You can use Microsoft’s Power BI tools to view your data in a whole new way. Using bright colored graphs that look great on mobile platforms and computers, you can always stay on top of your data and spot the latest trends. There are three Power BI products, a cloud-based server, a desktop platform, and a mobile app. The Desktop version is the most powerful of the three, and as it is the on-premise solution that you can use to select the parameters for your reports and get a complete visual look at your company’s data.

Power BI seamlessly integrates to your company’s data source, whether it’s a public website, intranet site, CSV files, or other databases. Once it collects the data, it will organize and categorize it so you can focus on other things.

Follow the instructions below, and I’ll show you how to download Power BI for desktop for free.

How to Download Power BI for Free on PC

  1. Click the Download button located on the sidebar to go directly to the official Power BI free download page.
  2. Scroll down on the page until you see the Power BI Desktop section. Press the Download for Free button, and the Microsoft Store will open in a new window.
    Download Power BI
  3. Press the Get button in the Microsoft Store, and Power BI will instantly download to your computer.
  4. Once your account is confirmed, press the Get Started button.
  5. When the download is complete, click the Open button.
  6. Before you can use Power BI you will need to register your account. It must be a work or university email address; a regular Gmail or Yahoo address won’t work. If you already have a Microsoft account connected to your business account, you will be asked to login.

How to Uninstall Power BI

If Power BI isn’t the right business intelligence and data visualization tool for you, it can be deleted in a few simple steps.

  1. Type “Add or Remove Programs” in the Windows search bar and then press the Enter key.
  2. Locate Microsoft Power BI in the list of installed programs and click the Uninstall button.
  3. Confirm that you want to uninstall the program, and Microsoft will completely remove it from your computer.

If you are still looking for a BI and data visualization tool, check out these free alternatives below.

Power BI Overview

Power BI is a well-designed program that makes tracking all your various data sources easy. It analyzes your data and then presents it in an easy to understand manner, using graphs and charts. There is also the option to create automatic reports and export the data, so you can share it with partners, colleagues, and clients.

The software can integrate with multiple data points, which is a huge time-saver and runs 24/7, so you always have the most up to date data to analyze. You can use the data to spot trends and quickly determine where you are succeeding or which areas of the business need improvement. You can use this data to strengthen the areas where you see success and either avoid the areas where business isn’t converting well or try and see how it can be improved.

Power BI Features

Power BI has a lot of great features that can help any business, big or small, non-profit or for-profit. Its data analysis tools give great insights and can save you time and money. Here are some of the key features:

Excellent visualization tools

Power BI makes it easy to understand the data with a variety of visualization tools. You can customize which reports use certain graphics and charts and select the colors to represent different parameters. Some of the chart types include Stacked Bar, Clustered Column, Line Chart, Donut Chart, Funn, Waterfall, Pie Chart, and much more.

Some of the different chart and visualization options

Get your data directly from the source

The Power BI Get Data feature allows users to connect the BI software to local and cloud based data centers and import the data they need in real-time. Some of the most popular data sources are:

  • Excel
  • Power BI datasets
  • MySQL database
  • Analysis Services
  • Azure
  • Text/CSV
  • XML
  • JSON

Import data in a few clicks

Microsoft frequently adds compatibility to new data sources every few weeks.

Customize your datasets

A Dataset is a group of data that was collected from various data sources and merged into a single set. It’s helpful when you want to get a good overview from different sources and see how they’re working instead of breaking down each source individually.

For example, you can create filters that collect data from Excel, SalesForce, Facebook, MailChimp, and SQL databases and connect the data to see how your entire campaign is doing.

Detailed reporting

Collecting vast amounts of data is futile without the ability to utilize it effectively. With Power BI, you have the means to craft visually appealing reports. The tool facilitates the creation of a polished structure while allowing you to emphasize particular data points, providing a professional and customizable experience. The reports can be exported as a CSV or PDF and securely shared with your team.

Free Alternatives to Power BI

  • Tableau: An easy to use business intelligence program for analyzing data in real time. Tableau has an assortment of charts and graphs that help create a visual story with the data, so you can quickly see your company’s strengths and weaknesses.
  • Domo: Connect Domo with over 500 data points and stay up to date with all your important information. Customize your dashboard and visualize your data with colorful graphs and charts. It’s mobile-friendly so that you can stay on top of your data from anywhere.

FAQ

Is Power BI free?

There are two versions of Power BI. The Power BI Pro requires a monthly subscription and includes advanced features. There is also a free version that allows you to do some basic data analysis and collaborate through the Microsoft 365 apps. Follow the steps above, and I’ll show you how to download Power BI for free and create a new user account.

Is Power BI secure?

Power BI takes a proactive stance on security, using the latest tools to ensure the company data stays private. All collected data is stored and encrypted through Azure SQL databases or the Azure Blob storage.

Can I customize my data with Power BI?

Power BI is fully customizable. You can select which datasets you want to include on the dashboard and the chart style and colors.
Download Power BI now!