Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services pros and cons

Vendor: Microsoft

3.8 out of 5

21 reviews
85% willing to recommend

Pros & Cons summary

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services integrates with databases like Oracle and SQL Server for data retrieval, creating quality reports with robust security and ease of setup. Users value its scalability and stable customer support but note issues with flexibility compared to tools like Tableau. Pricing, performance challenges, and technical support need improvement. Its installation is complex due to multiple servers, and integration with Power BI requires external tools for better functionality.

Buyer's Guide

Get pricing advice, tips, use cases and valuable features from real users of this product.

Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services offers seamless integration with various databases like Oracle and SQL Server, supporting diverse reporting needs.

It is known for robust security features and reliable stability, enhancing user confidence in data handling and reporting.

The tool supports creating quality, real-time reports with excellent drill-down, graph, and chart features, catering to dynamic reporting requirements.

Installation and configuration are straightforward, allowing users to quickly set up and benefit from its extensive reporting capabilities.

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services provides effective automated reporting and valuable customer support, ensuring timely assistance when needed.

CONS

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services lacks the flexibility and ease of use found in Tableau, as users often prefer Tableau's drag-and-drop functionality and user-friendly interface.

Technical support and performance need improvement to address issues more promptly and efficiently.

There are challenges involving integration with other tools in the market, and better integration with Power BI would be beneficial.

Users encounter difficulties in building and deploying reports due to complex tuning and configuration processes coupled with the need for manual effort to maintain consistency across environments.

Source code management within Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is lacking, prompting users to rely on external tools for version control, which could be greatly improved by integrating these capabilities directly.

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Pros review quotes

MB

Chief Information Officer at Solutions Business Technology

Aug 9, 2020

The solution's features are all just wrapped up in one nice easy package. I don't need a lot of toolsets to get everything I need done.

Read full review

Gnanavel-Chakkarapani

Junior Consultant at CMA CGM

Mar 22, 2024

In Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, the installation and configuration are easy.

Read full review

GD

Gnaneshwar Dayanandan

Consulting IT Head at MYKLaticrete

Jun 17, 2025

The best features of Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services are that it is easy to get the reports out because it is integrated with SQL and we have many of these tables.

Read full review

Microsoft SQL Servering Services

Free Report: Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.

860,592 professionals have used our research since 2012.

AA

Azam Abdoelbasier

SQL Server and MongoDB DBA at KVK

Jan 15, 2024

The initial setup is easy.

Read full review

Cloud Solutions Manager at Fire Minds

Jul 25, 2023

It is scalable.

Read full review

SC

Infrastructure Coordinator at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

May 13, 2024

The stability of SSRS has been reliable, with minimal issues encountered during our usage.

Read full review

Senior software developer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

May 3, 2024

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is reliable for management dashboard and reporting purposes. It is helpful for user reporting and administrative tasks, such as monitoring progress. It is easy to use since it is lightweight and integrates well with the SQL Server database, making reporting straightforward. The visualization capabilities enhance our reporting needs with good pagination and KPI features. It integrates well with data servers and workbooks, allowing us to publish reports on mobile applications and tablets easily. Integrating other tools and platforms in our tech ecosystem is generally straightforward. However, if we need to perform something very specialized, we might have to use third-party tools rather than inbuilt options.

Read full review

Kapil Dev Khatri

Database administrator at Systems Limited

Oct 26, 2023

I'm very satisfied with the customer service. And usually, whenever we have any issue or details, we get to the person for the support. I'm really satisfied with the service. Within a few minutes or within a few hours, the support person will be available.

Read full review

JN

Senior Consultant, Enterprise Data Management and Governance at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees

Sep 22, 2020

The SQL Server Reporting Services makes it very easy to get the data whenever we need it.

Read full review

reviewer2379771

IT Professional at a wholesaler/distributor with 51-200 employees

Apr 24, 2024

I mainly use the solution for the ease of reporting and for executive dashboards.

