setup time

Time to first dashboard

< 1 hour

1-2 days

Platform independence

Power BI is Windows-centric

BigQuery support

Snowflake support

Mac support

Power BI Desktop is Windows only

Why teams choose Metricly

Metricly combines the power of your dbt semantic layer with AI-native analytics, making data accessible to everyone on your team.

dbt-native semantic layer

Power BI has its own Tabular model, but it does not integrate with dbt. Metricly uses your existing dbt MetricFlow definitions, keeping metrics in code.

Platform agnostic

Power BI Desktop only runs on Windows. Metricly is fully web-based and works on any platform, any browser.

No Microsoft lock-in

Power BI works best within the Microsoft ecosystem. Metricly is cloud-agnostic and works with any modern data stack.

Simpler licensing

Power BI has Pro, Premium Per User, Premium Capacity, and Embedded licenses. Metricly has one simple per-user price.

Pricing comparison

Metricly

From $49/user/mo

Simple per-user pricing. Team plan at $99/user/mo includes all features. No Microsoft ecosystem required.

Power BI

From $10/user/mo

Pro $10/user/mo, Premium Per User $20/user/mo. Premium capacity starts at $4,995/mo. Free tier has 1GB limit. Additional costs for Power BI Report Server.

When to choose each tool

Choose Metricly if you...

Use dbt and want to leverage your semantic layer
Work on Mac or prefer platform independence
Want to avoid Microsoft ecosystem lock-in
Need native AI natural language queries
Value version-controlled analytics
Prefer simple per-user pricing

Choose Power BI if you...

Are already invested in Microsoft 365
Need the lowest possible entry cost ($10/user)
Have Windows-only development environments
Need deep Excel and Office integration
Require Power BI Report Server for on-premise
Have existing DAX and Power Query expertise