7 Best ThoughtSpot Alternatives & Competitors for Embedded BI in 2025

Searching for better ThoughtSpot competitors in 2025? You’re not the only one.

While ThoughtSpot promises AI-powered, no-code analytics, real users say:

“Visuals are rigid. You can’t even resize charts.”
“Feels half-baked, steep setup, limited customizations.”
“Too expensive for what it delivers.”

If that sounds familiar, this guide will help.

I've tested 5 solid ThoughtSpot alternatives - Upsolve AI, Looker, Tableau, Sigma, and Sisense, to see which tools actually deliver on usability, flexibility, and value.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Quick comparison of features, pricing, and ease of use

• Which tools work best for startups, enterprise teams, or embedded analytics

• A 30-second comparison table before we dive deeper

Let’s break it down.

5 Best ThoughtSpot Alternatives for Embedded BI (Quick Overview)

When comparing ThoughtSpot with its competitors, you probably want to know which tool best meets your needs. 

Here’s a comparison table to help you quickly compare key metrics like features, pricing, scalability, and ease of use. 

Why Consider ThoughtSpot Alternatives?

Here are the five key limitations of ThoughtSpot and why you might want to consider its alternatives:

#1: Need a Bit of Learning

ThoughtSpot can feel overwhelming, especially if you're new to analytics tools.

• You need technical skills to properly set up queries or configure data connections.
  
  

• Even though it’s AI-powered, some features require analytical know-how to use effectively.
  

• For example, crafting detailed queries can pull incorrect parameters if you don’t know how to structure them.

#2: Limited Customization Options

ThoughtSpot doesn’t offer much flexibility when it comes to customizing dashboards.

• Want to use your brand’s colors or tweak visualizations? You’re out of luck.
  
  

• Customizing tables or charts often involves complex backend adjustments, making it harder for non-technical users.

#3: Poor UI/UX Design

The user interface can feel clunky and unintuitive.

• Adding a simple column or changing database connections can be a lengthy process.
  
  

• Many users report that visualizations lack interactivity, like zooming in on charts for detailed insights.

#4: High Pricing for Smaller Businesses

ThoughtSpot’s pricing might not suit startups or mid-sized businesses.

• The cost scales quickly, and some features are locked behind higher pricing tiers.
  

• For smaller teams, this can make the tool feel like a heavy investment without a proportionate return.

#5: Limited Integration Capabilities

If your business relies on diverse tools, ThoughtSpot might not integrate seamlessly with all of them.

• It supports only a limited number of third-party applications.
  

• This makes it hard to unify data workflows or extend its functionality with other tools.

Our 5 Best ThoughtSpot Alternatives (Detailed Overview)

Here are the best hand-picked ThoughtSpot Alternatives that you need to consider:

1. Upsolve AI
   

2. Looker
   

3. Tableau
   

4. Sisense
   

5. Sigma

   
   

1. Upsolve AI – Embedded GenBI That Auto-Builds Customer Dashboards

Upsolve AI helps software companies add customizable analytics dashboards inside their apps without building everything from scratch.

Think of it like this:

You’re a SaaS product. Your users want reports. Dashboards. Charts. But building that internally? Takes months.

Instead, Upsolve gives you:

• Pre-built, embeddable dashboards

• Custom layouts based on user role (CFO sees finances, Sales Lead sees revenue)

• A chat-like AI assistant that your users can talk to and ask, “Show me the top 10 customers by profit.”

• Natural language drill-down, filtering, alerts - no SQL, no BI training needed

In short: Your users get dashboards that feel native to your product. They can explore data, get insights, and make decisions - all in your app, without leaving it.

Upsolve AI vs Thoughtspot (Feature & Use Case)

Pros and Cons of Upsolve AI

✅ Pros:

• User-friendly design that’s great for beginners.
  
  

• AI-powered dashboards that save time and effort.
  
  

• Quick setup so you can launch in just one day!

❌ Cons:

• Advanced users may feel they need more customization options.

Upsolve AI Pricing

Upsolve.ai offers flexible pricing based on your needs:

• Growth – $1,000/mo: 3+ templates, 50 tenants, React/iFrame embed, CSV/PDF export

• Professional – $2,000+/mo: Unlimited templates, usage analytics, scheduled reports, AI, onboarding

• Enterprise – Custom: SAML, on-prem, HIPAA-ready, 24/7 support, 2+ data connections

  
  

“We cut 3 months of dev time, saved thousands of lines of code, and launched embedded BI in under 30 days, with full Supabase security. Upsolve just worked.”
— David Cotten, CTO at Moonnox

👉 Read More

When Should you use Upsolve AI?

Use Upsolve AI if:

• You’re building a product, and your users keep asking, “Where’s the reporting?”

