At a glance
| Database connectors | BigQuery, Cloud SQL for MySQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Amazon Redshift, Spanner; plus Google and community connectors |
| Dashboards | Interactive reports and dashboards in the browser |
| Reporting | Scheduled PDF email delivery; Pro adds more schedules, Google Chat and Slack delivery and alerts |
| Embedding | Iframe embedding of public or shared reports (viewers of shared reports sign in with Google) |
| Semantic layer or modeling | Per-data-source fields and calculated fields; governed models through the Looker connector |
| Deployment | Google-hosted SaaS only; no on-premises option |
| Licensing | Free; Data Studio Pro per-user licences billed monthly through Cloud Billing, 30-day trial |
Data Studio, formerly Looker Studio, is the quickest free way to share interactive reports on Google data and common SQL databases. It is not a governed semantic layer and has no on-premises option; teams that outgrow personal ownership of content can move to Data Studio Pro with per-user licences, and teams that need governed metrics look at Looker.
Overview
Data Studio is Google's web-based tool for building interactive reports and dashboards. It was launched as Google Data Studio, renamed Looker Studio in 2022, and renamed back to Data Studio in April 2026, when Google said it would evolve the product to complement Looker independently. The Data Studio home page also gives access to BigQuery conversational agents and data apps built in Colab notebooks.
Reports connect to data through connectors: Google connectors for BigQuery, Sheets, Analytics, Ads and Cloud SQL, database connectors for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server and Amazon Redshift, a Looker connector for LookML Explores, and third-party community connectors. Some SQL connectors accept a single-statement custom query. The free edition ties content to individual Google accounts; Data Studio Pro adds organisation ownership through a Google Cloud project.
Key features
- Browser-based report and dashboard editor with sharing through Google accounts
- Google connectors for BigQuery, Sheets, Analytics, Ads and Cloud SQL, plus MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server and Redshift
- Custom single-statement SQL queries on BigQuery and other SQL connectors
- Looker connector for reading governed LookML Explores
- Embedding of reports in websites through generated iframe code
- Scheduled email delivery of reports as PDF
- Data Studio Pro: team workspaces, organisation-owned content, up to 200 delivery schedules per report, alerts, CMEK and Gemini in Data Studio
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free for creators and viewers, with nothing to install
- Strong coverage of Google data: BigQuery, Sheets, Analytics and Ads
- Pro licences are needed only by users who create, edit or manage Pro content, not by viewers
- Can use Looker's governed models through the Looker connector
Cons
- In the free edition, content belongs to individual Google accounts rather than the organisation
- No governed semantic layer of its own; metric definitions live in each data source
- Google-hosted only, with no on-premises deployment
- Custom SQL is limited to a single statement per data source
Pricing
Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) is free for creators and report viewers. Google lists Data Studio Pro pricing on its Data Studio product page; check it, or the Google Cloud console, for current rates. Self-service Pro subscriptions are linked to one Google Cloud project, paid through Cloud Billing and billed monthly for the number of licences; organisation-wide subscriptions billed on monthly active users are arranged through Google sales. Only users who create, edit or manage Pro content need a licence; viewers do not. A 30-day free trial of Pro is available, and eligible Looker customers receive complimentary Pro licences.
Pricing checked on the vendor's official page on 7 November 2026. Prices change; confirm before buying.
Who it is best for
Individuals and teams that want free, shareable dashboards on Google data and common SQL databases, with a paid upgrade path for team ownership.
Who should look elsewhere
- Organisations that need one governed set of metric definitions: see Looker vs Looker Studio.
- Teams that must host BI on premises: see open source BI tools or SQL reporting tools.
Verdict
Data Studio, formerly Looker Studio, is the obvious free option for reports on Google data, and Pro fixes its biggest team problem, personal content ownership, with per-user licences. It is a report builder rather than a governed BI platform, so pair it with Looker or a warehouse model when metric consistency matters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Looker Studio still available?
Yes, under its new name. Google announced on 11 April 2026 that Looker Studio is now Data Studio, and existing reports, data sources and users moved over with no action needed. The paid tier is now Data Studio Pro.
Is Data Studio free?
Yes, for creators and report viewers. Data Studio Pro is a paid per-user subscription with a 30-day free trial; Google lists its pricing on the Data Studio product page, so check there for current rates. Only users who create, edit or manage Pro content need a licence.
Can Data Studio run SQL?
Yes, on SQL connectors such as BigQuery, PostgreSQL and MySQL you can write a custom query, limited to a single statement, as the data source.
Sources
- Google Cloud blog: Looker Studio is Data Studio
- Data Studio product page and pricing
- About Data Studio Pro
- Data Studio Pro subscription overview
- Data Studio: available connectors
- Data Studio: embed a report
Checked November 2026.
How we research reviews and what star ratings mean: our editorial method.