Comparing Qlik Sense and SQL is essential for businesses that rely on data analysis and reporting. Qlik Sense, a data visualization tool, and SQL, a language for managing databases, serve different but complementary roles in the realm of business intelligence.
This webpage will delineate the strengths and limitations of each platform. We'll discuss the functionalities of Qlik Sense's intuitive analytics and SQL's robust data manipulation capabilities.
Finally, we will explore how Sourcetable offers an innovative alternative, providing a spreadsheet-like interface that seamlessly integrates with your data, streamlining business intelligence tasks such as reporting and data analytics.
Qlik Sense is a data analytics platform that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance data exploration and insights. Recognized for its speed, Qlik Sense provides a dynamic approach to analytics through its associative analytics engine. This technology allows users to probe all possible associations within their data, facilitating comprehensive understanding and discovery of hidden trends.
Qlik Sense is a data analytics platform that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance data exploration and insights. Recognized for its speed, Qlik Sense provides a dynamic approach to analytics through its associative analytics engine. This technology allows users to probe all possible associations within their data, facilitating comprehensive understanding and discovery of hidden trends.
Qlik Sense simplifies data preparation and connectivity, accommodating a wide array of data sources for seamless analytics workflows.
With a customer base of over 40,000, Qlik Sense is a trusted solution for businesses seeking robust analytical capabilities.
Associative Analytics Engine |
Qlik Sense's associative analytics engine enables in-depth exploration and discovery of insights within data, providing instant calculations, and allowing for selections in any direction. |
Augmented Analytics |
With built-in AI and ML, Qlik Sense enhances analytics through features like AI-powered insights, predictions, and automated insight generation. |
Advanced and Predictive Analytics |
Qlik Sense's advanced analytics include predictive capabilities and the creation of ML models through Qlik AutoML, a code-free experience. |
Data Integration and Preparation |
Qlik Sense ensures fast data integration and connectivity, providing comprehensive data prep and a self-service data catalog. |
Visualization and Dashboard |
Interactive visualizations and dashboards facilitate the clear presentation of data, aiding in uncovering hidden insights and supporting decision-making. |
Self-Service Analytics |
Users can perform self-service data visualization, exploration, and analytics with a low-code environment, bolstering data literacy. |
Natural Language Interaction |
Natural language processing allows users to interact with data using conversational analytics and search for intuitive data exploration. |
Alerting and Automation |
Data-driven alerting and event-driven actions automate processes and enable immediate action based on real-time data pipelines. |
Collaboration and Notes |
Qlik Sense supports collaboration through shared notes, narrative context, and discussion threads, enhancing collective decision-making. |
Customization and Extensibility |
With a complete set of open APIs, Qlik Sense is fully customizable, allowing users to create custom apps, visualizations, and analytics. |
Scalability and Performance |
Designed for high performance and scalability, Qlik Sense works seamlessly with a vast array of data sources, apps, databases, and cloud services. |
Data Definition Language (DDL) |
DDL allows users to define and manage all structures in a database, including creating, altering, and dropping tables and other database objects. |
Data Manipulation Language (DML) |
DML enables users to insert, update, delete, and retrieve data from the database, facilitating the handling of database records. |
Query Language |
SQL serves as a query language, providing powerful and efficient querying capabilities for data retrieval and manipulation. |
Transaction Control |
Transaction control ensures the integrity of data by managing database transactions with commands like COMMIT and ROLLBACK. |
Data Integrity |
Data integrity features maintain the accuracy and consistency of data within a relational database. |
User Access Control |
SQL provides mechanisms to control user access, enabling database administrators to grant and revoke permissions as needed. |
Portability |
SQL is highly portable, running on various devices from personal computers to servers and across different operating systems. |
Client Server Execution and Remote Database Access |
The ability to execute on client-server architectures and access databases remotely enhances SQL's flexibility and reach. |
Security and Authentication |
Security features, including authentication, protect data integrity and privacy by regulating user access to the database. |
Embedded SQL |
Embedded SQL enables the incorporation of SQL statements within code written in programming languages, such as C or Java. |
Transaction Control Language (TCL) |
TCL is a subset of SQL for managing transactions within the database, providing commands for transaction management. |
Advanced SQL Features |
Advanced SQL includes capabilities for recursive queries, decision supporting queries, and data mining, extending SQL's power for complex data analysis. |
Qlik Sense enhances data literacy with its self-service visualization solutions, enabling users to create and manage their analytics independently.
At $30 per user per month, Qlik Sense is a relatively affordable option for businesses seeking a powerful data analytics tool.
Qlik Sense supports a wide range of devices and includes a mobility feature, ensuring access to business intelligence on-the-go with a responsive design.
A flexible and comprehensive security feature safeguards data while a centralized hub facilitates easy collaboration and information sharing.
Open APIs and the ability to customize analytics solutions or develop custom apps and new visualizations provide flexibility to meet specific business needs.
Qlik Sense's user-friendly interface is combined with robust, AI-powered analytics, making it an efficient tool for reporting and data analysis.
Qlik Sense may experience performance degradation when handling large volumes of data, leading to slower data processing times.
