[Home](https://www.selecthub.com/) \> [Business Intelligence](https://www.selecthub.com/category/business-intelligence/) \> [Business Intelligence Tools](https://www.selecthub.com/c/business-intelligence-tools/) \> Looker Categories: * [Business Intelligence Tools](https://www.selecthub.com/c/business-intelligence-tools/) * [Business Analytics Tools](https://www.selecthub.com/c/business-analytics-tools/) * [Embedded Analytics Tools](https://www.selecthub.com/c/embedded-analytics-tools/) * [Enterprise Reporting Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/enterprise-reporting-system/) * [...](#) ## What Is Looker? **Industry Specialties:** Business/Productivity Software, Database Software, IT Consulting and Outsourcing. Looker is a web-based analytics solution that offers businesses the ability to explore, discover, visualize and share data insights. Enterprises can view data sources and drill down into data to better understand their business and metrics. Using a simple proprietary modeling language, this system helps define data relationships while bypassing SQL. It facilitates data literacy and accessibility, irrespective of technical skill levels. It was acquired by Google on June 6, 2019, for $2.9 billion. PRICE $ $ $ $ $ COMPANY SIZE S M L DEPLOYMENT PLATFORM [ Try Before You Buy. Request a Free Demo Today! Request Demo It's completely free! ](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Business+Intelligence+Tools&product%5Fname=Looker&origin%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selecthub.com%2Fp%2Fbusiness-intelligence-tools%2Flooker%2F&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.selecthub.com%2Fproducts%2F3b2d8f129ae2f408f2153cd9ce663043-44d55581ffd18cd677065359bb2b4c7b%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317019) [Contributors](#view-contributors) ![Ritinder Kaur]() Written by Ritinder Kaur Senior Technical Content Writer [Read Bio ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/ritinder-kaur/) ![Hsing Tseng]() Edited by Hsing Tseng Content Editor [Read Bio ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/hsing-tseng/) User Sentiment i ![User satisfaction level icon: great]() Based on 1836 reviews: Add your rating: ![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() Product Screenshots and Videos ## #7 Looker is ranked #7 in the Business Intelligence Tools product directory based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub. Compare the leaders with our In-Depth Report. [Get the Report Now ](https://pmo.selecthub.com/bi-report-pd-vers?category%5Fslug=business-intelligence-tools&product%5Fslug=looker&page%5Ftype=product&slug=looker&product%5Fname=Looker&category=Business+Intelligence+Tools&origin%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selecthub.com%2Fp%2Fbusiness-intelligence-tools%2Flooker%2F) ## Looker Pricing Based on our most recent analysis, Looker pricing starts at $2,900 (Monthly). [Get Price Quote](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Business+Intelligence+Tools&product%5Fname=Looker&origin%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selecthub.com%2Fp%2Fbusiness-intelligence-tools%2Flooker%2F&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.selecthub.com%2Fproducts%2F3b2d8f129ae2f408f2153cd9ce663043-44d55581ffd18cd677065359bb2b4c7b%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317019&price=5) Price $ $ $ $ $ i Starting From $2,900 Pricing Model Monthly Free Trial 30 Days ([Request for Free](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Looker&category=Business+Intelligence+Tools&product%5Flogo=https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/3b2d8f129ae2f408f2153cd9ce663043-44d55581ffd18cd677065359bb2b4c7b/resources/normal/logo.png?1693317019)) ## Training Resources Looker is supported with the following types of training: Documentation In Person Live Online Videos Webinars ## Support The following support services are available for Looker: Email Phone Chat FAQ Forum Help Desk Knowledge Base Tickets Training 24/7 Live Support ## Looker Benefits and Insights Why use Looker? ### Key differentiators & advantages of Looker * Real-Time Data: Keep up to date on the most recent numbers through real-time updates to dashboards and other visualizations. * Local Database: Uses an organization’s proprietary database to collect data — no need to rely on parallel data pipelines or data extracts. * Self-Service BI: Explore data through the self-serve function and then refine the automatically generated visualizations. Create custom dashboards to reflect specific KPIs based on the business’ specific needs. * Virtual Schema: Create live connections to over 35 SQL databases through a code-based virtual query-time schema. Keeps data visualizations secure and up-to-date. * Embedded Analytics: Embeddable through SSO, it can deploy into third-party solutions like a CRM or ERP as an embedded iframe or through Javascript. Empowers other software solutions with BI capabilities including reliable data, self-service analytics, actionable insights and intuitive dashboards. ### Industry Expertise Some of Looker’s industry specialties are healthcare, the financial sector, technology, software, food and beverage, personnel management, retail, e-commerce and media. ## Looker Reviews Based on our most recent analysis, Looker reviews indicate