5 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 – Perfect Customized Analytics 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 – Best for Data Exploration and Customization

Looker is a data platform that helps teams explore, analyze, and share business insights through customizable dashboards and reports.

It works well for companies that need flexible reporting and more control over how data is modeled and delivered.

Whether you're running a startup or a large enterprise, Looker lets you build and scale analytics that fit your business without adding complexity.

Key Features of Looker

• Flexible Reporting
  Looker makes it easy to explore live data and build custom reports with LookML—no advanced skills needed.

  
  

• Interactive Dashboards
  Use drag-and-drop widgets, drill into key metrics, and set up basic alerts.

  
  

• Seamless Integrations
  Looker connects smoothly with BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift, Salesforce, and HubSpot.

  
  

• Built-In Product Analytics
  You can embed dashboards into your product, brand them to match, and scale as you grow, core needs for teams evaluating ThoughtSpot competitors.

Pros and Cons of Looker

✅ Pros:

• Advanced tools for data exploration and customization.
  
  

• Interactive dashboards that are great for in-depth analysis.
  
  

• Scalable solution for businesses of all sizes.

❌ Cons:

• Learning LookML can be challenging for non-technical users.
  
  

• Pricing can feel steep for small teams or startups.

Looker Pricing

Looker doesn’t list its pricing publicly, as it offers custom plans based on your organization’s needs. Generally, pricing depends on:

• The number of users accessing the platform.
  

• Features and integrations required.
  

• Deployment options (cloud or on-premise).

To get an exact quote, you’ll need to contact Looker directly, but it’s typically known to go for mid-sized and large enterprises.

3. Tableau – Best for Interactive Visualizations

Tableau is a business intelligence platform known for turning raw data into interactive, easy-to-understand visual dashboards.

It’s widely used by teams of all sizes to explore data, track performance, and share insights across departments.

Users can connect to various data sources, build visual reports, and drill into trends without needing to write code.

Key Features of Tableau

• More control over dashboards
  Tableau gives you full freedom to drag, drop, and customize layouts. With ThoughtSpot, you're often stuck with fixed sizes and limited formatting.

  
  

• Real-Time Data Sync
  Connect to multiple sources and keep dashboards updated automatically—no manual refresh needed.

  
  

• Flexible Deployment
  Works on cloud or on-prem. Accessible across web, desktop, and mobile without extra setup.

  
  

• Simple Sharing and Collaboration
  Share dashboards via link, control who can interact, and embed visuals in decks or internal tools.

Pros and Cons of Tableau

✅ Pros:

• Beautiful, interactive visuals that make data easy to understand.

• Flexible deployment options for different business needs.
  
  

• Scales well for large datasets and teams.

❌ Cons:

• Higher cost compared to some competitors.
  
  

• It can feel overwhelming for beginners with no analytics experience.

Tableau Pricing

Tableau offers several pricing tiers:

• Creator: $75 per user/month (full access to features).
  
  

• Explorer: $42 per user/month (limited to certain tools).
  
  

• Viewer: $15 per user/month (view-only access).

Tableau also provides custom plans for enterprises with advanced needs.

4. Sisense – Best for Complex Data and Scalability

Sisense is a business intelligence platform often seen as a ThoughtSpot competitor, especially for companies that need to work with large datasets and build embedded dashboards.

It brings together data preparation, visualization, and reporting in one place, making it useful for both internal teams and customer-facing analytics.

If you're exploring alternatives to ThoughtSpot, Sisense offers the flexibility to build and scale analytics without relying on multiple tools.

Key Features of Sisense

• Complete Analytics Setup
  Clean and organize data from multiple sources, then create dashboards you can embed directly into your product or internal systems.

  
  

• Scalable and Flexible
  Handles large datasets without slowing down. You can deploy it on cloud, on-premise, or in a hybrid setup—whatever fits your infrastructure.

  
  

• Works Well with Other Tools
  Connects to databases like Redshift, BigQuery, and SQL Server. Also supports custom integrations through APIs when needed.

  
  

• Alerts and Reporting Automation
  Set up alerts for important metrics, send updates through email or Slack, and automate regular report sharing to keep your team informed.

  
  

A practical choice if you’re exploring ThoughtSpot competitors with more flexibility and stronger embedded options.

Pros and Cons of Sisense

✅ Pros:

• Handles complex and large datasets with ease.
  
  

• Highly customizable for embedded analytics and branding.
  
  

• Scalable for businesses of all sizes.

❌ Cons:

• The steeper learning curve for non-technical users.
  
  

• Higher upfront costs for smaller businesses.

Sisense Pricing

Sisense offers custom pricing based on users, data sources, and deployment. Best suited for mid to large enterprises. Contact their team for a quote.

5. Sigma – Best for Spreadsheet-Like Data Analysis

Sigma is a cloud-based analytics platform that blends the familiarity of spreadsheets with the scale and speed of a modern data warehouse.

It’s designed for teams that are comfortable in Excel but need more flexibility to explore and share data, without writing code.

If you're looking to move beyond static spreadsheets, Sigma makes it easy to collaborate, analyze data in real time, and work directly with live data sources.

Key Features of Sigma

• Spreadsheet-Like Interface
  Build reports using tools that feel like Excel. Drag and drop data, apply formulas, and explore metrics without needing to learn something new.

  
  

• Real-Time Collaboration
  Work on dashboards together in shared spaces. Add comments, suggest changes, and keep track of updates—all in one place.

  
  

• Direct Cloud Access
  Connect directly to data in Snowflake, BigQuery, or Redshift. No need to export or move data, everything stays where it is.

  
  

• Embedded Dashboards
  Add dashboards into your product or platform. Customize the look to match your brand and let customers interact with their own data.

  
  

Pros and Cons of Sigma

✅ Pros:

• Intuitive spreadsheet-like interface that’s easy to learn.
  
  

• Real-time collaboration for team-based analytics.
  
  

• Direct integration with leading cloud data warehouses.

❌ Cons:

• Limited offline capabilities for users who prefer desktop tools.
  
  

• Fewer advanced visualization options compared to Tableau or Looker.

Sigma Pricing

Sigma offers custom pricing based on users, features, and data usage. Best for teams that want a spreadsheet-like tool with modern analytics. Contact sales for details.

Each tool offers unique strengths, making them great alternatives to ThoughtSpot, depending on your specific needs.

How to Choose the Right ThoughtSpot Competitor

So, how do you pick the best ThoughtSpot alternatives out of the top, hand-picked embedded analytics tool options?

Here’s a quick table to guide your decision to best ThoughtSpot competitor:

By following these steps and considering these factors, you’ll be able to confidently choose a ThoughtSpot competitor that’s just right for your business.

Take your time, evaluate your options, and pick the one that ticks all your boxes!

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.

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.