• You want dashboards that are tailored to each type of user (finance vs sales vs ops)

• You don’t want to invest in hiring a data team to build and maintain analytics from scratch

• You want your users to be able to explore data without needing SQL

When Not to use Upsolve AI?

• If you only need internal BI for your team, tools like ThoughtSpot or Looker are a better fit

• If your product doesn’t need embedded reporting or user-facing analytics

In a nutshell,

Upsolve helps SaaS companies look like they have a full analytics team.
ThoughtSpot helps data teams answer questions without writing SQL.

2. Looker – Modern BI + Gemini AI on Google Cloud

Looker lets you turn cloud data into dashboards, self-service BI, and AI-powered apps, all sitting safely inside Google Cloud.

Think of it like this:

• Your teams ask tough questions. Gemini in Looker answers in plain English.

• You model metrics once; everyone sees the same numbers thanks to Looker’s open semantic layer.

• Need a pixel-perfect board report? Drag-and-drop Looker Reports build it fast.

• APIs sit at every layer, so you can embed or monetize data without hacks.

• Deep BigQuery, Workspace, and IAM hooks keep security and performance native.

In short: You get enterprise-grade governance plus consumer-style AI exploration, all managed under your existing Google Cloud umbrella.

Looker vs ThoughtSpot (Feature & Use Case)

Pros and Cons of Looker

✅ Pros

• Single semantic layer prevents “multiple version-of-truth” fights.

• Gemini speeds up viz creation and ad-hoc queries.

• Tight Google Cloud IAM, VPC-SC, and BigQuery integration.

❌ Cons

• Pricing is opaque; you must talk to sales.

  
  

  

  
  

• Initial modeling (LookML) adds a learning curve.

• Real-time design tweaks are less flexible than pure dashboard builders.

Looker Pricing

Looker charges for platform (Standard, Enterprise, Embed) plus user licenses (Viewer, Standard, Developer). Each instance includes 10 Standard and 2 Developer users; all other costs are “call sales.”

When Should you use Looker?

• You need governed metrics across multiple clouds and teams.

• You already run BigQuery or broader Google Cloud stack.

• You want to embed analytics or sell data products via APIs.

When Not to use Looker?

• You’re a lean SaaS wanting fast, tenant-friendly dashboards (Upsolve fits better).

• You can’t allocate time to learn LookML or manage modeling.

• Transparent, self-serve pricing is a must-have.

In a nutshell, Looker excels at governed, AI-assisted BI for complex data estates, while ThoughtSpot shines for quick, search-first exploration. Choose Looker when compliance, scale, and Google Cloud alignment top your list.

3. Tableau – Flexible, Self-Service BI

Tableau lets any team drag-and-drop data, get Einstein AI explanations, and share Pulse narratives without touching SQL or servers.

Think of it like this:

• You open a dashboard; Pulse highlights today’s anomalies in plain English.

• Need ad-hoc answers? Type a question and Einstein builds the viz.

• VizQL lets you rearrange charts like Lego bricks, no code.

• Everything runs in Tableau Cloud or on-prem of your choice.

• IAM, SOC 2, and ISO certs keep data locked down.

In short: Tableau mixes consumer-simple visuals with enterprise governance and Salesforce AI.

Tableau vs ThoughtSpot (Feature & Use Case)

Pros and Cons of Tableau

✅ Pros

• Beautiful, interactive visuals loved by “Data Fam.”

• Runs anywhere: Cloud, AWS, on-prem.

• Scales to large datasets and mixed skill levels.

❌ Cons

• Creator seats start at $75/user/month; can add up.

• New users may feel overwhelmed by options.

Tableau Pricing

• Creator – $75/user/mo (full prep + desktop).

• Explorer – $42/user/mo (build & explore).

• Viewer – $15/user/mo (view only).
  Enterprise editions add Pulse, Advanced Management, and Data Management; Enterprise Creator rises to $115/user/mo.

When Should you use Tableau?

• You want gorgeous, governed dashboards across web, desktop, and mobile.

• Your org already uses Salesforce and needs Einstein AI in analytics.

• Flex deployment (cloud/on-prem) or strict compliance is a must.

When Not to use Tableau?

• You’re a SaaS vendor needing tenant-aware, in-app dashboards.

• Budget is tight and per-user licensing feels heavy.

• You prefer pure search-driven analytics over visual exploration.

In a nutshell, Tableau is good when you need drag-and-drop visuals plus Einstein-driven insights under tight governance, whereas ThoughtSpot wins for quick, Google-style data searches.

4. Sisense – Composable, AI Embedded Analytics

Sisense lets product teams drop Compose SDK widgets into any app, sprinkle AI narratives, and crunch billions of rows without vendor lock-in.

Think of it like this:

• You add a React component; dashboards show up in your SaaS, fully white-labeled.

