SemanticOps vs Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector)
Verdict: SemanticOps scores 9.4/10 against 7.9/10 for Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector) on our data score for power BI report testing tools.
Both have a free plan.
SemanticOps and Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector) lead on 0 checks each; 5 are even, out of 5 checks (yes/no, price and seats) where we have data for both.
Choose SemanticOps for power BI developers who edit semantic models with AI assistants and want regression tests. Choose Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector) for power BI developers enforcing report standards in Azure DevOps or GitHub pipelines.
Scoreboard: 5 checks
| Check | SemanticOps | Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector) |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Even | Even |
| Free trial | Even | Even |
| Smaller seat minimum | Even | Even |
| Power BI | Even | Even |
| CI/CD integration | Even | Even |
| Total | 0 | 0 |
At a glance
| SemanticOps | Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector) | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.4/10 (#2) | 7.9/10 (#5) |
| Best for | Power BI developers who edit semantic models with AI assistants and want regression tests | Power BI developers enforcing report standards in Azure DevOps or GitHub pipelines |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Paid from (annual) | $29.08/mo | See vendor |
| Paid from (monthly) | $39/mo | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Minimum seats | 1 | 1 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Docker |
Features
| Tool | Score | Power BI | Report data validated against source | Report regression testing | Report performance testing | CI/CD integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SemanticOps | 9.4/10 | Yes | Not confirmed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector) | 7.9/10 | Yes | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Yes |
- Only SemanticOps confirms: Report regression testing, Report performance testing.
Pros and cons
SemanticOps
Pros- Low published price: Pro is $39/month or $349/year, with a free tier
- Test Runner includes regression snapshots, query duration budgets and row-level and object-level security tests
- Exports JUnit XML, Markdown, HTML and JSON so CI pipelines can fail builds on regressions
- Runs locally with no telemetry, per the vendor
- Tests semantic models against expected values, not against the source database
- Does not run CI itself; execution must be wired into an existing pipeline
- Built by an independent developer; Teams pricing is quote-only
Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector)
Pros- Free and open source (MIT license)
- Outputs Azure DevOps task commands or GitHub Actions annotations for pipeline gating
- Rules can include DAX query and T-SQL query conditions, not only layout checks
- Runs against local item folders or published Fabric workspaces
- Community project, not supported by Microsoft
- Does not read PBIX files; reports must be saved as PBIP / PBIR folders
- Rules are written as JSON, which takes time to learn; base rules focus on report visual quality
Frequently asked questions
How do SemanticOps and Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector) compare on features and price?
SemanticOps and Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector) lead on 0 checks each; 5 are even, out of 5 checks (yes/no, price and seats) where we have data for both.
Is SemanticOps better than Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector)?
SemanticOps scores 9.4/10 against 7.9/10 for Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector) on our data score for power BI report testing tools. SemanticOps is best for power BI developers who edit semantic models with AI assistants and want regression tests; Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector) is best for power BI developers enforcing report standards in Azure DevOps or GitHub pipelines.
Which is cheaper, SemanticOps or Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector)?
Check each vendor's pricing page; one of them does not publish an entry price.
Do SemanticOps and Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector) have free plans?
SemanticOps: yes. Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector): yes.
See the full Power BI Report Testing Tools ranking for other options.
Sources
- SemanticOps: official pricing page · SemanticOps pricing page · SemanticOps Test Runner page · SemanticOps homepage
- Fab Inspector (formerly PBI Inspector): official pricing page · Fab Inspector GitHub README · PBI Inspector (original) GitHub repository