Create an read-only and external license tier

[pbiideas1]

Power BI is a great tool for those that need to analyze data, but not all users are equal in their knowledge of PowerPivot, Excel or the underlying data sources. Some users just want to see and act on data. In the current model, users have to have a PowerBI license to even see a report. So, instead of building or buying a separate visualization layer to go over SSAS or SSRS, why not make PowerView extensible? Give me a very economical or even free limited user tier that can only consume web reports, but no Excel access. You can even assume these users are E2/E3 subscribers.

[mkrohn]

This is a critical feature that is available on other products like Qlik. Unfortunately the Free License does not allow to use the enterprise gateway. We would be happy to buy a number of pro licenses for the report admins, but not for hundreds of users that only view reports very rarely.

[sofie_declercq]

Avoiding that users who only want to view a report with Pro content also need a Pro license is a recurrent idea. I've voted for each of them and combined the votes add up to over 1800. Surely I don't need to be a prima ballerina to be allowed to watch a ballet performance? Please fix this issue.

[pawel_wiatrak]

Any update Microsoft???

[jimmyg1]

Now that you will be introducing the ability to store PBIX files on SSRS Report Server (SQL Server 2106) and view Power BI reports from there, we need to have an update on the read-only license idea which has been under review since 2014. Power BI on premise is a potential BI solution for our clients as well as many others and as a solution provider, we need to know Microsoft's licensing roadmap for Power BI users who only need read-only access to a Power BI report. Thanks!

[pbiideas1]

I think that "read-only and external license tier" is very important. Why I have to use "Power BI embedded" to distribute my dashboards to my users? I would prefer a separat Power BI server to handle the external license tie. The existing Power BI server is hard loaded. I am very welling to pay for that!

[tema1]

Almost 3 years under review, and still no response, we would love to have Power BI fully implemented in our organization, but we don't see as a good practice to everyone have a Pro license, we can manage our most sensitive reports with Pro, but the rest of the company who has to see more data, we don't see that as a solution.

[Massu4]

This is interesting. Is there any news?

[niekv]

With the new PowerBI Apps it would make sense to make apps available for free or read only users.

[ross_cheetham]

A big YES on this. There is a gap between the "FREE" license and the "PRO" license. I generated reports for stake holders in projects or stakeholders within a team whom have no need for the full Pro license, yet being able to view the reports via web (instead of exported manually via PPT and shared via onedrive, sharepoint or email) would be a much better experience.

[vangelis]

A free license or an inexpensive license is also great when we need to expose data to extranets to update partners or key customers of their performance.