Top 5 SSRS Alternatives for Paginated Reporting in 2025

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) has long been a trusted solution for delivering pixel-perfect, paginated reports in enterprise environments. As deployment models evolve, many organizations are evaluating additional capabilities such as cloud-based hosting, seamless embedding, and modern design workflows while maintaining RDL compatibility and high-quality print output. Let’s take a look at the five commonly evaluated SSRS alternatives in 2025 offering modern deployment, integration, and developer-friendly features.

Let’s explore five commonly evaluated SSRS alternatives for paginated reporting in 2025.

Top five SSRS alternatives for paginated reporting in 2025

SSRS delivers pixel-perfect, paginated reports. Whether you’re generating invoices, operational documents, or regulatory exports, these tools provide robust capabilities that align with SSRS’s strengths while supporting modern deployment models. Let’s explore these alternatives in detail:

1. Bold Reports

Bold Reports^® is a self-service and embedded reporting platform designed to support pixel-perfect report delivery. It supports streamlined SSRS migration and allows unlimited report creation for scalable reporting solutions. If your team is also evaluating a Crystal Reports alternative for web-based reporting, Bold Reports provides a modern path to replace SAP Crystal Reports with browser-based design, embedded reporting, and enterprise deployment options.  Here are some key highlights:

• Built on ASP.NET Core: Bold Reports is developed using the ASP.NET Core framework, making it cross-platform and highly scalable. This allows developers to integrate it seamlessly into modern web applications and deploy it across different environments.
• Supports SSRS RDL format: Bold Reports supports the SSRS RDL format. This enables organizations to reuse many existing SSRS reports in Bold Reports, typically reducing the need for complete redevelopment.
• Good for web-based: Bold Reports is designed to deliver paginated reports through modern web environments. It provides a responsive and interactive viewer that ensures reports are accessible and well-formatted across different screen sizes.
• White-label reporting: Bold Reports lets you embed advanced reporting tools customized with your logo, colors, and brand identity.This helps deliver a branded experience for users and clients, supporting a consistent branded user experience.
• Data visualizations: Bold Reports lets you create interactive, visually rich reports that make it easier to analyze trends, track KPIs, and share results. With clear data visualization, you gain insights faster and communicate findings more effectively.
• Robust security and authentication: Bold Reports ensures secure access to data with Microsoft 365, OAuth 2.0, Active Directory, and OpenID. It also protects sensitive data through encryption, role-based access control, and flexible deployment.
• Pixel-perfect reporting: Bold Reports ensures pixel-perfect layouts for screen and print, helping users deliver clear, professional, and brand-consistent reports across formats.
• Multitenant support: Bold Reports lets SaaS providers and enterprises manage multiple users from a single platform. With robust tenant isolation and centralized control, you can scale efficiently without compromising security or performance.
• Flexible deployment: Bold Reports offers flexible deployment—cloud or on-premises—so you get secure, scalable reporting tailored to your business needs.

2. Power BI Paginated Reports

Power BI Paginated Reports uses the RDL format like SSRS does. The reports are created in Power BI Report Builder, a standalone desktop tool, and published to the Power BI service.
Here are some key features:

• Uses RDL format like SSRS: This means it supports the same report file structure as SSRS, allowing users to reuse or migrate many existing SSRS reports, depending on report complexity and configuration.
• Ideal for organizations already using Power BI: It integrates seamlessly with the Power BI ecosystem, making it a convenient choice for teams already using Power BI for dashboards and analytics.
• Extends SSRS capabilities to the cloud: Power BI paginated reports bring the pixel-perfect reporting strengths of SSRS to the cloud, combining traditional reporting with modern cloud-based distribution and accessibility.

3. Stimulsoft Reports

Stimulsoft Reports is a flexible tool for building reports across platforms like .NET, JavaScript, PHP, and Java. It offers extensive customization and deployment options across multiple platforms, making it great for modern, cross-platform development.
Here are some key features:

• Web, desktop, and mobile platform support: This flexibility allows users to design and view reports across different devices and operating systems, enhancing accessibility.
• Designer tools: It provides a familiar report design experience for SSRS users, reducing the learning curve and speeding up adoption. Uses its own report definition format (not RDL) but delivers similar paginated, pixel-perfect layouts.
• .NET integration for developers: Built with .NET compatibility, it integrates well into .NET applications, making it a strong fit for developers in Microsoft environments.
• Export to multiple formats: Allows reports to be exported to PDF, Excel, Word, HTML, and other formats, supporting diverse business needs.

4. DevExpress Reporting

DevExpress Reporting is a .NET tool for creating paginated, print-ready reports with interactive features. It integrates with Visual Studio and supports embedding in web and desktop apps, making it a commonly evaluated SSRS alternative.
Here are some key features:

• Rich .NET integration: Deep integration with the .NET framework allows developers to build and customize reports directly within their applications.
• Visual Studio support: Developers can design, preview, and manage reports within Visual Studio, streamlining the development workflow. DevExpress uses a proprietary layout engine rather than RDL but offers page-level layout controls designed for print-ready, paginated reporting.
• Suitable for embedded reporting in applications: Ideal for scenarios where reports need to be embedded into desktop or web apps, offering a seamless user experience.
• Built-in report viewer controls: Offers ready-to-use viewer components for web and desktop platforms, simplifying report display and interaction.

5. Telerik Reporting

Telerik Reporting is a .NET tool for paginated reports built for web, desktop, and cloud apps. It includes a drag-and-drop designer, supports multiple data sources, and exports to formats like PDF and Excel, making it another option for teams evaluating SSRS alternatives.
Its main features include:

• Web and desktop support: Built for .NET developers, it supports deployment in both web and desktop environments, offering flexibility in application design.
• Strong design and export capabilities: Provides a wide range of styling options and export formats, like PDF, Excel, and Word, making it easy to deliver professional reports.
• Good for developers needing SSRS-like control: Offers detailed control over report layout and behavior, similar to SSRS, which is useful for developers needing precision and customization. Telerik Reporting employs its own report definition format (not RDL) but supports the same paginated, print-ready structure.
• Interactive report elements: Supports features like drill-down menus, parameters, and dynamic content, enhancing user engagement and report usability.

Choosing the best SSRS alternative for paginated reporting

Bold Reports^® provides a modern reporting solution for organizations transitioning from SSRS while maintaining RDL support. As a paginated-reporting alternative, it is designed to support a smooth migration process, enterprise-grade security, and intuitive design tools. Whether you’re upgrading or starting fresh, it offers onboarding resources, documentation, and pricing structured to align with different deployment needs.

Explore the Bold Reports features page to learn more. If you are comparing legacy reporting tools, see why Bold Reports is a Crystal Reports alternative for modern web-based and embedded reporting. You can also try Bold Reports for free or book a personalized demo.

Related resource

Looking to replace SAP Crystal Reports? Visit our Crystal Reports Alternative page to compare Bold Reports with Crystal Reports for modern web-based reporting.