A Step-by-Step Guide to Microsoft Fabric Pricing
Microsoft Fabric pricing is based on how much you use. You pick a compute SKU that fits your needs. You only pay for what you use. The platform lets you change resources when you need to. This helps if your workload goes up or down. More than 21,000 groups now use Microsoft Fabric. This includes 70% of Fortune 500 companies. You should learn about SKUs, capacity units, and user licenses. This helps you control your costs. One compute cost covers all services. This makes billing easy.
Key Takeaways
Microsoft Fabric pricing depends on how much compute power you use. This is measured in Capacity Units (CUs). You only pay for what you use. You can change your resources at any time.
Pick the right SKU size for your workload. SKUs go from small (F2) to very large (F2048). Bigger SKUs give you more power. Some also let users view for free.
You can choose Pay-As-You-Go for flexible needs. Or pick Reserved Capacity for steady work and lower, fixed costs.
Watch your usage often to manage costs. You can scale resources up or down. Pause unused capacity to save money. Use tools like Azure Cost Management to avoid surprises.
User licenses depend on your SKU. For SKUs below F64, each user needs a Power BI Pro license. For F64 and above, users with free licenses can view content. This helps save money.
Microsoft Fabric Pricing Model
Capacity-Based Structure
You control costs in Microsoft Fabric by picking a capacity-based model. This model uses Capacity Units (CUs) to measure compute power. Each CU has CPU, memory, disk IO, and network bandwidth. Think of a CU as a block that runs your data jobs. When you start a project or run a report, you use CUs. Both interactive and background tasks use these units. They might use them at different speeds.
Microsoft Fabric splits resources into three main parts:
Tenant: This is your group’s main account. It connects to Microsoft Entra ID.
Capacity: These are pools of compute and storage. You choose the size you need.
Workspace: This is where teams work on projects. Workspaces share the capacity you give them.
You can make your capacity bigger or smaller by changing your SKU. This helps you match resources to your workload. You pay only for what you use. You can see your charges in Azure Cost Management. Storage costs are not the same as compute costs. You can manage them separately.
Tip: If your workload gets bigger, upgrade your SKU for more CUs. If your workload gets smaller, scale down to save money.
SKUs and Scalability
Microsoft Fabric has SKUs from F2 to F2048. Each SKU gives you a set number of CUs. The number doubles each time you go up. For example, F2 gives 2 CUs, F4 gives 4 CUs, and so on. This makes it simple to pick the right size.
Here is a table to help you compare some common SKUs:
SKUs F64 and higher have Power BI Premium-like features. This means users can view content without needing their own Power BI licenses. For SKUs below F64, each user needs a Power BI Pro or Premium Per User license to see content.
You can have more than one capacity in your tenant. Each can have a different SKU. This lets you give the right resources to each team or project. You can also pick between Pay-As-You-Go and Reserved Capacity pricing. Pay-As-You-Go charges you by the second. Reserved Capacity gives you a discount if you pay for a year.
Note: Microsoft is moving away from Power BI Premium per capacity SKUs. You will need to use Microsoft Fabric capacity-based SKUs in the future.
Regional Pricing
The price of Microsoft Fabric depends on your region. Prices can change by about 15% between places. For example, West Europe may cost more or less than the US or Asia. Even the price gap between SKUs, like P1 and F64, can change by region. Storage costs also depend on where you are. In West Europe, storage costs about $0.024 per GB each month.
When you plan your budget, check prices for your region. Your total cost can change based on where you are and the pricing model you pick.
Capacity Licenses vs. User Licenses
You need to know the difference between capacity licenses and user licenses. Capacity licenses pay for the compute resources you use. These charges show up in Azure Cost Management as Azure SKUs. If you use an F64 or higher SKU, users do not need Power BI Pro licenses to view reports. If you use a lower SKU, each user must have a license. This adds to your monthly costs.
You can see all your charges in Azure Cost Management. This helps you track spending and manage your costs.
Choosing a Pricing Option
Pay-As-You-Go
Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) gives you more choices and control. You only pay for the time your capacity is running. This is good if your workloads change a lot or if you are testing new projects. You can pause your capacity when you do not need it. This helps you save money. For example, you can pause it on weekends in a test setup.
PAYG lets you make your resources bigger or smaller anytime. Autoscaling helps you add or remove resources fast. This model is great for startups, small businesses, or anyone with changing needs. You do not have to sign up for a long time.
But PAYG costs more than reserved options. If you use more than you planned, your bill can go up quickly. You might also pay more if you add extra resources to avoid slowdowns. Managing these changes can take more work.
Tip: Try PAYG if you want to test Microsoft Fabric or if your usage changes each month.
Reserved Capacity
Reserved Capacity helps you spend less if your workloads stay the same. You agree to use a set amount of capacity units for one or three years. This deal gives you a discount—up to 72% less than PAYG. You can pay all at once or pay each month.
This choice is best for main work or big teams with steady needs. You know what you will pay, so planning is easier. Reserved Capacity makes sure you have enough resources when you need them.
