
Free access can be had to its Power BI features depending on versions you want and what you want to do; for example, here is a guide to free access for Power BI.
1. Power BI Desktop (Free)
Power BI Desktop is a free desktop application that enables you to build reports, dashboards, and visualizations, fully functional that also can connect to numerous data sources.
To download Power BI Desktop for free:
1. Go to the Power BI Desktop download page.
2. Click the Download Free button. If you are on Windows 10 or newer, it opens the Microsoft Store and installs it directly from there.
3. For older Windows 7 or even older versions, you can download the .MSI installer straight from the Power BI website.
Install Power BI Desktop:
1. Following this, unzip and extract the installation. Once the installer is opened, follow the instructions given in the installer to complete the installation of Power BI Desktop.
2. Once installed, you are now free to start building reports locally on your machine by opening Power BI Desktop.
2. Power BI Service – Free Account (Power BI Web Service)
Power BI has a free cloud-based version, Power BI Service, where you can upload, share, and access reports from anywhere. Yet in comparison to the paid versions, it cannot compare when it comes to the sharing and collaboration features.
Sign up for Power BI Service (Free):
Click on this link to get to the Power BI sign-up page.
Register with a work or school email address; personal email addresses, including Gmail and Yahoo, are not supported for Power BI free accounts;
Once you've registered, you can access the Power BI Service in your web browser.
Uploading Reports:
Upload your Power BI Desktop file (.PBIX) into the Power BI Service
Publish, view, and share reports with others in the cloud; though sharing outside of organization requires Power BI Pro or Premium.
3. Power BI Mobile App (Free)
Power BI offers a mobile app for iOS and Android. You can access and interact with reports and dashboards directly using your mobile devices.
How to Get the Power BI Mobile App:
Download the Power BI Mobile App:
iOS: From the App Store.
Android: Open Google Play.
Sign in: Use your account credentials for your free Power BI Service account.
4. Power BI Pro (Free Trial)
The Power BI Pro version is a paid version, but Microsoft's website provides a free 30-day trial for Power BI Pro. It allows more advanced features beyond the pro version, such as reporting sharing and dashboards, collaborating with others, and increasing data capacity and more advanced features.
How to Access Power BI Pro for Free (Trial):
Go to the Power BI Pro Free Trial page.
Click the Start Free Trial button.
Sign in with an existing Power BI account or create a new account.
In case you have already been testing it after a trial period, you would have to upgrade to a paid plan if you wish to keep using Pro features.
5. Power BI Embedded (For Developers – Free Tier)
Microsoft provides free Power BI Embedded for developers who would want to embed the Power BI reports and dashboards into applications, but this can only be used for non-commercial purposes and is not allowed in commercial use.
How to get Power BI Embedded for Free:
Create an Azure account.
Get access to Power BI Embedded service and embedding reports in your application using a free tier.