# Pentaho Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra

> Is Pentaho the right Reporting solution for you? Explore 46 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice.

Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/78014/Pentaho-Business-Analytics/reviews

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Pentaho

4.3 (46)

[View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/78014/Pentaho-Business-Analytics/alternatives/)

Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/)

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Last updated April 15th, 2026

# Reviews of Pentaho

Ease of use

4.1

Customer Service

3.7

## Pros and Cons in Reviews

Harish V

Business Development ConsultantMarketing and Advertising, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years.

“Excellent Data Integration across all the databases , User friendly and amazing for report designing using PRD tool(Pentaho Report Designer).“

March 28, 2022

KV

Karthick V

Senior Software EngineerInformation Technology and Services, 10,001+ employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years.

“Excellent data integration across various data nodes, high user friendly which means easy to learn and cheaper cost compared to current market standards.“

April 6, 2022

AP

Anastasia P

Director of Product ManagementInformation Technology and Services, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months.

“Easy to integrate with third-party tools.“

August 30, 2020

## Showing most helpful reviews

Showing 1-25 of 46 Reviews

Sort by:

Most Helpful

Rating

Company Size

Reviewer's Role

Length of Use

Frequency of Use

Enrico P.  
CPQ Solution Delivery Manager  
Farming  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Nice surprise"

January 9, 2020

4.0

The tool allows the creation of complex ETL projects in a quick way and save time to produce valuable solution for the company.

Pros

Data Integration allows the build of such a complex ETL projects in a quick way, it's very powerful. Being an open source software allows the user to always find hints over the web

Cons

Issue log reports not really clear the error/s occurring and the troubleshooting results sometimes difficult. Scheduling

Alternatives considered

[Talend Data Fabric](https://www.capterra.com/p/118978/Data-Integration/)

Reason for choosing Pentaho

Pentaho is an open source software.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Business Development Consultant  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Totally Worth it!!"

March 31, 2022

4.0

I had used both pentaho report designer(PRD) and pentaho data integration(PDI) for optimizing power BI connectivity. Totally satisfied with my experience.

Pros

Excellent Data Integration, affordable price model and high user friendly.

Cons

Slow in loading huge data, technical limitation in reporting and resolving of ticket could have been improved a bit.

Review Source

DS

Dalton S.  
Data Scientist  
Transportation/Trucking/Railroad  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Riding a Wild Horse - Community Edition"

April 18, 2017

3.0

Pros

Many features. I like to use the reporting PRD, I think that it is the best. I use Spoon/Kettle that is a ETL tool to process data.

Cons

Many bugs. Maybe is because of Community Edition. We have many difficult to install in cloud. The layout of some report that run in developing, don't run in production.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Business Development Consultant  
Marketing and Advertising  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Best BI Software for Integration and Reporting"

March 28, 2022

4.0

Pros

Excellent Data Integration across all the databases , User friendly and amazing for report designing using PRD tool(Pentaho Report Designer). Loving it!!

Cons

Takes longer time for fetching the data in report, technical limitations in report designing and bug solving are not easy.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Big Data/Hadoop Engineer  
  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "The best tool for data integration"

October 5, 2017

4.0

Pros

Ease of use and abundant features to get things done. Helps a lot in filling the various gaps in data sources.

Cons

Not so user friendly, takes sometime for new user to get around the application and figure out the various tricks and tools available

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Senior Business System Analyst  
Computer Software  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "One of the best Business Analytics tool out there"

November 3, 2018

4.0

Pros

This tool can be installed on any operating system. It has a simple interface, so it takes less time to learn.

Cons

The design of the software is pretty old! Needs lot of improvement when compared to its competitors.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Business Analyst  
Financial Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Gives me the ability to use clicks instead of code. "

February 2, 2018

4.0

Pros

Penatho brings a visual interface to processes which would traditionally only be accomplished by many, many lines of code (which it can also do). Many powerful inputs from servers, software, and CRM systems. It also has very detailed error handling, which makes it easy to troubleshoot.

Cons

Support is mostly wiki/community based, with instructions for particular steps being lacking, outdated, or missing completely. Outputs could be simplified as well, with even a basic CSV output being slightly more complex than it should be, compared to other steps.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Analista financiero  
  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "It is definitely the solution to carry out all the projects successfully!"

April 19, 2018

5.0

Everything is organized better using this software. It is quite efficient and easy to use...

Pros

This software is wonderful, with it you can obtain performance and scalability. As well as manage and schedule reports. It is very efficient which means that you save a lot in daily reports...