The cost of Qlik Sense can be prohibitive for larger teams or businesses on a tight budget, which may limit accessibility to its features.
Qlik Sense does not allow complete data export to Excel, which can hinder comprehensive data analysis and reporting.
Users may incur extra costs for add-ons and plugins to extend the functionality of Qlik Sense, adding to the total cost of ownership.
You can pay for training with a credit card, Training Card, or invoice.
You can take training recommendations to find which courses to take for your role.
You can check your registration status on the My Training page.
You can use a Training Card to pay for most Qlik training products, but it cannot be used to pay for certifications.
You have 12 months from the purchase date to use the Training Card.
Improving efficiency and customer service
Enhancing sales performance
Creating a company-wide analytics portal
Improving operational success
Reducing cost and effort in loan prospect conversion
SQL's ability to manage databases ensures streamlined data organization, which is critical for business intelligence tasks.
SQL excels in querying databases, allowing for sophisticated data retrieval, essential for in-depth business analysis.
SQL's role in web development enables seamless integration of business intelligence solutions into web platforms.
SQL's use in data analytics provides robust tools for interpreting complex datasets, yielding actionable business insights.
As a must-have skill for data professionals, SQL's ubiquity ensures a wide talent pool for business intelligence endeavors.
SQL's complex interface can be challenging for users, potentially hindering the efficiency of business intelligence processes.
Implementing SQL for business intelligence can incur significant costs, affecting the overall budget for data analysis initiatives.
The rigid structure of SQL can restrict the adaptability of business intelligence systems to evolving data requirements.
SQL databases may not support real-time analytics, leading to delays in decision-making based on the latest data insights.
In scenarios with complex or large volumes of data, SQL might exhibit limitations in query performance, impacting the speed of data analysis.
The intricate setup and ongoing management requirements of SQL systems can add to the challenges faced by businesses in maintaining their intelligence platforms.
SQL stands for Structured Query Language.
A primary key is a field in a table which uniquely identifies each row/record in that table.
DELETE is used to remove records from a table based on a condition, while TRUNCATE deletes all records from a table without filtering and resets the table identity.
ACID stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability and is used to ensure data validity in a database.
A JOIN is a means for combining fields from two tables by using values common to each.
Querying and analyzing sales data to optimize business strategies
Generating customer insights to improve marketing campaigns
Performing financial analysis to inform budgeting and investment decisions
Evaluating operational efficiency through data analysis
Creating forecasts and predictive models from historical business data
Sourcetable offers a streamlined approach to business intelligence by integrating data across various services into an easy-to-use spreadsheet interface. Unlike Qlik Sense's complex analytics platform, Sourcetable simplifies the process for users of all skill levels, eliminating the need for specialized training or understanding of advanced tools.
With Sourcetable, data consolidation is effortless as it syncs information from multiple sources, providing a centralized view. This is more efficient than navigating Qlik Sense's comprehensive data prep and integration capabilities or writing SQL queries to combine data sets manually.
The spreadsheet-like interface of Sourcetable is intuitive, especially for those familiar with traditional office tools. This contrasts with Qlik Sense's array of features that may be overwhelming for users seeking simplicity in data manipulation and reporting.
Sourcetable's platform is designed for accessibility, allowing users to engage with their data anytime, anywhere. This level of convenience surpasses the capabilities of Qlik Sense and SQL, which may require more complex setups for mobile access and cross-platform compatibility.
For businesses looking to optimize their investments in business intelligence tools, Sourcetable provides a cost-effective alternative by reducing the need for multiple specialized tools and the associated training, which may be the case with Qlik Sense and SQL environments.
Sourcetable serves as a no-code solution that democratizes data analytics, making it accessible to non-technical users. In contrast, Qlik Sense and SQL often necessitate a certain level of technical expertise for effective use.
Both Qlik Sense and SQL are utilized for data analytics. Qlik Sense is a data analytics tool, while SQL is a language designed for managing and manipulating databases.
Qlik Sense features an associative analytics engine, which allows for data exploration and insight discovery. SQL, through its relational model, also enables data association through JOIN operations.
Qlik Sense offers robust data preparation and integration capabilities, similar to SQL, which is often used to perform data preparation tasks before analysis.
Both Qlik Sense and SQL can be used for advanced and predictive analytics. Qlik Sense provides AutoML and predictive analytics features, while SQL can execute complex analytical queries and is often used in conjunction with other tools for predictive analytics.
Qlik Sense and SQL both have strong reporting capabilities. Qlik Sense generates reports in various formats, while SQL is widely used to create detailed reports through querying.
Qlik Sense: Features an associative analytics engine that enables interactive data exploration. It goes beyond the limits of query-based analytics, allowing users to explore data from any direction without predefined queries.
SQL: Utilizes a query-based approach, where users need to write specific SQL queries to retrieve data. It is not inherently interactive and requires knowledge of SQL syntax to explore and analyze data.
Qlik Sense: Employs AI and ML to provide augmented analytics, automated insight generation, and predictive analytics. It assists users in creating insights and making predictions without the need for data science expertise.
