15 best business intelligence software tools to consider in 2024

In today’s fast-paced world, data is more than just numbers; it's the key to understanding, adapting, and thriving. To uncover the valuable insights concealed within data, businesses turn to business intelligence (BI) tools. 

BI tools are software applications that collect, analyze, and visualize data from multiple sources, empowering data-driven decision-making. However, they have evolved to include advanced features and functionalities, such as data mining, interactive data visualization, performance management, natural language search, and predictive analytics. BI tools provide advantages like real-time visibility into performance across the company, instant anomaly detection for rapid response to changes, and predictive analysis for sales and performance forecasting.

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Choosing the right business intelligence software tool for your organization is crucial. To ensure you make an informed decision, consider the following criteria:

• Scalability: The tool should be able to handle your organization's current data volume and have the capacity to scale as your business grows.

• Ease of use: Look for a BI solution that has a user-friendly interface and intuitive features. This will reduce the learning curve for your team and encourage adoption.

• Integration: Ensure that the tool can seamlessly integrate with your existing data sources, such as databases, CRM systems, and cloud platforms.

• Security: Data security is of utmost importance. The tool should have robust security measures in place to protect your sensitive information.

• Customization: Every organization has unique requirements. Look for a tool that allows customization to meet your specific needs and preferences.

• Support and training: Consider the availability of support and training resources provided by the tool. This will ensure that your team can maximize the BI capabilities.

• Data visualization: Look for a tool that offers compelling and interactive data visualizations. This will make it easier for users to drill down and filter, answer the next questions, and find correlations in the data. 

• AI-driven search capabilities: Incorporating AI-powered, natural language search into business intelligence greatly enhances data discovery and access. 

• Mobile accessibility: In today's mobile-centric world, having access to business intelligence on the go is crucial. Mobile compatibility and multi-experience interfaces are key to user adoption.

Now, let's take a look at the top 15 BI tools so you can find the solution that’s best for your business.

Let's cut to the chase: ThoughtSpot is our go-to business intelligence tool designed to streamline data analysis. The platform stands out with its search-driven interface, allowing you to explore data and generate insights using natural language queries. This feature makes data analysis accessible to all, regardless of technical expertise.

ThoughtSpot’s advanced AI algorithms help you uncover hidden patterns and trends in your data, enhancing the accuracy of insights. Interactive dashboards provide real-time data visualization, enabling quicker and more informed decision-making. ThoughtSpot also offers self-service analytics, empowering you to generate insights independently without relying on the data team.

Leading companies like HP, Snowflake, and Accern rely on ThoughtSpot to drive their data strategy. ThoughtSpot is a combination of user-friendliness and powerful analytics tools making it an essential asset for businesses aiming to leverage their data effectively.

 Core features:

• Data visualization: With Liveboards, you can create interactive dashboards and visualizations to represent your data in a valuable, contextual, and actionable way.  

• AI-driven search: ThoughtSpot’s natural language search empowers everyone to ask and answer questions from their business data. It is as easy to use as your favorite search engine.

• Data connectivity: ThoughtSpot connects to various data sources, including data warehouses, cloud data stores, and other databases. This empowers your data team to quickly connect and start searching on top of your live data.

• Data modeling: You have the ability to create governed, reusable, and logical data models that enable everyone to create insights with live analytics. Additionally, ThoughtSpot Sage automatically generates suggested synonyms to optimize your search experience

• Collaboration and sharing: You can share insights, reports, and dashboards with colleagues and collaborate on data analysis projects. With ThoughtSpot’s note tiles, you can provide important directions for how to read or use a specific visualization.

• Multi-modal experience: Enhance user engagement with data by offering a versatile approach to data exploration. This includes real-time mobile monitoring, seamless integration with workplace apps like Google Sheets, and the ability to push insights back to your workforce applications like Slack.

• AI-assisted data modeling: ThoughtSpot’s AI-assisted data modeling and exploration tools, including Sage Coach, refine complex data tasks with greater precision.

• Automated alerts: Stay updated with automated notifications on crucial KPIs through ThoughtSpot Monitor, ensuring you never miss key metrics.

Ready to get started? Try ThoughtSpot for free and unlock the power of self-service analytics.

Next up is Mode, a tool tailored for data-savvy professionals. Mode’s data analysis and business intelligence tool make it easier for analysts to collect, analyze, and visualize data that business users can consume to gain insights and make data-driven decisions. 

Mode has helped companies like Shopify, Greenhouse, Twitch, and many more move ahead using Data. Its range of tools and features for data exploration, reporting, and collaboration, make it a popular choice for data teams, analysts, and data-driven professionals. With Mode, you can connect to diverse data sources, build data models, schedule reports, and perform advanced analytics using SQL, Python, and R. 

