Both tools offer robust data connectivity, but with some differences in the platforms they connect to and how they handle data sources. Power BI, being part of the Microsoft ecosystem, seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products such as Excel, Azure, and SQL Server. This can make Power BI an ideal choice for businesses that already use Microsoft products.
Tableau, on the other hand, provides a broader range of data connectors, including Google Analytics, Hadoop, and Amazon Redshift, among others. Tableau is generally seen as more flexible with data sources, which makes it a strong choice for organizations that use various data platforms. Additionally, Tableau has a strong emphasis on live data connectivity, enabling real-time analysis from multiple data sources simultaneously.