At a glance
| Database connectors | More than 60 dialect entries (Looker 26.22), including BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift, Databricks, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server and Oracle |
| Dashboards | Dashboards, Looks and Explores in the browser |
| Reporting | Scheduled delivery of dashboards and Looks |
| Embedding | Private embedding in all editions; signed embedding on the Embed edition |
| Semantic layer or modeling | LookML in Git, also reachable from Power BI, Tableau, Excel, Sheets and Data Studio |
| Deployment | Looker (Google Cloud core) hosted by Google; Looker (original) Looker-hosted or customer-hosted |
| Licensing | Platform edition plus Developer, Standard and Viewer users; annual contract; 90-day trial instances |
Looker suits data teams that want one governed definition of each metric, written as code and reviewed in Git, served to dashboards, embedded apps and other BI tools. It needs LookML developers and an annual contract, so it is a poor fit for a small team that just wants quick charts.
Overview
Looker is a BI platform from Google Cloud built around LookML, a modelling language in which developers define views, dimensions, measures and joins over database tables. Each LookML project is a Git repository, and developers work on branches in Development Mode. Users explore data through Explores, dashboards and Looks, and Looker turns every request into SQL that runs on the connected database; it does not keep its own copy of the data.
There are two product lines. Looker (Google Cloud core) is the Google-managed version, provisioned from the Google Cloud console in Standard, Enterprise or Embed editions, and is not available customer-hosted or multicloud. Looker (original) is the earlier line, which exists in Looker-hosted and customer-hosted forms. Google's free report builder, Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio), is a separate product.
Key features
- LookML semantic model of dimensions, measures and joins, with Git version control and Development Mode branches
- SQL generated at query time against more than 60 dialect entries, including BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift, Databricks, PostgreSQL and SQL Server
- SQL Runner for ad hoc SQL (Developer and Standard users)
- Private embedding in all editions; signed embedding on the Embed edition
- BI connectors that let Connected Sheets, Data Studio, Excel, Power BI and Tableau query LookML models
- Scheduling and delivery of dashboards and Looks
- Conversational Analytics over governed Looker queries, metered in data tokens
Pros and cons
Pros
- A governed, code-based semantic layer with built-in Git workflow
- Queries the database live, so there are no extracts to refresh
- LookML models can feed other BI tools through Looker's BI connectors
- Embed edition for customer-facing analytics at scale
Cons
- Bought as an annual contract for a platform edition plus user licences, rather than month to month
- Needs developers who can write and maintain LookML
- Query speed and cost depend on the connected database
- Edition cannot be changed after an instance is created, and trial instances cannot be upgraded in place
Pricing
Google's Looker documentation describes Looker (Google Cloud core) as a platform edition (Standard, Enterprise or Embed) bought through an annual contract, with Developer, Standard and Viewer user types. Each edition includes 10 Standard users and 2 Developer users, and Standard is capped at 50 users. Trial instances last 90 days. Google lists prices and Conversational Analytics usage charges on its Looker pricing page; check it, or ask Google Cloud sales, for current rates. The warehouse cost of the SQL Looker runs is billed separately by your database provider.
Pricing checked on the vendor's official page on 7 November 2026. Prices change; confirm before buying.
Who it is best for
Data teams that want governed, version-controlled metric definitions served to dashboards, embedded applications and other BI tools, especially on Google Cloud and BigQuery.
Who should look elsewhere
- Small teams that want free ad hoc reports on Google data: see Looker vs Looker Studio.
- Buyers who want a simple per-user subscription: see Power BI vs Looker.
Verdict
Looker is a strong fit when consistent, governed metrics matter more than quick self-serve charting, and its LookML layer can serve several front ends. Expect to staff LookML development and to negotiate pricing with Google, and remember that the database bill for Looker's queries is separate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Looker cost?
Pricing combines a platform edition (Standard, Enterprise or Embed), bought through an annual contract, with Developer, Standard and Viewer user licences. Google lists pricing on its Looker pricing page; check it, or ask Google Cloud sales, for current rates. A 90-day trial instance is available.
Is Looker the same as Looker Studio?
No. Looker is the enterprise BI platform with LookML. Looker Studio was Google's free report builder, renamed Data Studio in April 2026; it can read Looker models through a connector.
Does Looker store my data?
No. Looker translates each query into SQL and runs it on your connected database, so results reflect the database at query time.
Sources
- Looker pricing (Google Cloud)
- Looker (Google Cloud core) overview
- Looker (Google Cloud core) edition types
- Looker dialects
- Looker signed embedding
Checked November 2026.
How we research reviews and what star ratings mean: our editorial method.