Core features:

• Ad-hoc analysis: Get answers to challenging and important questions with standalone reports. Mode's ad hoc analysis tools provide the power and flexibility you need to get high-impact data for effective decision-making.

• Self-serve reporting: Starting with trusted data designed by your data team, you can explore and build your own analysis, no code required.

• Interactive dashboards: With Mode, you can build code-free interactive reports and dashboards that save time. Data teams can design all kinds of data delivery—like mix and match text, notebook output cells, and more—to build completely custom internal data tools.

• Advanced analytics: Perform complex statistical and predictive analysis side-by-side with simple charting.

• Custom data apps: Build powerful internal tools and customer-facing reporting. Deliver exactly what your business teams and customers need to use data to the fullest.

Try Mode today and revolutionize your data analysis!

Developed by Microsoft, Power BI is a data visualization and business intelligence tool. It allows you to transform raw data into meaningful insights and interactive reports. It is widely used for data visualization, reporting, and analytics. Power BI is commonly adopted within organizations that heavily depend on the Microsoft ecosystem. While it offers an intuitive interface, mastering Power BI's full potential can be challenging, as it requires a strong analytical background.

 Core features:

• Data visualization: Power BI allows you to create data visualizations, including charts, graphs, maps, and tables using a drag-and-drop interface.

• Data transformation: Power Query, a component of Power BI, enables data cleaning, shaping, and transformation, including joining tables and creating calculated columns.

• Sharing and collaboration: You can share reports and collaborate by leaving comments on data points.

• Integration: With Power BI, you can connect to various Microsoft data sources, such as Excel spreadsheets, databases, and cloud services to consolidate data for analysis.

• Custom Visuals: Users can create and use custom visuals beyond the standard options, tailoring reports to specific needs.

• Quick insights: Power BI provides automatic insights and data trends using machine learning algorithms to identify significant patterns.

💡Relevant read: 10 Power BI alternatives and competitors to consider

Tableau is a data visualization and business intelligence software that allows analysts to analyze, visualize, and interact with your data to make informed decisions. It is designed to help you transform raw data into comprehendible insights. Tableau’s features and capabilities include data connectivity, drag-and-drop data visualization, advanced analytics, and the ability to create interactive dashboards and reports. 

Core features:

• Data connectivity: Tableau can connect to various data sources, such as databases, spreadsheets, cloud services, and more. This helps you to consolidate and analyze data from different places.

• Advanced analytics: The platform allows technical data team members to perform complex calculations, predictive modeling, and statistical analysis on your data.

• Collaboration and sharing: You can share your Tableau visualizations, dashboards, and reports with others.

• Trend lines and predictive analysis: Tableau helps you see trends in your data and predict future outcomes. 

• Tableau prep: The BI software includes tools for data preparation and cleaning, simplifying the process of preparing data for analysis.

• Data engine: Tableau utilizes an in-memory data engine to accelerate data processing and enhance performance.

Looker is one of the best business intelligence tools that is driven by a powerful semantic layer. This semantic layer allows users to create a structured representation of their data, defining relationships between data, metrics, and dimensions. Looker's approach to data modeling simplifies data access and interpretation, making it easier for both technical and business users to explore and analyze data. 

Core features:

• Data exploration: You can create custom reports and interactive visualizations to gain insights from their data.

• Embedded analytics: Looker can be embedded into other applications, websites, or workflows.

• Collaborative analytics: It supports collaboration by enabling you to share reports, dashboards, and data models with team members.

• Integration with Google Workspace: Looker connects your data visualizations to Google Workspace tools like Slides and Sheets. 

• LookML: Looker has a proprietary modeling language that allows users to define data relationships and metrics for consistent and reusable reporting.

• API access: The business intelligence platform provides robust API access for integrating Looker with other applications and systems.

💡Relevant read: Looker vs Power BI.

SAP BusinessObjects, often referred to as SAP BO or simply BusinessObjects, is a suite of business intelligence software tools and applications developed by SAP. It helps data pros collect, analyze, and visualize your business data.

Core features:

• Reporting and analysis: You can create reports and analytical dashboards to gain insights from your data.

• Collaboration and sharing: Users can collaborate—by sharing reports and dashboards with your team. 

• Role-based dashboards: You can create role-based BI dashboards that deliver information to decision-makers.

• Real-time analytics: Connect with SAP Business Warehouse and SAP HANA for analytics.

• Dashboard designer: Users can design interactive dashboards with a range of visualization options and customizations.

• Business planning and consolidation: SAP BusinessObjects integrates with SAP’s planning and consolidation tools to support budgeting and financial planning processes.