Remember, Reserved Capacity is not as flexible. You cannot make it smaller easily during slow times. You must guess your needs well so you do not pay too much.
Key benefits of Reserved Capacity:
Lower costs for steady workloads
Fixed pricing for easier planning
Guaranteed resources
Selecting the Right SKU
Picking the right SKU helps you get the best price and performance. Start by checking your workload size, data amount, and number of users. The Microsoft Fabric SKU Estimator can help you find the right SKU.
Think about how your teams work. Small groups may only need one workspace and capacity. Big companies may need different capacities for each team or region.
Note: Check your usage often. Change your SKU if your needs change.
Managing Costs in Microsoft Fabric
Capacity Units
You can control your costs by learning how capacity units (CUs) work. Each SKU gives you a certain number of CUs. These CUs decide how much compute power you get for things like Power BI, Spark, or Data Warehouse. If you pick a bigger SKU, you get more CUs but pay more money. When you use more or fewer CUs, your costs go up or down. Planning well helps you not pay for things you do not use. You can check your usage with the capacity metrics app or the Fabric SKU Estimator. These tools help you choose the right size. This way, you spend wisely and make sure your teams have what they need.
Autoscaling and Bursting
Autoscaling and bursting help you handle busy times without wasting money. If you reach your SKU’s limit, autoscaling adds more capacity for a short time. This keeps your jobs and reports working well. Bursting is similar, but it can make your costs jump if you use it a lot. You can also add more capacity by hand when things get busy. When things slow down, you can use less. Pausing your capacity when you do not need it saves money, but you might still pay some fees. Using automation scripts helps you scale and pause without mistakes. Always watch your usage to spot cost jumps early.
Cost Scenarios
Different groups use Microsoft Fabric in their own ways. Here are some common cost examples:
Tip: Use Azure Cost Management and the Fabric Capacity Metric app to watch your spending. Set alerts to catch surprise charges. Start with a small SKU and only get bigger if you need more power. This helps you not make mistakes like buying too much or leaving things running when you do not need them.
Additional Costs and Optimization
User Licenses
It is important to know about user licenses to manage costs. If you use a capacity lower than F64, each person who wants to see Power BI content needs a Pro or Premium Per User (PPU) license. These licenses let people make, share, and work with reports. If you pick F64 or higher, users with free licenses can see content. This helps lower your cost for each user. The table below shows the main license types and what they let you do:
You should think about your team size and how many people need to make or just look at content when planning your license mix.
Ancillary Fees
You also need to plan for extra costs besides capacity and user licenses. Storage is a big cost. OneLake storage costs about $23 for each TB every month. Power BI Pro licenses cost about $14 for each user every month. You might also pay for things like moving data, training, and support. These can cost from $15,000 for small jobs to over $200,000 for big ones. The chart below shows how these fees add up over three years:
Note: You pay for capacity even if you do not use it all. Always look for hidden costs like unused resources or long-term deals.
Cost Optimization Tips
You can save money by doing these things:
Right-size your resources. Make your resources bigger or smaller based on what you really need. Use tools to watch usage and do not get more than you need.
Choose the right pricing plan. Pick reserved capacity for steady work to get discounts. Use pay-as-you-go if your needs change a lot.
Optimize storage. Move old data to cheaper storage and delete files you do not use.
Automate cost management. Set alerts and use tools like Azure Cost Management and FUAM to find waste.
Pause unused capacity. Stop resources at night or on weekends if you do not need them.
Review and adjust often. Look at your usage reports and make small changes to save more money.
Tip: Checking your costs often helps you save. One company saved half their costs by making capacity smaller and pausing it on weekends.
To keep your costs low, try these steps:
Look at how you use Microsoft Fabric. Pick pay-as-you-go if you want more freedom. Choose reserved capacity if your needs stay the same.
Choose SKUs that fit what you need. This way, you do not pay for things you do not use.
Watch how many capacity units you use. Change them if you need to.
Use the Azure Pricing Calculator before you start. This helps you guess how much you will spend.
Check your usage and spending often. This helps you spot patterns and save money.
Tip: Try the free trial first and watch your usage. Change your pricing plan if your needs change so you can save more money.
FAQ
What is a Capacity Unit (CU) in Microsoft Fabric?
A Capacity Unit (CU) measures the compute power you use. You pick a SKU with a set number of CUs. More CUs mean more power for your jobs and reports.
Can I change my Microsoft Fabric SKU after I start?
Yes, you can change your SKU anytime. You can scale up for more power or scale down to save money. Use the Azure portal to adjust your capacity.
Do I need Power BI Pro licenses with Microsoft Fabric?
If you use an F64 or higher SKU, users with free licenses can view content. For lower SKUs, each user needs a Power BI Pro or Premium Per User license to access shared reports.
How do I track and manage my Microsoft Fabric costs?
You can use Azure Cost Management and the Fabric Capacity Metrics app. These tools help you watch your usage, set alerts, and find ways to save money.