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Machine Learning & Data Science · head to head

Azure Machine Learning vs Tableau

Azure Machine Learning logo

Azure Machine Learning

Machine Learning & Data Science

Enterprise-grade machine learning service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tableau logo

Tableau

Spreadsheet & Data

Visual analytics platform for business intelligence

From
$70/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Azure Machine Learning has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Azure Machine Learning requires knowledge of Azure ecosystem and integration with other Azure services; Tableau listed on UK G-Cloud at £9.47 per device per month for the Salesforce Tableau Platform edition, via reseller XMA Limited
  • They diverge on capability: Azure Machine Learning covers Automated ML, Tableau covers Interactive Dashboards.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Azure Machine Learning and Tableau actually diverge.

Attributes where Azure Machine Learning and Tableau differ
AttributeAzure Machine LearningTableau
Starting priceFree$70/month
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAzure CloudWeb, Desktop, Mobile
CategoryMachine Learning & Data ScienceSpreadsheet & Data
Founded19751999

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Azure Machine Learning

  • Automated ML
  • Designer (drag-and-drop)
  • Notebooks
  • MLOps
  • Model registry
  • Azure Blob Storage
  • Azure DevOps
  • Power BI

Only in Tableau

  • Interactive Dashboards
  • Data Blending
  • Real-time Analytics
  • Advanced Visualizations
  • Mobile Support
  • Salesforce
  • SAP
  • Oracle

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Azure Machine Learning

  • Machine learningnot Tableau
  • Data analysisnot Tableau
  • Model trainingnot Tableau
  • Predictive analyticsnot Tableau

Tableau

  • Self-service analyticsnot Azure Machine Learning
  • Data explorationnot Azure Machine Learning
  • Ad-hoc reportingnot Azure Machine Learning
  • Collaborative analysisnot Azure Machine Learning
  • Embedded analyticsnot Azure Machine Learning

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Azure Machine Learning

  • Requires knowledge of Azure ecosystem and integration with other Azure services
  • Compute resources for training and inference generate separate charges

Tableau

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud at £9.47 per device per month for the Salesforce Tableau Platform edition, via reseller XMA Limited

Pricing, plan by plan

Azure Machine Learning

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • Limited compute
    • Basic features
  • Pay-as-you-go$0.05/hour
    • Full platform
    • All compute options
    • Enterprise features

Tableau

$70/month
  • Creator$70/month
    • Full authoring capabilities
    • Prep Builder
    • Data Management
  • Explorer$42/month
    • Web editing
    • Self-service analytics
  • Viewer$15/month
    • View and interact with dashboards

Which should you pick?

Choose Azure Machine Learning if

  • You need automated ml.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Azure Cloud.
  • You also want designer (drag-and-drop).
Azure Machine Learning review

Choose Tableau if

  • You need interactive dashboards.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want data blending.
Tableau review

Questions people ask

Is Azure Machine Learning or Tableau better?
Neither clearly leads. Azure Machine Learning starts at Free and Tableau at $70/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Azure Machine Learning or Tableau?
Azure Machine Learning has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Azure Machine Learning and $70/month for Tableau.
Does Azure Machine Learning or Tableau run on more platforms?
Azure Machine Learning runs on Azure Cloud. Tableau runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Azure Machine Learning for free?
Yes. Azure Machine Learning has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Tableau starts at $70/month.
What is Azure Machine Learning best used for?
Azure Machine Learning is most often used for machine learning, data analysis, model training, predictive analytics. Of those, machine learning and data analysis are not what Tableau is typically brought in for.
What can Azure Machine Learning do that Tableau cannot?
Azure Machine Learning covers Automated ML, Designer (drag-and-drop), Notebooks, MLOps. Tableau covers Interactive Dashboards, Data Blending, Real-time Analytics, Advanced Visualizations. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Azure Machine Learning: Does Azure Machine Learning have any platform licensing fees?

No, Azure Machine Learning carries no extra cost. You only pay for the underlying compute resources utilized during model training or inference.

Source
Azure Machine Learning: What AutoML capabilities does Azure Machine Learning provide?

Azure Machine Learning supports automated model creation for classification, regression, vision, and natural language processing tasks.

Source
Azure Machine Learning: Does Azure ML support language model fine-tuning?

Yes, Azure Machine Learning supports fine-tuning of foundation models from providers including OpenAI, Meta, Hugging Face, and Cohere.

Source
Azure Machine Learning: What MLOps features are included?

Azure ML includes end-to-end pipeline automation with CI/CD capabilities, managed endpoints for model deployment, and monitoring tools.

Source
Azure Machine Learning: Can I access foundation models from multiple vendors?

Yes, Azure Machine Learning provides access to a model catalog with foundation models from Microsoft, OpenAI, Hugging Face, Meta, and Cohere.

Source
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Related pages

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