PowerBI MCP Server vs Power BI Modeling MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the PowerBI MCP Server and Power BI Modeling MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose PowerBI MCP Server for data visualization work as a local process; choose Power BI Modeling MCP Server for data visualization as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose PowerBI MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Data Visualization domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
POWERBI_TENANT_ID, POWERBI_CLIENT_ID, POWERBI_CLIENT_SECRET. - You want tools like
top, detail, workspace_id.
Choose Power BI Modeling MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Data Visualization domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Data Visualization | Data Visualization |
| Quality signal | 47/100 · Fair | 55/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | POWERBI_TENANT_IDPOWERBI_CLIENT_IDPOWERBI_CLIENT_SECRET | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 1,247 |
| Directory activity | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 8 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 6 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View PowerBI MCP Server | View Power BI Modeling MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
PowerBI MCP Server tools 6
topdetailworkspace_iddataset_idformatdax_query
Power BI Modeling MCP Server tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
PowerBI MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"powerbi-mcp-server": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"powerbi-mcp"
],
"env": {
"POWERBI_TENANT_ID": "YOUR_POWERBI_TENANT_ID_HERE",
"POWERBI_CLIENT_ID": "YOUR_POWERBI_CLIENT_ID_HERE",
"POWERBI_CLIENT_SECRET": "YOUR_POWERBI_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Power BI Modeling MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"power-bi-modeling-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@microsoft/powerbi-modeling-mcp@latest"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
PowerBI MCP Server is categorized under Data Visualization and uses a local stdio subprocess. Power BI Modeling MCP Server belongs to Data Visualization and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick PowerBI MCP Server for data visualization work and Power BI Modeling MCP Server for data visualization.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
PowerBI MCP Server has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Power BI Modeling MCP Server has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add powerbi-mcp-server and power-bi-modeling-mcp-server as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, PowerBI MCP Server has a quality signal of 47/100 (Fair) with 3 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Power BI Modeling MCP Server has 55/100 (Good) with 8 views, 0 installs and 1,247 GitHub stars.