TractorscopevsPower BI Embedded
Database-agnostic simplicity vs Azure ecosystem complexity
Power BI Embedded requires Azure infrastructure, capacity-based SKUs, and careful planning around viewer costs. Tractorscope works with any database on any cloud, with simple flat-rate pricing and unlimited embed viewers included.
Unlimited Embed Viewers Included
Power BI Embedded requires Azure capacity SKUs ($750-6,000+/month) sized for peak concurrent users. Tractorscope includes unlimited embed viewers with no capacity planning—your 1,000th concurrent user costs the same as your first.
Why teams choose Tractorscope
No capacity planning for viewers
Power BI requires sizing SKUs for peak concurrent users. Tractorscope handles any number of embed viewers with no capacity concerns.
No cloud lock-in
Works with any database on any cloud (or on-premise). No Azure subscription required, no ecosystem commitment.
Starts at $5/month
Simple, predictable pricing. No capacity SKUs to provision, no v-cores to estimate. Pick a plan and go.
No SDK required
Simple iframe embedding works out of the box. No JavaScript SDK integration or Azure AD configuration.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Tractorscope | Power BI Embedded |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud requirement | Any / None | Azure required |
| Embed viewer pricing | Unlimited included | Capacity-based |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly | Capacity SKUs |
| Authentication | Simple URL tokens | Azure AD / Service Principal |
| Authoring environment | Browser-based | Power BI Desktop |
| Setup complexity | Low | Medium-High |
| Database support | All major databases | Best with Microsoft stack |
| Capacity planning | Not required | Required |
| Row-level security | ||
| Real-time dashboards |
Pricing Comparison
Tractorscope
Power BI Embedded
Key difference: Tractorscope never charges for embed viewers. Serve dashboards to 100 or 100,000 end users at the same price. Many competitors charge per distinct user viewing embedded dashboards, which can cost thousands as your app scales.
Making the Right Choice
Choose Tractorscope if you...
- Want to avoid Azure platform lock-in
- Need unlimited embed viewers without capacity planning
- Prefer simple, predictable pricing
- Don't have Azure/Power BI expertise
Consider Power BI Embedded if you...
- Already deeply invested in Microsoft ecosystem
- Team knows Power BI well
- Need tight integration with other Microsoft products
- Azure is your primary cloud platform
Tractorscope vs Power BI Embedded: The Bottom Line
Power BI Embedded pricing is notoriously complex. You need to provision Azure capacity SKUs (starting around $750/month for A1), manage capacity for concurrent users, and potentially pay additional per-user fees depending on your embedding scenario. The 'App Owns Data' model helps avoid per-user licensing, but you're still paying for capacity that must handle peak concurrent usage. Tractorscope simplifies everything: flat monthly pricing, no capacity planning, no Azure requirement, and embed viewers are always unlimited. If you're not already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, Tractorscope gets you to market faster with predictable costs.
With plans starting at just $5/month for solo users and no per-viewer fees for embedded dashboards, Tractorscope makes embedded analytics accessible to startups and growing SaaS companies. Whether you're embedding customer-facing dashboards, building internal reporting tools, or creating white-labeled analytics for your platform, Tractorscope delivers enterprise-grade capabilities without enterprise complexity or pricing.
See the difference for yourself
Start your free trial and have an embedded dashboard running in under an hour. No credit card required. Plans from $5/month.