a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 88% based on 1836 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites. ![User satisfaction level icon: great]() 1836 reviews 88% of users would recommend this product ### Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews Based on an aggregate of Looker reviews taken from the sources above, the following pros & cons have been curated by a SelectHub Market Analyst. #### Pros * **Reporting:** Looker features strong reporting features that offer a degree of granularity and scheduling that 100% of users who mention reporting evaluate as a strong benefit. * **Support:** Of the users who say they’ve contacted customer support, 95% say the team’s quick and informative responses are a plus. * **Data Accessibility:** All users who mention accessibility to data say Looker does this well, distributing insights to employees across departments and teams with ease, with 100% of users mentioning this feature believing it is a benefit. #### Cons * **Learning Curve:** About 74% of users who touch on the platform’s ease of use say that the confusing documentation, lack of training opportunities and difficulty of using programming language make Looker a tough tool to pick up as a beginner. * **Setup:** Of the users who mention implementation, 81% say that setting up the platform is difficult, with integrations not being as plug-and-play as competitors and assistance from IT necessary to the setup process. * **Speed:** Approximately 87% of users who comment on the platform’s speed say that it is slow to render certain queries and often takes a while to load. * **Functionality:** About 78% of users who talk about Looker’s features say that they are left wanting many functions and find the ones that it does have limited in customization or too complex to use easily. #### Researcher's Summary: Looker is a forerunner in the business intelligence field for a reason; it generates reports that include easy sharing via link, automatic scheduling and a level of granular detail that allows for deeper analysis below the surface. It excels in its filter and drill-down features and creates unique URLs when users make changes to data, leading to enhanced sharing. However, one of its biggest strengths could also be considered one of its biggest weaknesses: its proprietary programming language, LookML which is used to construct SQL queries in the platform. While a flexible and powerful data querying language, of course, LookML isn’t the most accessible to non-technical users, which means that Looker requires an IT or data team to access its full capabilities and has a steep learning curve. Users also note that its data visualizations, while simple and easy to understand, are quite basic and lacking in customization options, particularly in comparison to competitors. Some users say that it may be more appropriate for internal reporting than presentation to shareholders and end-users because of its bare-bones visualization options. However, Looker truly shines when used by enterprises, with its scalability and data accessibility making it a stellar solution that can align departments and provide thousands of users access to data insights. Its price point reflects this, with its pricing being prohibitive to startups as about 88% of users who comment on its cost remark. Overall, Looker is a solid pick for larger businesses that have a team of power users who can maximize its functionality and set it up to deliver to employees across an entire organization. ## Key Features * Automated Modeling: Connects to relational databases and automatically generates models from the database schema. * Intuitive Visualizations: Generates visualizations in real time directly from the specified data source. Choose from an expansive library of visualization options like bar graphs, pie charts, Sankey diagrams, spider web charts, sunburst graphs, chord diagrams, heatmaps, funnels, treemaps and many more. * Time Zone Handling: Incorporates data seamlessly into the visualization, regardless of what time zone it is coming from. * LookML Data Modeling Language: Create scalable, reusable data models through the proprietary SQL-based data modeling language LookML. * Pre-Built Analytics Code: Use its Blocks feature as a starting point for building data analytics models with customizable code blocks. Includes optimized SQL patterns, custom visualization options, pre-built data models and more. ## Suite Support Before emailing support, go through the resources available on the vendor’s website, such as the Help Center, documentation, videos, online community forums, and articles. The vendor offers access to its learning environment and online certification options to paid subscribers. _mail\_outline_Email: No support email address is available. Submit a request through the “Contact Us” option on the help center homepage. _phone_Phone: No support phone number is available. An in-app chat option is available for administrators and developers when logged in to their instance of the solution. Support availability is subject to US and UK holiday observance. Support times are * 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT * 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET or * 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. GMT _school_Training: Access a variety of training