SQL: Does not have built-in AI capabilities. Any machine learning or predictive analytics requires external tools or complex integrations with additional systems.
Qlik Sense: Designed for all skill levels, offering AI-assisted creation, natural language interaction, and self-service visualization. It empowers users with diverse technical backgrounds to work with data effectively.
SQL: Primarily targets users with technical expertise in database management and SQL language, which can be a barrier for non-technical users.
Qlik Sense: Provides in-the-moment insights with a real-time data pipeline and is built for mobile use, allowing access to analytics on any device.
SQL: Typically requires manual execution of queries to retrieve data, which may not be suited for real-time insights. Mobile accessibility depends on the specific tools or interfaces used in conjunction with SQL.
Qlik Sense: Offers a comprehensive set of data prep and integration capabilities, capable of working with hundreds of data sources. It features a well-governed, self-service data catalog.
SQL: Focuses on data manipulation and management within databases. Data integration and preparation often necessitate additional tools or manual processes.
Qlik Sense: Available as both a SaaS or on-premises solution, providing versatility for different business needs and compliance requirements.
SQL: Typically depends on the database management system being used, with options ranging from on-premises to cloud-based SQL services.
Qlik Sense: Features a complete set of open APIs for custom app development, new visualizations, and embedded analytics. It supports a customizable analytics solution that adapts to specific business needs.
SQL: Customization is limited to the database level and often requires additional programming or third-party tools to create applications or analytics solutions.
Qlik Sense is a comprehensive data analytics tool specializing in AI-powered insights, while SQL with Sourcetable is focused on database management and querying with the added capability of integrating with Sourcetable for analytics purposes.
Qlik Sense offers AI-powered insights, predictive analytics, and automated insight generation. It includes augmented analytics with AI-assisted creation and data prep, as well as associative analytics. SQL lacks built-in AI capabilities and requires external tools like Sourcetable for analytics.
Qlik Sense supports data integration from hundreds of sources and provides a well-governed data catalog. It emphasizes ease of data prep. SQL is a query language used for managing and manipulating databases, relying on manual data preparation or additional tools for integration.
Qlik Sense boasts a user-friendly interface with search and conversational analytics. It offers custom app development and a complete set of open APIs for customizable solutions. SQL with Sourcetable is more technical, requiring knowledge of SQL for querying and integration with Sourcetable for a more user-friendly experience.
Qlik Sense has features for data collaboration and application automation, streamlining workflows. SQL by itself is not designed for collaboration or automation but can achieve these through additional platforms like Sourcetable.
Qlik Sense has a significant market presence with more than 40,000 customers globally. The market presence of SQL is widespread due to its fundamental role in database management, with Sourcetable's presence growing as an analytics tool.
Sourcetable is a spreadsheet application designed for growth teams and business operations folks. It is used to centralize, analyze, and model data that updates over time without the need for coding.
Sourcetable syncs data from over 100 applications and most databases. On the regular plan, data integrations update every 15 minutes, and on the pro plan, they update every 5 minutes.
Sourcetable costs $50 / month for the starter plan and $250 / month for the pro plan. All plans include a 14-day free trial. The starter plan covers the first 5 users, and additional seats cost $20 / month per user.
Sourcetable replaces workflows typically done in Excel, Google Sheets, and Business Intelligence tools by allowing users to query data and build live models that automatically update as the data refreshes.
Users can start creating reports with Sourcetable within minutes of setup, leveraging its quick data integration and no-code platform.
Understanding the cost structure for Qlik Sense involves examining the billing cycle and plan specifics. Qlik Sense's Cloud Analytics Plans are structured with an annual billing cycle, making it essential for businesses to consider the long-term investment.
Understanding the cost structure for Qlik Sense involves examining the billing cycle and plan specifics. Qlik Sense's Cloud Analytics Plans are structured with an annual billing cycle, making it essential for businesses to consider the long-term investment.
The entry point for the Premium plan is set at $2,700 per month. This plan is designed to cater to businesses looking for advanced analytics capabilities.
Enterprise plans are tailored for larger scale data analysis needs, starting with a data allowance of 500GB per year. These plans encompass all the features available in the Premium plan, offering a comprehensive solution for enterprise-level requirements.
Enterprise edition: $15,123 per 2 core pack Standard edition: $3,945 per 2 core pack or $989 per server Standard edition CAL: $230 Developer edition: Free Express edition: Free
Enterprise edition: $5,434/year for 2 core pack Standard edition: $1,418/year for 2 core pack
Enterprise per core: $274/month or $0.375/hour Standard per core: $73/month or $0.100/hour
Codecademy offers a variety of SQL courses, and user reviews highlight the benefits for those interested in finance careers. The free SQL Queries course is recognized for its accessibility.
Codecademy offers a variety of SQL courses, and user reviews highlight the benefits for those interested in finance careers. The free SQL Queries course is recognized for its accessibility.
In summary, Qlik Sense offers a user-friendly, visual approach to business intelligence, while SQL requires more technical expertise to manage and query databases effectively.
For organizations looking for a more straightforward solution, Sourcetable may be suitable, as it provides real-time data syncing across services within a spreadsheet interface, easing the complexity of data management.