Read full review

Show 10 more reviews (out of 20)

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Cons review quotes

MB

Chief Information Officer at Solutions Business Technology

Aug 9, 2020

It doesn't have quite the flexibility of a Tableau or something like that. Many users are more comfortable with Tableau and I'm not quite sure why that is right now, but it seems to be the case.

Read full review

Gnanavel-Chakkarapani

Junior Consultant at CMA CGM

Mar 22, 2024

It is not easy to integrate the product with other tools in the market.

Read full review

GD

Gnaneshwar Dayanandan

Consulting IT Head at MYKLaticrete

Jun 17, 2025

I haven't contacted Microsoft technical support because of this tool, but for some other things I have, and I found them quite lacking.

Read full review

Microsoft SQL Servering Services

Free Report: Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.

860,592 professionals have used our research since 2012.

AA

Azam Abdoelbasier

SQL Server and MongoDB DBA at KVK

Jan 15, 2024

Sometimes, we need to make sure that the configuration stays consistent across the reporting instances. They all connect to the same database. So, it shares that same backend, but the reporting services itself can also be configured. On the application level, for reporting level. And it is, based on my own experience, it is a manual effort to make sure that the reporting servers are configured the same across the environment.

Read full review

Cloud Solutions Manager at Fire Minds

Jul 25, 2023

The setup is difficult because you have to install different servers.

Read full review

SC

Infrastructure Coordinator at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

May 13, 2024

The product could be improved by reducing the time it takes to build and deploy reports.

Read full review

Senior software developer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

May 3, 2024

The complex tuning for report performance is complicated. There is a lack of native support for source code control. We often need to use separate tools like VS Code or other software to manage version control and changes in the database. It would be beneficial if source code management were integrated directly into SSRS, thus eliminating the need to rely on external tools. While CLI-based operations are exemplary, the trend is towards GUI for a better user experience. Integrating both visualization and source code management within SSRS would simplify the process for users.

Read full review

Kapil Dev Khatri

Database administrator at Systems Limited

Oct 26, 2023

In this solution, the cost should be reduced for the enterprise edition.

Read full review

JN

Senior Consultant, Enterprise Data Management and Governance at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees

Sep 22, 2020

Technical support is in minor need of improvement so that they can solve problems in a more timely manner.

Read full review

reviewer2379771

IT Professional at a wholesaler/distributor with 51-200 employees

Apr 24, 2024

It would be really nice to have better integration between the solution and Power BI.

Read full review

Show 10 more reviews (out of 20)

Product Categories

Product Categories

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons

Microsoft Power BI vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Tableau vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

IBM Cognos vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Oracle OBIEE vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

QlikView vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Looker Studio vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

SAP Crystal Reports vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

TIBCO Jaspersoft vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Pentaho Business Analytics vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

RStudio Connect vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Plotly vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Syncfusion Report Platform vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

ComponentOne ActiveReports vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

See all alternatives

Product Categories

Product Categories

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons

Microsoft Power BI vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Tableau vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

IBM Cognos vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Oracle OBIEE vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

QlikView vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Looker Studio vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

SAP Crystal Reports vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

TIBCO Jaspersoft vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Pentaho Business Analytics vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

RStudio Connect vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Plotly vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Syncfusion Report Platform vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

ComponentOne ActiveReports vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

See all alternatives

Related questions

51

Has anyone found a process to migrate reports in WebFocus to Microsoft SSRS?

170

How does Jaspersoft compare to Tableau?

18

Ad Hoc Reporting: QlikView vs. MainFrame Focus

464

Which reporting tool would you recommend for a finely detailed PDF?

31

What are the best self-service and Excel-like filtering / display tools?

327

Which BI tool has the best reporting capabilities?

5

When evaluating Reporting Software, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?

17

What reporting tools do you recommend?

103

Why is Reporting important for companies?