• Sisense Assistant answers “Why did revenue dip?” in plain English, then writes the summary for you.

• Forecast and anomaly detection ping users before trends turn ugly.

• Elastic cubes keep queries snappy even at 400 K+ users, like USA Swimming.

• Run it cloud, on-prem, or hybrid—whatever your stack needs.

In short: Sisense is the developer-first route to invisible, in-context insights at scale.

Sisense vs ThoughtSpot (Feature & Use Case)

Pros and Cons of Sisense

✅ Pros

• Handles giant, complex datasets with elastic cube tech.

• Highly customizable SDK and theming for full white-label control.

• AI narratives and NLQ speed time-to-insight for all users.

❌ Cons

• Steeper learning curve for non-technical teams.

• Pricing starts around $10 K and climbs past $60 K/year, quote-only.

Sisense Pricing

Sisense offers “no-surprise” custom quotes. Real-world quotes range $10 K – $60 K+ per year (reddit users quote) depending on users, hosting, and data sources.

When Should you use Sisense?

• You’re embedding analytics into a product and need full UX control.

• Your data volumes or user counts dwarf typical BI limits.

• You want predictive and narrative AI baked into every view.

When Not to use Sisense?

• You only need quick, search-style internal BI (ThoughtSpot fits).

• Budget or headcount can’t cover a developer-centric tool.

In a nutshell, Sisense is the go-to for complex, large-scale, embedded analytics, while ThoughtSpot stays king of instant search for internal teams.

5. Sigma – Spreadsheet-Simple BI

Sigma puts an Excel-style sheet on top of Snowflake, BigQuery, or Redshift, then layers Ask Sigma AI, write-back forms, and low-code data apps, no CSVs, no stale extracts.

Think of it like this:

• Analysts type formulas just like Excel; Sigma runs them on billions of rows in-warehouse via Alpha Query.

• Ask Sigma turns “Show churn by cohort” into SQL and reveals each step.

• Build data apps with write-back, actions, and burst reporting, then embed them for customers.

• View-only users are free; pay only for creators and explorers.

• Cloud-native security keeps data inside your warehouse, inheriting all existing governance.

In short: Sigma feels like a live spreadsheet yet scales like your cloud data warehouse.

Sigma vs ThoughtSpot (Feature & Use Case)

Pros and Cons of Sigma

✅ Pros

• Familiar spreadsheet UI with live, governed data.

• Free viewer seats keep TCO low at scale.

• Ask Sigma and data apps add NLQ, write-back, and workflows.

❌ Cons

• Limited offline/desktop use; browser only.

• Advanced chart types still trail Tableau and Looker.

Sigma Pricing

Sigma sells an annual platform fee (median $30 K–$60 K) quoted by vendr, plus paid creator/explorer licenses; viewer seats remain free.

Pay-as-you-go pricing exists for large embedded audiences.

When should you use Sigma?

• Your teams live in Excel but need cloud-scale, real-time data.

• You want AI-assisted analysis yet must keep data inside Snowflake.

• Free viewers plus embedded write-back make cost and UX critical.

When not to use Sigma?

• You need offline desktop authoring.

• You prefer instant Google-style search over spreadsheet exploration.

In a nutshell, Sigma turns your warehouse into a live, governed, AI-enhanced spreadsheet—perfect for Excel lovers and product teams embedding interactive data apps—while ThoughtSpot remains the fastest path to ad-hoc search.

6. Power BI – Microsoft 365-Embedded Insights with Copilot AI

Power BI pipes live data into every Microsoft 365 app, lets Copilot build reports from a prompt, and scales up to Fabric capacities, all for the price of a Teams add-on.

Think of it like this:

• A manager types “Show churn by segment.” Copilot drafts a full report page in seconds.

• Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint auto-preview those visuals so decisions happen where work already lives.

• One semantic model feeds both self-service dashboards and governed datamarts inside Fabric.

• Need customer-facing analytics? Power BI Embedded wraps your logo around the same engine.

• Security inherits Azure AD, Purview, and row-level rules—no data leaves the Microsoft cloud.

In short: Power BI turns Office into a full BI front end, supercharged by Copilot.

Power BI vs ThoughtSpot (Feature & Use Case)

Pros and Cons of Power BI

✅ Pros

• Deep Microsoft 365, Azure, and Dynamics integration, analytics shows up where work happens.

• Copilot auto-builds reports and narratives from plain language.

• Proven ROI: Forrester cites 321 % return in three years when bundled with 365.

❌ Cons

• Price hikes pushed Pro to $14 and PPU to $24 per user/month.

• Premium per-capacity is being retired, migration to Fabric required by 2025 renewals.

Power BI Pricing (2025)

When Should you use Power BI?

• You’re already in the Microsoft stack and want insights inside Teams, Excel, Outlook, and Fabric.