Cons

This software is potentially amazing. Has it all! Your free trial is as complete as the paid version. It's very complete.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Especialista de información  
  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Practical, versatile and objective"

March 11, 2018

4.0

Fast execution of ETL processes in the case of massive data migration with a very low margin of error

Pros

\-Automate the steps for execution - It has a friendly graphic environment - Easy to use - Wide range of tools

Cons

\-High basic requirements for execution. - lack of detailed comments in error messages. -It does not have documentation in Spanish language.

Review Source

Ummar H.  
Student  
Higher Education  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "Pentaho is integrated set of tools for business intelligence "

May 17, 2018

5.0

I have transformed multiple databases from different sources and formats into one single format and recognizable database set. After single database operation, I need to summarize report for that purpose i used Pentaho report designer tool to summarize and design report.

Pros

Data in Pentaho can be easily import from nearly any type of source including .csv, excel etc to create single report.

Cons

Pentaho itself is too much resource hungry as compared to other BI softwares. Configuration after installation is required that will be difficult for non-techies.

Review Source

IH

Isao H.  
ひとり情シス  
Machinery  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "会社内のレポートを作成しています"

October 14, 2022

4.0

Pros

主に、ETLとレポートデザイナーを利用して、会社内のレポートを作成しています。 担当者が手作業で作成していたレポートを自動で作成するように切り替えたり、 手作業では作成が困難だったレポートを自動作成したりしてきました。 最初の数年は、クライアントPC上でサーバーを稼働させて、お試しで運用しました。 その次は、性能の高めのクライアントPC上で、本格的な運用を開始して、 近年は、その有用性を社内で認められ、本格的なサーバー導入に至りました。 このような段階的な運用が可能だったのは、この製品に Community Edition が存在していて、フル機能を無償で試すことができる点が大きいです。

Cons

良くない点はあまりありません。 強いてあげるならば、とっかかりで Community Edition を運用するにあたっては、やはり「情報を自分でかき集めて来る」必要があるので、万人にお勧めできない点でしょうか。 社内リソースや当人に不安があるならば、技術的な点を補うためには、外部の協力者に有償でサポートを受けた方が確実ですし、安心です。 Web上に情報が無いわけではないですが、フルスタックの知識を要求される面が多く、素人に毛が生えた程度の技術者では太刀打ちできません。 利用ユーザーの裾野を広げるためには、この点は改善されて欲しいと思います。

Reason for choosing Pentaho

Community Editionの存在が大きいです。有償製品の試用版も検討しましたが、BIの最初のとっかかりとしては、「期限付き」の有償版は敷居が高いですし、社内に認知されるまでは、最初はそこまでリソースを避けないのです。(特にひとり情シスとしては。)

Review Source

GK

Gaurav K.  
Student  
Primary/Secondary Education  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "Good business analytics tool"

October 23, 2015

4.5

Pros

Fetures like data reporting, integration, data mining and ETL capabilities

Cons

nothing to dislike, everything is good. All the features are really good.

Review Source

GG

Gaurav G.  
Student  
Computer Software  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "Pentaho review"

December 8, 2016

4.0

Pentaho features pixel-perfect reporting, subreports, parameterized reports, and OLAP. The OLAP tools let you perform ad-hoc views, reports, and views through MDX queries. Pentaho puts more effort into data integration, ETL, and workflow automation.

Pros

· Very powerful integrated tools · Better user interface · Best report design wizard · Fastest growth and improvement · Better dashboard capabilities

Cons

· Doesn’t seem to have a wizard for creating charts · Weaker support community

Review Source

TK

Tushar K.  
Student  
Primary/Secondary Education  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "Its a great Experience."

November 3, 2015

5.0

Pros

This product has good features including data mining, integration. This product also has features for data reporting. Learning curve for the product is less.

Cons

Not Really. I don't think there is anything I dislike. This product has all good features.

Review Source

RB

Rajesh B.  
Senior Software Developer  
Computer Software  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "Easy reporting and data mining tool"

January 29, 2019

5.0

Best to consider for data mining.

Pros

we can create reports very easily and its very easy to manage. we can provide information in more informational way to our customers.

Cons

This is easy to use but hard to integrate ,use is limited in many cases and not for every application.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Enseignant-chercheur  
Higher Education  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Evaluation\_Pentaho"

October 3, 2024

4.0

Intégration des données avec Pentaho Data Integration (PDI) Analyse des données avec Mondrian (OLAP) Création de tableaux de bord avec Pentaho Dashboard Création de rapports avec Pentaho Report Designer Gestion et analyse des données

Pros

Suite d'outils open-source de Business Intelligence (BI) Facilité d'intégration avec plusieurs systèmes de gestion de bases de données, outils de big data Large communauté et documentation

Cons

Fonctionnalités limitées dans la version communautaire gratuite Manque de support technique officiel sur la version open-source

Switched from

[Talend Open Studio](https://www.capterra.com/p/246747/Talend-Open-Studio/)

Open Source et économique avec sa version communautaire gratuite

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Solution Architect  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Potente software ETL"

February 21, 2023

4.0

Pros

Il grande vantaggio della Suite Pentaho è lo strumento di ETL (Pentaho Data Integration o Kettle), strumento estremamente potente e performante che consente di comporre visivamente qualsiasi flusso di trasformazione del dato.

