A Great Alternative to SSRS: Bold Reports
Tags: ssrsalternative, reportingtools, dataanalysis, boldreports
Published: 2023-07-12 10:36:49

In the world of business intelligence and reporting, finding the right tool to generate insightful reports is crucial for organizations of all sizes. SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) has long been a popular choice, offering a robust platform for creating and delivering reports. However, as technology advances and new options emerge, it's essential to explore alternative solutions that can enhance efficiency and provide a modern reporting experience. One such alternative is our Bold Reports. In this blog, we will explore the features and advantages of Bold Reports, shedding light on why it is a compelling alternative to SSRS.

**Modern Interface**
Bold Reports offers a modern and user-friendly interface, distinguishing it from SSRS. While SSRS offers powerful reporting capabilities, its interface can be considered dated and intimidating for unfamiliar users, as it relies on Visual Studio for report design. In contrast, Bold Reports provides an intuitive interface with a web-based, drag-and-drop report designer. The web-based Report Viewer in Bold Reports is fast and responsive, even when handling complex visualizations.

![Modern Interface](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/b1q0i9qcin7srqwbroc1.png)

**Deploying Report Server on a Wide Range of Platforms**
SSRS faces challenges when deploying reports to non-Windows platforms like Linux, requiring customization and complexity. On the other hand, Bold Reports supports a wide range of platform [deployments](https://help.boldreports.com/enterprise-reporting/administrator-guide/installation/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23), including Docker, Kubernetes, and Linux. If your priority is to deploy and manage reports seamlessly across multiple platforms, Bold Reports is the superior choice.

![Deploying Report Server on a Wide Range of Platforms](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8louimhgg2twt97n3gay.png)

**Report Server: Versatile Database Support for Seamless Setup**
When setting up reporting solutions, there is a key difference between SSRS and Bold Reports in terms of the databases they support. Specifically, while SSRS requires a SQL Server database to be set up and configured, Bold Reports can be set up for a variety of popular [databases](https://www.boldreports.com/features#connect-to-any-data/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23), including MySQL and PostgreSQL. This means that you can use Bold Reports to create reports based on data from these databases, without needing to set up a separate reporting database or configure complicated connections.

![Versatile Database Support](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7gsfvagb8b8cve5lljou.png)

**Web-Based Designer**
Bold Reports offers a web-based report designer accessible from any modern web browser, eliminating the need for additional software or tools. In contrast, SSRS requires developers to install and use Visual Studio or SQL Server Data Tools, resulting in time-consuming setup, added complexity, and potential costs. With Bold Reports, developers can save time and simplify the report creation and management process.

![Web-Based Designer](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/uyus88co1lrft9tcmo83.png)

**Empowering Modern Web Development: Embedding with Excellence**
One notable advantage of Bold Reports is its ability to seamlessly integrate with modern web development platforms like React, Angular, and Vue. In contrast, integrating SSRS reports into web applications built with different technologies can be challenging. It often requires extensive customization and development due to its primary design being for the Microsoft technology stack. This capability of Bold Reports makes it easier to create and embed reports within web applications, providing developers with greater flexibility.

![Embedding with Excellence](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/mf2hd01s5szkg190pnnf.png)

**Reporting Tool to Build .NET Cross-Platform Apps**
One key advantage of Bold Reports is its compatibility with cross-platform .NET Core applications. Unlike SSRS, which is primarily designed for the Microsoft technology stack Bold Reports offers a reporting tool for building reports in .NET cross-platform and Blazor, supporting various environments. This cross-platform capability empowers developers with greater flexibility when it comes to deploying reports across different platforms.

![Build .NET Cross-Platform Apps](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/6g08lavefb6o0vxuqgcv.png)

**RDL Reports from the Application or Database**
In SSRS, RDL reports need to be deployed to the Report Server for use with an application. This requires redeployment to the Report Server whenever changes are made to the report. In contrast, Bold Reports offers the flexibility to use RDL reports directly from the application or [database](https://help.boldreports.com/embedded-reporting/aspnet-web-forms-reporting/report-writer/how-to/load-the-report-from-database/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23), providing the option to avoid dependencies like a report server for reporting purposes. This choice is beneficial for those who prefer to minimize dependencies and simplify the reporting process.

![RDL Reports from the Application or Database](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/kzwb4qntmr4gbeipe4a1.png)

**Customizable Reporting Tools**
SSRS offers limited design and styling options, which can make it difficult to integrate and match your application's look and feel without extensive development effort. In contrast, Bold Reports provides developers with a wide range of customization options to integrate reports seamlessly. Whether it's adjusting the [look and feel](https://help.boldreports.com/embedded-reporting/theme-studio/create-a-new-theme/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23), utilizing the [API reference](https://help.boldreports.com/embedded-reporting/javascript-reporting/report-designer/api-reference/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23), [localizing](https://help.boldreports.com/embedded-reporting/javascript-reporting/report-designer/localization/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23) content, choosing from various [export](https://help.boldreports.com/embedded-reporting/javascript-reporting/report-viewer/export-report/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23) options, configuring [print](https://help.boldreports.com/embedded-reporting/javascript-reporting/report-viewer/print-report/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23) settings, or imposing data source and data set restrictions, Bold Reports offers the flexibility needed to create reports that blend seamlessly into existing applications, providing a smooth user experience.

![Customizable Reporting Tools](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/hjnwfy5v4j15d3x4zb25.png)

**Multitenant Application**
Bold Reports, as a multitenant application, simplifies the management of reports for multiple clients or users. Unlike SSRS, which requires separate report servers for each client or user, Bold Reports supports multiple tenants within a single report server instance. This support offers time-saving benefits, eliminates fragmentation, and enhances efficiency when managing multiple clients or users.

![Multitenant Application](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/55enqojsoizaukajw73r.png)

**Flexible User Management**
Flexible [user management](https://help.boldreports.com/enterprise-reporting/administrator-guide/manage-users/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23) is necessary to maintain both security and smooth workflows in organizations. In SSRS, you create a Windows user group for report access, while Bold Reports allows you to manage users as regular database users, giving you far more flexibility when settingecise user permissions. With Bold Reports, you can create individual user accounts and assign specific permissions directly within the report server. This level of control over user permissions makes Bold Reports a superior choice.

![Flexible User Management](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jo6zh0p2iqco3vue3a6o.png)

**Conclusion**
Bold Reports presents a compelling alternative to SSRS, offering a user-friendly interface, extensive data connectivity, advanced visualizations, and seamless report distribution. With its modern features and flexibility in deployment options, Bold Reports is a promising choice for organizations seeking an efficient and innovative reporting solution.

Explore the additional features of Bold Reports compared to SSRS by clicking on this [document](https://www.boldreports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Bold-Reports-vs-SSRS-2023.pdf) or check out its live features with our interactive [demo samples](https://demos.boldreports.com/aspnet-core/ReportWriter/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23). If you have any questions, please post them in the comments section below. You can also contact us through our [contact page](https://www.boldreports.com/contact/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23), or if you already have an account, you can [log in](https://www.boldreports.com/account/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_AlternativeSSRSBoldreports%20_cy23) to ask your question.

Bold Reports offers a [15-day free trial](https://www.boldreports.com/pricing/?utm_source=dev&utm_dev=partner_blog&utm_campaign=dev_ReportViewerwithMicroservice_cy23) without any credit card information required. We welcome you to start a free trial and experience Bold Reports for yourself. Try it and let us know what you think!

Catch us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/boldreportsoffl), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/boldreportsofficial/), and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/boldreportsofficial) for info about upcoming releases.