resources online through the Looker University program. These range from whitepaper documents, videos, webinars, community forums, classroom training and live virtual training. Most of these resources are free, but some incur a fee. _local\_offer_Tickets: No customer ticketing portal is available. Chat in-app with support for possible issue resolution. Or, submit a request through the “Contact Us” option on the help center homepage. ![Banner of Pricing guide for Looker]() ## Pricing & Cost Details See the Price/User for the top business intelligence tools… plus the most important considerations and questions to ask when shopping. See Pricing Details ## Compare to Other Leading Software These are the top products most often compared. Generating Scorecard... Compare to Looker You can choose 4 products to compare [ Dundas BI ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/dundas-bi/) [ Zoho Analytics ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/zoho-analytics/) [ Strategy One ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/strategy-one/) [ Tableau ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/tableau/) [ Domo Everywhere ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/embedded-analytics-tools/domo-everywhere/) [ Power BI ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/power-bi/) [ Infor Birst ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/birst/) [ Qlik Sense ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/qlik-sense/) [ Yellowfin BI ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/yellowfin-bi/) Generating Scorecard... Compare to Looker ## Relevant Articles [Looker vs. Tableau ](https://www.selecthub.com/business-intelligence/looker-vs-tableau-bi-tools/) [Best BI for Healthcare ](https://www.selecthub.com/business-intelligence/bi-software-healthcare/) ## Pricing for Business Intelligence Tools ![Banner of Pricing guide for Business Intelligence Tools]() ## Product Publications [ pdf Infor Birst Vs. Power BI Vs. Looker Comparison Report ](https://www.selecthub.com/category/business-intelligence/infor-birst-vs-power-bi-vs-looker-comparison-report/) ## Similar Products Here are the most similar products to Looker. [ InfoZoom ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/infozoom/) [ Knowi ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/knowi/) [ SAP Business Data Cloud ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/sap-business-data-cloud/) [ Infor Birst ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/birst/) [ BusinessObjects ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/businessobjects/) [ Gyana ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/gyana-bi/) [ Actionable Intelligence Platform ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/actionable-intelligence-platform/) [ White Cup BI ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/white-cup-bi/) [ bipp ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/bipp-io/) [ DeltaMaster ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/business-intelligence-tools/deltamaster/) ## About the Contributors The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content. [ ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/ritinder-kaur/) Written by [Ritinder Kaur](https://www.selecthub.com/author/ritinder-kaur/) Senior Technical Content Writer Ritinder Kaur is a Senior Technical Content Writer at SelectHub and has ten years of experience writing about B2B software and quality assurance. She has a Masters degree in English language and literature and writes about Business Intelligence and Data Science. Her articles on software testing have been published on Stickyminds. [See Full Bio](https://www.selecthub.com/author/ritinder-kaur/) [ ](https://www.selecthub.com/author/hsing-tseng/) Edited by [Hsing Tseng](https://www.selecthub.com/author/hsing-tseng/) Content Editor Hsing Tseng is a Content Editor and Senior Market Analyst at SelectHub who writes content on business intelligence software. A Colorado native, she studied Journalism and Asian Studies from the University of Denver and wrote news as a digital producer for FOX31 Denver before traveling abroad for a few years. In her free time, you can find her playing video games, teaching Korean, sipping on sour beers or petting good dogs. [See Full Bio](https://www.selecthub.com/author/hsing-tseng/) Your review has been submitted and should be visible within 24 hours. Review Title Pros Cons Overall feedback Your name Your job title Industry [Choose your main industry ](javascript:void%28%29) * [Accounting / CPA](javascript:void%28%29) * [Advertising](javascript:void%28%29) * [Aerospace & Defense](javascript:void%28%29) * [Agriculture](javascript:void%28%29) * [Apparel](javascript:void%28%29) * [Architecture](javascript:void%28%29) * [Auto Dealership](javascript:void%28%29) * [Automotive](javascript:void%28%29) * [Banking & Financial Services](javascript:void%28%29) * [Banking & Mortgage](javascript:void%28%29) * [Chemicals](javascript:void%28%29) * [Construction & Engineering](javascript:void%28%29) * [Construction / Contracting](javascript:void%28%29) * [Consulting](javascript:void%28%29) * [Consumer Products](javascript:void%28%29) * [Distribution](javascript:void%28%29) * [E-commerce](javascript:void%28%29) * [Education](javascript:void%28%29) * [Electronics](javascript:void%28%29) * [Energy & Utilities](javascript:void%28%29) * [Federal Government](javascript:void%28%29) * [Field Maintenance](javascript:void%28%29) * [Food & Beverage](javascript:void%28%29) * [Healthcare / Social Services](javascript:void%28%29) * [Hospitality / Gaming / Travel](javascript:void%28%29) * [Human Resources](javascript:void%28%29) * [Industrial Machinery](javascript:void%28%29) * [Information Technology & High Tech](javascript:void%28%29) * [Insurance](javascript:void%28%29) * [Legal](javascript:void%28%29) * [Maintenance / Field Service](javascript:void%28%29) * [Manufacturing](javascript:void%28%29) * [Marketing Services](javascript:void%28%29) * [Media & Communications / Entertainment](javascript:void%28%29) * [Mill Products](javascript:void%28%29) * [Mining / Metals](javascript:void%28%29) * [Mortgage](javascript:void%28%29) * [Non-Profit](javascript:void%28%29) * [Not Available](javascript:void%28%29) * [Oil & Gas](javascript:void%28%29) * [Other](javascript:void%28%29) * [Other Services](javascript:void%28%29) * [Payroll Provider](javascript:void%28%29) * [Pharmaceuticals](javascript:void%28%29) * [Professional Employer Organization](javascript:void%28%29) * [Professional Services](javascript:void%28%29) * [Property Management](javascript:void%28%29) * [Public Sector](javascript:void%28%29) * [Real Estate](javascript:void%28%29) * [Recruiting Agency](javascript:void%28%29) * [Religious Institutions](javascript:void%28%29) * [Retail](javascript:void%28%29) * [Sales & Marketing](javascript:void%28%29) * [Semiconductors](javascript:void%28%29) * [Software / IT](javascript:void%28%29) * [Sports and Recreation](javascript:void%28%29) * [Staffing Agency](javascript:void%28%29) * [State & Local Government](javascript:void%28%29) * [Telecommunications](javascript:void%28%29) * [Third-Party Administrator](javascript:void%28%29) * [Transportation & Logistics](javascript:void%28%29) * [Wholesale Distribution](javascript:void%28%29) Company Size [Choose your company size ](javascript:void%28%29) * [1 employee](javascript:void%28%29) * [2 to 9 employees](javascript:void%28%29) * [10 - 19 employees](javascript:void%28%29) * [20 - 49 employees](javascript:void%28%29) * [50 - 99 employees](javascript:void%28%29) * [100 - 499 employee](javascript:void%28%29) * [500 - 999 employees](javascript:void%28%29) * [1,000 - 2,499 employees](javascript:void%28%29) * [2,500 - 4,999 employees](javascript:void%28%29) * [5,000 - 9,999 employees](javascript:void%28%29) * [10,000 - 24,999 employees](javascript:void%28%29) * [25,000 - 49,999 employees](javascript:void%28%29) * [50,000 + employees](javascript:void%28%29) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.selecthub.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Business Intelligence", "item": "https://www.selecthub.com/category/business-intelligence/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Business Intelligence Tools", "item": "https://www.selecthub.com/c/business-intelligence-tools/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Looker" } ] } { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "name": "Looker", "description": "Looker is a web-based analytics solution that offers businesses the ability to explore, discover, visualize and share data insights. Enterprises can view data sources and drill down into data to better understand their business and metrics. Using a simple proprietary modeling language, this system helps define data relationships while bypassing SQL. It facilitates data literacy and accessibility, irrespective of technical skill levels. It was acquired by Google on June 6, 2019, for $2.9 billion.", "review": { "@type": "Review","reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 88, "bestRating": 100 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "SelectHub", "reviewBody": "Looker is a forerunner in the business intelligence field for a reason; it generates reports that include easy sharing via link, automatic scheduling and a level of granular detail that allows for deeper analysis below the surface. It excels in its filter and drill-down features and creates unique URLs when users make changes to data, leading to enhanced sharing. However, one of its biggest strengths could also be considered one of its biggest weaknesses: its proprietary programming language, LookML which is used to construct SQL queries in the platform. While a flexible and powerful data querying language, of course, LookML isn’t the most accessible to non-technical users, which means that Looker requires an IT or data team to access its full capabilities and has a steep learning curve. Users also note that its data visualizations, while simple and easy to understand, are quite basic and lacking in customization options, particularly in comparison to competitors. Some users say that it may be more appropriate for internal reporting than presentation to shareholders and end-users because of its bare-bones visualization options. However, Looker truly shines when used by enterprises, with its scalability and data accessibility making it a stellar solution that can align departments and provide thousands of users access to data insights. Its price point reflects this, with its pricing being prohibitive to startups as about 88% of users who comment on its cost remark. 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