On the left side, we have a veteran warrior with 37 years of data battle scars and  redundant six pack.  They call him SQL.

On the right side, there is a young challenger with transformative powers and “never say undo” attitude. He goes by the moniker Power Query.

Who is going to win this battle?!?

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I have been using SQL for 25 years and Power Query since it came out in early 2012. And in this article, let me share my views on how SQL compares with Power Query. If you prefer to listen, check out the podcast episode – SQL vs. Power Query. 

Listen: SQL vs. Power Query Podcast Episode

SQL vs. Power Query - The Comparison

SQL

Power Query

What can you do? 

All CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete)

Only Read the data

What kind of data?

Usually single source from a database or warehouse
(ex: SQL Server)

Can access data from anywhere and combine data from multiple sources too.

How do you use it?

You need to “WRITE” queries to use SQL. 

You “BUILD” Power Queries using the UI buttons and menu options.