Updated October 2026. The original 2020 version of this post compared ArcGIS and Mapbox. Since then, Microsoft has made Azure Maps the default map visual and started retiring the Bing-based maps, and the original Mapbox visual is no longer maintained. We’ve added Azure Maps and updated the advice to match.
Power BI gives you several ways to put location data on a map. In 2026 the three you’re most likely to weigh are:
- Azure Maps: Microsoft’s built-in map visual, and the replacement for the older Map and Filled map visuals.
- ArcGIS for Power BI: Esri’s visual, which also ships with Power BI and adds deep GIS features if you have an ArcGIS account.
- Mapbox: a custom visual from AppSource, popular for its speed and custom map styles.
Short answer: start with Azure Maps. Reach for ArcGIS when you need real GIS work (demographic layers, Esri basemaps, an existing ArcGIS subscription). Be cautious about building new reports on Mapbox.
Azure Maps
The Azure Maps visual is generally available and is where Microsoft is putting its map investment. It covers most of what people used to add a third-party visual for:
- Layers: bubble, marker (with custom icons), 3D column, heat map, filled (choropleth), path and reference layers, plus pie chart overlays and clustering.
- Native formatting: settings live in the normal Format pane, like any other Power BI visual.
- No extra license or API key: it’s included with Power BI.
Two things to know before you start:
- An admin has to switch it on. Azure Maps is controlled by a tenant setting in the Power BI admin portal, under Integration settings. If you don’t see it in the Visualizations pane, that’s usually why.
- It isn’t available everywhere yet. Microsoft’s guidance is to stay on the older visuals if report users are in China, Korea or a government cloud.
Moving off the Bing-based Map and Filled map visuals
Microsoft has announced that the Bing Maps visuals are being deprecated. There’s no firm date yet, and existing visuals keep working. When you open a report that uses them, Power BI Desktop offers an Upgrade maps button that converts every Map and Filled map in the report to Azure Maps and carries the formatting over. One difference to look for after converting: Azure Maps’ maximum marker size is smaller than Bing’s maximum bubble size, so large bubbles can shrink. See Microsoft’s conversion guide.
ArcGIS for Power BI
ArcGIS for Power BI (previously “ArcGIS Maps for Power BI”) is Esri’s visual and ships with Power BI, so many users already know it. Adding it to your report prompts you to sign in to an existing ArcGIS Online or Enterprise account. Adding a location field dismisses the prompt and draws the map, and you get a nicely formatted map with its own set of options.
ArcGIS map after a location field is added
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to start: drop in a single location field and you have a map. | In our testing, performance lagged with larger datasets on the free tier, with noticeable delays when filtering and zooming. |
| Add infographics based on public demographic data, or your own data with the right licensing. | Settings work differently from other Power BI visuals and can be confusing. |
| Country-specific maps through the “Location type” setting. | The richest features require a paid ArcGIS account, which is a lot if you just want a simple map. |
Our biggest complaint is the settings. For example, to turn a standard map into a heat map you have to open the layers list from the left-hand menu and change the layer’s style there. It isn’t in the normal Format pane or the menu at the top right of the map. That makes sense for a map with many layers, but it’s awkward for a simple one.
Still, ArcGIS is a powerful tool and can build almost any kind of map. If your organization already runs ArcGIS, or you need Esri basemaps and demographic data in a report, it’s the strongest option on this list.
Read more: ArcGIS for Power BI documentation
Mapbox
Check the support status first. Mapbox’s own GitHub repository marks the original Mapbox visual for Power BI as deprecated and no longer maintained, and points to a community-maintained fork. Existing reports may keep working, but we wouldn’t start a new production report on an unmaintained visual. Look up the visual’s current listing in AppSource before you commit.
When we tested it, Mapbox felt native in Power BI: all of its settings are in the normal Format pane, and you can stack map layers on top of each other. You need a free Mapbox access token, pasted into the Viz Settings section of the Format pane. If you delete the visual you have to paste the token again, so keep it somewhere handy.
Mapbox visual with a single location field, on the circle map setting
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Layer two kinds of map on top of each other at no extra cost. | More setup: an access token and several settings before anything shows. |
| Use your own custom map style instead of the built-in ones. | The default circle map can’t change its marker shape. |
| Fast and responsive compared with ArcGIS in our testing. | Some map types need latitude and longitude, which can be a pain to get. (You can geocode addresses with Power Automate.) |
Mapbox’s speed and custom styling were its big draws. Azure Maps now covers most of the same ground (layering, custom marker icons, heat maps) with Microsoft support behind it, which is why we no longer recommend Mapbox as the default.
Side-by-side comparison
| Azure Maps | ArcGIS for Power BI | Mapbox | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ships with Power BI | Yes | Yes | No (AppSource) |
| Extra account or key | No (admin must enable it) | ArcGIS account for advanced features | Mapbox access token |
| Settings | Standard Format pane | Separate ArcGIS menus | Standard Format pane |
| Layering | Yes | Yes (limited on free tier) | Yes |
| Demographic and GIS data | No | Yes | No |
| Support status | Actively developed | Actively developed | Original visual deprecated |
Which map visual should you use?
- Most reports: Azure Maps. It’s built in, supported, and the upgrade path from the old maps is one click.
- GIS-heavy reports, or you already pay for ArcGIS: ArcGIS for Power BI.
- Existing Mapbox reports: plan a move to Azure Maps rather than investing more in them.
- Users in China, Korea or government clouds: stay on the existing Map and Filled map visuals for now.
FAQ
Are the Power BI Map and Filled map visuals going away? Microsoft has announced the Bing Maps visuals will be deprecated, with no date set yet. Existing visuals still work, and you can convert them to Azure Maps today.
Why don’t I see Azure Maps in Power BI? A Power BI admin has to enable the Azure Maps visual in the admin portal under Integration settings. It also isn’t available in sovereign clouds.
Is ArcGIS for Power BI free? The visual is included with Power BI, and basic maps work without an ArcGIS account. Advanced content and features need an ArcGIS subscription.
Is Mapbox still supported in Power BI? Mapbox’s GitHub repository lists the original visual as deprecated and no longer maintained. Check AppSource for the current listing before building on it.
Need help with Power BI reporting?
Maps are usually the easy part. The hard part is the model and data underneath them. If your Power BI reports need a cleanup or a rethink, our Power BI consulting team can help.