Power BI vs Jet Reports: Choosing the Right Reporting Tool for Business Central
Both tools connect to Business Central and both are widely used — but they are built for different jobs. Here is how to decide which one your team actually needs.
When businesses implement Business Central, one of the first questions that comes up is reporting. The standard Business Central reports cover the basics — but most finance teams quickly find they need more. That is when Power BI and Jet Reports both enter the conversation.
The confusion is understandable. Both tools pull data from Business Central. Both are widely recommended. And both are genuinely useful — but for different reasons, for different users, and for different reporting needs. Choosing the wrong one means your finance team either struggles with a tool that was not designed for their workflow, or your management team gets reports that are harder to use than they should be.
Here is a direct comparison across the dimensions that matter most.
| Dimension | Power BI | Jet Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Interactive dashboards and data visualisation across multiple data sources | Financial reporting and Excel-based report design directly from Business Central |
| Primary users | Management, operations, sales, and cross-functional teams | Finance teams and accountants who live in Excel |
| Data sources | Connects to hundreds of sources — ERP, CRM, SQL, Excel, web APIs, and more | Business Central and Dynamics NAV (deep native integration) |
| Report format | Interactive web dashboards and reports, mobile-ready | Excel-based reports with live data refresh — familiar to finance teams |
| Financial reporting | Possible but requires data modelling expertise to get right | Purpose-built for financial statements, trial balance, and management accounts |
| Learning curve | Moderate — requires understanding of data modelling and DAX | Low for Excel users — report design uses familiar Excel functions |
| Licensing | Power BI Pro per user or Premium capacity licensing | Per-user licensing, typically bundled with Business Central implementations |
| Real-time data | Near real-time with DirectQuery or scheduled refresh | Live data pull from Business Central on report open or refresh |
When to Choose Each Tool
Choose Power BI when you need:
Choose Jet Reports when you need:
The short answer: Most mid-market businesses end up using both. Jet Reports handles the monthly financial close and statutory reporting that finance teams need in Excel. Power BI handles the operational and management dashboards that everyone else needs on screen. They complement each other rather than compete.
Not Sure Which Reporting Tool Is Right for You?
Our BI specialists can assess your current reporting requirements and recommend the right combination of tools for your Business Central environment.