Sisense’s business intelligence reporting tool enables your business to connect to various data sources and create visualizations and dashboards. The tool offers features like data blending, data modeling, and data visualization. Sisense also provides advanced analytics capabilities, allowing you to perform complex calculations and predictive analytics.

Core features:

• Data visualization: Using a drag-and-drop interface, you can create dashboards, widgets, and filters for integrating with applications.

• Data modeling: Sisense enables data analysts to merge and model data through a code-first workflow within the platform and offers integration with Jupyter Notebooks.

• Git integration: Their Git integration enables better version control.

• Elasticube: Users can Sisense’s proprietary data engine, Elasticube, for efficient data modeling and analysis.

• Mobile access: Sisense offers mobile apps for iOS and Android so users can access their data on the go.

• Custom widgets: Users can create and customize widgets for more tailored and interactive dashboards.

Domo is a business intelligence platform that provides tools for collecting, visualizing, and analyzing data from multiple sources. It is used across various industries to support data-driven decision-making and improve operational efficiency. The platform is designed to be accessible to users with different levels of technical expertise, offering a range of features to help organizations manage and interpret their data.

Core features:

• Reporting and dashboards: Domo offers a range of reporting capabilities and a drag-and-drop feature for ad-hoc analysis and content creation. 

• Mobile accessibility: Domo is compatible with popular mobile apps for iOS and Android, making it accessible to a broad user base.

• Collaboration: Domo includes features for in-context chat, user profiles, project management, task tracking, and scheduled content.

• Cloud infrastructure: Domo's infrastructure is built using cloud-native architecture, which incorporates dynamic scaling and massively parallel processing (MPP). 

• Data governance: This business intelligence solution comes with tools for managing data quality, security, and compliance, ensuring reliable and secure data usage.

• Collaboration tools: Domo features real-time collaboration tools, such as in-context chat and project management, for team-based analysis and decision-making.

Qlik Sense is a business intelligence and data visualization tool that supports a variety of analytics use cases, including dashboards, custom analytics, and embedded analytics. It is available for deployment both on-premises and in the cloud, offering flexibility to meet different organizational needs. 

Core features:

• Data visualizations with extensions: Users can create interactive visualizations such as charts, tables, and graphs. Extension libraries such as Vizlib can sit on top of Qlik Sense to add more charting capabilities.

• Self-service BI: This BI reporting tool allows users to build their own analytics and reports without extensive IT support. 

• Associative data modeling: Qlik Sense is known for its associative data model, which allows users to explore data and discover hidden relationships and insights within it. 

• ML capabilities: Users can run ML experiments in the Qlik Cloud Analytics hub and use the output to build a data model and create charts.

• Storytelling: Users can create and share interactive data stories, combining visualizations with narrative elements.

• Augmented Intelligence: Qlik Sense incorporates AI and machine learning features to enhance data analysis and visualization, offering advanced insights and recommendations.

Yellowfin is a business intelligence and analytics platform that provides data visualization, reporting, and analysis tools. It focuses on combining enterprise reporting with collaborative features. Yellowfin is used to create dashboards, generate reports, and identify trends and anomalies in data.

Core features

• Data visualization: Yellowfin offers interactive dashboards and visualizations, allowing users to create and share data insights.

• Collaboration: Users can collaborate on data analysis by sharing dashboards, reports, and insights within the platform.

• Automated analysis: This BI reporting tool provides automated insights, highlighting key trends, anomalies, and patterns in the data.

• Data storytelling: Yellowfin includes features for building and sharing data-driven stories, enabling users to present their findings effectively.

• Data integration: Yellowfin can connect to various data sources, allowing users to combine and analyze data from different systems.

Oracle Analytics Cloud (OAC) is a cloud-based business intelligence platform that integrates with Oracle’s ecosystem. It offers tools for data visualization, reporting, and augmented analytics, allowing users to analyze information from diverse sources. OAC helps organizations gain insights and improve their analytical capabilities.

Core features

• Data preparation: Oracle Analytics Cloud includes tools for cleaning, transforming, and enriching data before analysis.

• Advanced analytics: The platform supports predictive and machine learning models, allowing users to perform in-depth data analysis.

• Data visualization: Users can create interactive dashboards and visualizations to explore data and gain insights.

• Collaboration: The platform allows users to share reports and collaborate on analytics projects across the organization.

• Integration with Oracle ecosystem: Oracle Analytics Cloud integrates seamlessly with other Oracle products, providing a unified experience for users in the Oracle environment.

MicroStrategy is an enterprise business intelligence platform known for its scalability and performance. It offers tools for data analytics, visualization, and enterprise reporting, making it suitable for organizations that require comprehensive data analysis. MicroStrategy supports complex data needs and is used by enterprises for exploring and visualizing large datasets.

