Reproducible tests in real cloud environments show Qlik completes more work with steadier response under load, a prerequisite for AI adoption

Qlik^®, a global leader in data integration, data quality, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), today announced results from the inaugural BARC Benchmark, an independent study of business intelligence performance under typical cloud conditions.

In the first published head-to-head, BARC evaluated Qlik Cloud Analytics^® and Microsoft Power BI and found that Qlik led on the two outcomes that govern day-to-day value, how quickly users complete tasks and how reliably the system sustains speed as data and concurrent users grow.

The findings show:

• User productivity: Qlik delivered around 3 times faster response times than Power BI, translating into approximately 3 times higher user productivity in the benchmark, with fewer clicks per task and quicker interactions so teams complete more work in the same time.
• Throughput at scale: With a 10 million row dataset and up to 50 simultaneous users on standard service tiers, Qlik completed roughly twice as many sessions per hour while keeping response times stable.
• Consistency under load: Qlik maintained predictable responses across the full window; Power BI exhibited greater variability as concurrency increased.
• How BARC reports scores: BARC publishes a normalized index for each round so readers can compare outcomes at a glance; in this initial publication Qlik set the top mark of 100 for both productivity and scalability, and Power BI measured 40 overall, including 31 for productivity and 48 for scalability.

“People stick with analytics that feels fast and stays fast as load grows,” said Brendan Grady, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Qlik's Analytics Business Unit, “and these independent results show teams get to answers faster with Qlik Cloud Analytics and keep that speed as usage rises, which is exactly what enterprises need as AI increases concurrency and data complexity.”

“Our benchmark focuses on measurable outcomes in typical cloud environments rather than feature checklists,” said Thomas Zeutschler, BARC Fellow, “and in this first publication we observed a clear separation on interaction speed and consistency under concurrent load; we will expand scale and scope so buyers can compare platforms with confidence.”

For more information about the BARC Benchmark, visit https://barc.com/research/barc-benchmark-qlik-power-bi-platform/.

For details about Qlik Cloud Analytics, visit https://www.qlik.com/us/products/qlik-cloud-analytics.

About the BARC Benchmark methodology

Business Application Research Center (BARC). “BARC Benchmark: Qlik vs. Microsoft Power BI – Comparative Performance Study.” September 2025. BARC executed repeatable interaction and throughput tests in real cloud environments using standard service tiers. Workloads included opening content, filtering, refreshing dashboards, and sustaining performance as concurrent users increased. Results are presented on a normalized index for the round to simplify comparison. BARC has stated its intent to extend the series to larger datasets, higher concurrency, further configurations and additional vendors.

https://barc.com/benchmark-methodology-and-scoring/

About BARC

BARC is the leading analyst firm for data and analytics technologies, artificial intelligence, and corporate performance management. For more than 25 years, BARC has shaped the data and analytics market through independent research and advisory services. The company provides objective evaluations of software, vendors, and service providers, delivers precise insights into market trends, and shows organizations how to use data, analytics, and AI strategically to drive innovation and create value. BARC takes a holistic view of successful data and analytics initiatives, considering strategy, culture, architecture, organization, technology selection, and process optimization, to help clients become truly data-driven enterprises. www.barc.com

About Qlik

Qlik converts complex data landscapes into actionable insights, driving strategic business outcomes. Serving over 40,000 global customers, our portfolio provides advanced, enterprise-grade AI/ML, data integration, and analytics. Our AI/ML tools, both practical and scalable, lead to better decisions, faster. We excel in data integration and governance, offering comprehensive solutions that work with diverse data sources. Intuitive analytics from Qlik uncover hidden patterns, empowering teams to address complex challenges and seize new opportunities. As strategic partners, our platform-agnostic technology and expertise make our customers more competitive.

© 2025 QlikTech International AB. All rights reserved. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251028368734/en/