Cons

Gli strumenti di Analisi del dato non sono al passo con lo standard attuale.

Alternatives considered

[Talend Open Studio](https://www.capterra.com/p/246747/Talend-Open-Studio/)[Talend Data Integrity and Data Governance](https://www.capterra.com/p/246657/Talend/)

Review Source

KS

Kaela S.  
E.H.R Specialist  
Health, Wellness and Fitness  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Pentaho a Flexible System"

November 2, 2022

5.0

Pentaho has been a great product for our agency. We have generated hundreds of customized reports. End users are able to pull reports directly out of our E.H.R.

Pros

Pentaho allows for great flexibility in report writing. It provides access to data tables with limited restrictions. It is highly customizable.

Cons

While the system does offer Wizard tools this is not a product for beginner level report writers. It is best used by someone with at least basic SQL training.

Review Source

KV

Karthick V.  
Senior Software Engineer  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Excellent tool for integration and reporting"

April 6, 2022

5.0

Pros

Excellent data integration across various data nodes, high user friendly which means easy to learn and cheaper cost compared to current market standards.

Cons

Limitation in integration with JDBC connector, reporting designer features needs to be enhanced a bit and slow in fetching huge data.

Review Source

FF

Felix F.  
Project Leader  
Management Consulting  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Once you understand the basics of this program it is very, but very easy to use"

May 22, 2018

5.0

Pros

"higher visual interface to processes, has a good number of functions (and very easy to understand) for data reporting, integration, data mining and ETL.. very simple but effective Big data transform You can build many dimensional model and load the results of the transformation into a database to develop any report whit low margin of error through a dimensional model and load the results of the transformation into a database to develop specialized reports , low margin of error-Automate the steps for execution"

Cons

Its a great tool to use, nothing to dislike about the product. Nothing to dislike, everything is good. All the features are really good.

Review Source

KD

Kavan D.  
Software Engineer  
Computer Software  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Pentaho, a great open source BI suit with strong community support"

June 16, 2017

4.0

One of the best opensource BI tool, also well integrated with existing platforms. It will be interesting to see how will it get integrated with fast evolving Big data technologies. Pentaho 7.1 is step in right direction.

Pros

\- We mature DI (Data integration) module - Easy to learn design console (Spoon) - wide community support - Very well integrated with different platforms - Innovating fast in Big data world specially Pentaho 7.1

Cons

\- Not very well documented for latest releases one of the reasons is many innovation are happening very fast

Review Source

sB

senando B.  
MIS/I. T.  
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Great partner of IT business analyst"

January 15, 2019

5.0

Using this kind of software brings ease and accurate data reports that helps the company on decision making

Pros

Easy to use, compatible in many database such as mysql, ms sql server, different type of output to choose such as excel, html, richtext, etc.

Cons

Some version are slow on initializing and fetching data such as Pentaho report designer version 5 and above. Unlike version 3 which has smooth process, that was base on my experience.

Review Source

JW

James W.  
Developer  
Legal Services  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "Saves me not only hours, but DAYS"

February 23, 2017

5.0

Pros

Pentaho has nice schema browsing features whereby one not need know anything about the underlying schema in order to design a transformation. Automatic multi-threading by default.

Cons

When outputting to a table, Talend has an option to Drop if exists, and create. Pentaho has a Truncate \[prior to load\], but no option create the table as part of the data flow nor an option to drop an existing table.

Review Source

rK

riyaadh K.  
Solutions Architect  
Telecommunications  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "ETL on the fly"

October 31, 2018

5.0

Pros

Drag and drop functionality makes it easy to create transformations. Able to analyse data from multiple sources quickly and efficiently. Jobs can be scheduled in order to run specific tasks and transformations at a certain time.

Cons

Can take some time to figure out how to use it as there are lots of components involved. Can be a bit slow or run into out of memory issues for bigger queries but upping the virtual memory in the configuration can fix this issue.

Review Source

MW

Michelle W.  
Accountant  
Civic & Social Organization  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Pentaho Review"

April 4, 2018

4.0

Pros

Once you understand the basics of this program it is easy to use. The bonus with this program is that if someone write a report, they can share the script with you. The updated 6.1 version is definitely an improvement.

Cons

If you are not at all familiar with writing script, this program can be very challenging. No real user manuals are included.

Review Source

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