It all depends on what you need to display. Datagrid is fine if you just need to display data, by using queries, and if you are good with sql and asp.net However, I only started last week with reporting services and I have done 4 reports, and the one report was a real pain - took me two days - queries within queries. So, if you want it to look nice and the user needs it in pdf, xml, image, html, csv format too, I would say go with reporting services from sql server. Ok, just one more thing, you need reporting services installed and configured on your sql server. You can also use the wizard to create a report, to start out. I did it with my first one. Just go in Visual Studio: New project -> Business Intelligence Projects -> Report Server Project Wizard Also, there are a few nice tutorials in the help files of visual studio... just look for "tutorials" under "sql reporting services" (filter by "sql server reporting services" in the dropdown box). Try these links too: msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms170246.aspx http://www.15seconds.com/Issue/041013.htm Hope you come right.