• Copilot-driven report generation and chat-with-data appeals to non-analysts.

• You need governed self-service plus scalable capacity without managing servers.

When Not to use Power BI?

• You’re a SaaS vendor needing tenant-aware, fully white-labeled dashboards, Upsolve or Sisense offer deeper embedded theming.

• Google Workspace shops may prefer Looker for tighter native integrations.

• If instant Google-style search is your top requirement, ThoughtSpot stays faster out of the box.

In a nutshell, Power BI is the Microsoft-first route to Copilot-guided, everywhere-embedded analytics, while ThoughtSpot remains the quickest search experience and Upsolve leads for turnkey SaaS embedding.

7. Qlik Sense – Associative-Engine Exploration + GenAI Answers

Qlik Sense drops an Excel-simple canvas on top of its Associative Engine, then lets Qlik Answers AI spotlight hidden patterns and generate dashboards in one click.

Think of it like this:

• Non-tech users drag a field; the engine recalculates every chart so nothing stays hidden.

• Qlik Answers turns “Why did margin dip in Q2?” into instant insights and narrative.

• Starter tenants handle 10 users/25 GB; elastic cubes keep queries fast up to 250 GB+ in Enterprise.

• Embed dashboards via JavaScript or iFrame; brand them as your own product.

• Automations push alerts or Slack messages when KPIs cross thresholds.

In short: Qlik Sense is the “show-me-everything” BI tool, great for data discovery and governed self-service at scale.

Qlik Sense vs ThoughtSpot (Feature & Use Case)

Pros and Cons of Qlik Sense

✅ Pros

• Associative engine reveals relationships SQL joins miss.

• GenAI dashboards and narratives speed discovery.

• Capacity-based pricing keeps costs predictable.

❌ Cons

• Premium tiers start above $2.7 K/month—steep for small orgs.

• Limited offline/desktop authoring compared with Power BI.

• Advanced setup still needs training for section access and governance.

Qlik Sense Pricing (SaaS, billed annually)

All tiers include 100+ data connectors, mobile apps, embedded analytics, and GenAI exploration.

When Should you use Qlik Sense?

• You need true ad-hoc discovery without knowing every join up front.

• AI-generated insights and ML predictions add value for everyday users.

• Capacity-based pricing fits predictable budgeting and large viewer counts.

When Not to use Qlik Sense?

• Your SaaS product needs deep white-label theming, Sisense or Upsolve offer more UI control.

• Pure Google-style search speed is priority, ThoughtSpot stays quicker for typed queries.

In a nutshell, Qlik Sense is the go-to Power BI alternative when you want associative data discovery, built-in GenAI, and predictable capacity pricing, all without writing SQL.

Conclusion

Choosing the right ThoughtSpot competitor comes down to what your team really needs.

• Upsolve.ai is great if you want simple, no-code dashboards your customers can use right away.

• Looker and Sisense work well if you need more control and don’t mind a learning curve.

• Tableau is best for polished visuals.

• Sigma is a good fit for teams used to working in spreadsheets.

• Power BI is great for Microsoft 365 integration

• Qlik Sense offers flexible, data exploration.

If you're looking for something easy to set up and easy to use, Upsolve.ai might be the right fit.

Want to see how it could work for your use case?

Grab a quick walkthrough, no pressure, just explore.

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Choosing the right ThoughtSpot competitor will make your data easier to understand and help your business grow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Who are the strongest alternatives to ThoughtSpot in 2025?

A. Upsolve AI, Looker, Tableau, Sisense, Sigma, Power BI, and Qlik Sense are the top contenders.

Q2. How does ThoughtSpot differ from Tableau?
A. ThoughtSpot uses Google-style search and AI for quick answers, while Tableau focuses on drag-and-drop design for highly customized, interactive visuals.

Q3. What are ThoughtSpot’s main drawbacks?
A. Limited dashboard customization, a learning curve for search-model setup, enterprise-level pricing that can sting smaller teams, and weaker white-label embedding.

Q4. Is ThoughtSpot affordable for startups?
A. Usually not. Pricing is quote-only and skews high; many small teams switch to Upsolve AI or Power BI for lower, more transparent costs.

Q5. How much does embedded ThoughtSpot typically cost?
A. Real-world quotes for SpotIQ Everywhere range from $60 K to $120 K per year, depending on user volume and data capacity.

Q6. When should I choose Upsolve AI over ThoughtSpot?
A. Pick Upsolve when you need no-code, role-based dashboards embedded in your SaaS product and want to launch in days without hiring a big BI team.

Q7. Which tools are best for embedded analytics versus internal BI?
A. For embedded use, Upsolve AI and Sisense offer the most white-label control. For internal BI, Looker (governance) and Power BI (Microsoft 365 integration) are top choices.