Microsoft Power BI is a component inside Microsoft Fabric.
I’ve been using Power BI for a long time. Since it came out, I think. I think it was some sort of Excel add-in at first and it’s since morphed into a pretty awesome reporting and analytics toolset offered at a somewhat reasonable price. I’ve even started using ChatGPT to help me build Power BI reports.
However, it keeps changing. First there was just a Power BI user, and then a Power BI professional user, and then Premium licensing for workspaces, and then Premium-per-user licensing (but that only does some things; you need a premium workspace to enable all the features). All this to say, it’s a lot.
Enter Fabric.
What’s Microsoft Fabric?
Fabric’s a new offering, but it’s more an amalgamation of existing stuff all repackaged in a new name and new SKU. Think if Microsoft combined Power BI Premium, Azure Synapse Workspaces (and all their associated features) and Azure storage accounts all into a giant ball. That’s Microsoft Fabric.
Microsoft is trying to combine all stuff into one. I’m guessing that Power BI won’t even be a thing at some point and all of Microsoft’s data and analytics offerings will be officially renamed to Fabric (or whatever other name they choose for the whole thing in a few years). Take a look at these two screenshots – Power BI and Fabric are basically the same web app, just a different wrapper.
Looking for more information?
Microsoft has written a bunch of documentation showing how Power BI fits in Microsoft Fabric.
If you’re looking for more practical help understanding the differences between Power BI and Fabric or are using Power BI and want to see if a Fabric SKU might be right for you, you can connect with me over at Tapestries Group. I created it a couple of months ago to be a Microsoft Fabric and Power BI consultancy offering managed services and fixed price engagements.
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