Tableau MCP vs Power BI Modeling MCP Server

A side-by-side look at the Tableau MCP 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.

Tableau MCP logoTableau MCPData Visualization · Local subprocess (stdio)Tableau's official MCP Server. Helping agents see and understand data.51GoodAuth: not declaredPower BI Modeling MCP Server logoPower BI Modeling MCP ServerData Visualization · Local subprocess (stdio)The Power BI Modeling MCP Server brings Power BI semantic modeling capabilities to your AI agents.55GoodAuth: not declared

Verdict: choose Tableau MCP 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?

Tableau MCP logoChoose Tableau MCP when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Data Visualization domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • You have the keys it needs: SERVER, SITE_NAME, PAT_NAME, PAT_VALUE.
Explore Tableau MCP

Power BI Modeling MCP Server logoChoose Power BI Modeling MCP Server when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Data Visualization domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
Explore Power BI Modeling MCP Server

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecTableau MCP logoTableau MCPPower BI Modeling MCP Server logoPower BI Modeling MCP Server
CategoryData VisualizationData Visualization
Quality signal51/100 · Good55/100 · Good
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportLocal subprocess (stdio)Local subprocess (stdio)
AuthNot declaredNot declared
PricingNot declaredNot declared
Required env varsSERVERSITE_NAMEPAT_NAMEPAT_VALUENone listed
Verified ownerCommunity listingCommunity listing
GitHub stars3571,248
Directory activity 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 8 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
ToolsNot listedNot listed

Tools & capabilities

Tableau MCP tools

No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.

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.

Tableau MCP

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tableau-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@tableau/mcp-server@latest"
      ],
      "env": {
        "SERVER": "YOUR_SERVER_HERE",
        "SITE_NAME": "YOUR_SITE_NAME_HERE",
        "PAT_NAME": "YOUR_PAT_NAME_HERE",
        "PAT_VALUE": "YOUR_PAT_VALUE_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Power BI Modeling MCP Server

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "power-bi-modeling-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@microsoft/powerbi-modeling-mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

Tableau MCP 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 Tableau MCP 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.

Tableau MCP 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 tableau-mcp 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, Tableau MCP has a quality signal of 51/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 357 GitHub stars. Power BI Modeling MCP Server has 55/100 (Good) with 8 views, 0 installs and 1,248 GitHub stars.