Core features

• Data discovery: MicroStrategy allows users to explore and analyze data from various sources, including databases, cloud services, and big data platforms.

• Dashboards and reports: Users can create customized dashboards and reports to visualize data and monitor key metrics.

• Mobile analytics: MicroStrategy offers mobile access, enabling users to view and interact with their data on the go.

• Embedded analytics: The platform supports embedding analytics into other applications and workflows, providing insights where they are needed.

• Advanced analytics: MicroStrategy includes tools for performing complex data analysis, including predictive modeling and data mining.

AWS QuickSight is a cloud-based business intelligence service from Amazon Web Services. It focuses on creating interactive dashboards and reports, with scalability and seamless integration with other AWS services. QuickSight is designed to help users visualize data and extract meaningful insights efficiently.

Core features

• Data visualization: QuickSight provides a range of visualization options, including charts, graphs, and maps, to help users explore their data.

• Serverless architecture: As a fully managed service, QuickSight scales automatically to accommodate varying workloads without the need for server management.

• ML Insights: The platform includes machine learning-powered insights, which automatically identify patterns and trends in the data.

• Integration with AWS services: QuickSight integrates with other AWS services, making it easy to connect to data stored in Amazon S3, Redshift, and other AWS databases.

• Collaboration: Users can share dashboards and reports with others in the organization, enabling collaborative data analysis.

Metabase is an open-source business intelligence solution designed for simplicity and ease of use. It allows users to perform data analysis and create dashboards without needing to write code. Metabase is suitable for organizations looking for flexible and cost-effective BI software.

Core features

• Query builder: Metabase offers a visual query builder that enables users to ask questions and get answers from their data without writing SQL.

• Data visualization: Users can create simple, clear visualizations to represent their data, including charts, graphs, and tables.

• Dashboard creation: Metabase allows users to build and customize dashboards to monitor key metrics and trends.

• Open-source platform: As an open-source tool, Metabase is highly customizable and can be tailored to fit the specific needs of an organization.

• Data sharing: Users can share dashboards and reports with others, making it easier to collaborate on data analysis.

SAP Analytics Cloud is a cloud-based platform that combines business intelligence, planning, and predictive analytics. It integrates with SAP’s ecosystem and provides tools for data analysis, planning, and forecasting. The platform is used by organizations to consolidate data and streamline their planning processes.

Core features

• Data integration: SAP Analytics Cloud connects to various data sources, including SAP and non-SAP systems, enabling users to consolidate and analyze their data.

• Predictive analytics: The platform includes tools for predictive analytics, allowing users to forecast trends and outcomes.

• Planning and budgeting: SAP Analytics Cloud offers planning and budgeting features, helping organizations align their financial and operational goals.

• Data visualization: Users can create interactive dashboards and visualizations to explore and present their data.

• Collaboration: The platform supports collaboration through shared workspaces, enabling teams to work together on analytics projects.

ThoughtSpot offers a unique and powerful approach to exploring and analyzing data, making it the best BI tool on the market. If you're ready to unlock the full potential of AI-Powered Analytics and find the true value of your data, it's time to try ThoughtSpot. 

Sign up for a 14-day free trial today!

Business intelligence (BI) tools are software applications designed to collect, analyze, and present business data in a way that helps organizations make informed decisions. These tools enable users to gather data from various sources, perform complex analyses, and create visualizations such as charts, graphs, and dashboards. The goal is to provide actionable insights that support strategic planning, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

Key functions of BI tools:

• Data integration: Connects and consolidates data from multiple sources

• Data analysis: Performs statistical, predictive, and ad-hoc analysis of data

• Data visualization: Creates charts, graphs, and interactive dashboards to represent data

• Reporting: Generates detailed and summary reports based on data analysis

• Collaboration: Allows sharing of insights and reports among team members

Business intelligence software is used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Performance monitoring: Tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) and other metrics to monitor the health of the business

• Trend analysis: Identifies patterns and trends in historical data to make predictions and forecasts

• Operational efficiency: Analyzes processes and operations to find areas for improvement and optimization

• Decision support: Provides insights and data-driven recommendations to support strategic and tactical decisions

• Market analysis: Examines market trends, customer behavior, and competitive positioning to inform business strategy

• Financial analysis: Helps with budgeting, financial planning, and analysis of financial performance

Among business intelligence tools, ThoughtSpot stands out due to its unique approach to data analysis and visualization. ThoughtSpot is known for its search-driven analytics, which allows you to interact with your data using natural language queries. This feature makes it particularly popular among organizations looking for user-friendly, intuitive BI solutions that empower both technical and non-technical users to explore data and generate insights without requiring deep technical expertise. ThoughtSpot's emphasis on AI-driven search and interactive dashboards has contributed to its strong adoption and popularity in the BI market.