Introducing G2.ai, the future of software buying.Try now
Compare IBM Cognos Analytics and Looker 
Featured Products
Sponsored
You’re seeing this ad based on the product’s relevance to this page. Sponsored content does not receive preferential treatment in any of G2’s ratings.
Adcredo
Visit Website
Sponsored
You’re seeing this ad based on the product’s relevance to this page. Sponsored content does not receive preferential treatment in any of G2’s ratings.
Omni Analytics
Visit Website
At a Glance
Market Segments
Enterprise (59.1% of reviews)
Mid-Market (60.7% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $10.00 1 User Per Month
No pricing available
IBM Cognos Analytics
Star Rating
(450)4.1 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (59.1% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $10.00 1 User Per Month
Free Trial is available
Browse all 3 pricing plansLooker
Star Rating
(1,579)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (60.7% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Free Trial is available
Learn more about LookerSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- Users report that IBM Cognos Analytics excels in Data Querying with a score of 8.4, allowing for complex queries and detailed insights, while Looker, with a score of 8.5, offers slightly better performance in this area, making it a preferred choice for users needing advanced querying capabilities.
- Reviewers mention that Looker shines in Dashboards, scoring 8.7 compared to IBM Cognos Analytics' 7.9. Users appreciate Looker's intuitive dashboard design and customization options, which enhance data visualization and user engagement.
- G2 users highlight that IBM Cognos Analytics has a strong performance in Data Governance, both products scoring equally at 8.3, but users note that Cognos provides more robust features for compliance and data management, making it suitable for enterprise-level needs.
- Users on G2 report that Looker outperforms IBM Cognos Analytics in Ease of Use with a score of 8.2 versus 7.5. Reviewers appreciate Looker's user-friendly interface and straightforward navigation, which reduces the learning curve for new users.
- Reviewers mention that IBM Cognos Analytics has a slight edge in Calculated Fields with a score of 8.1 compared to Looker's 8.5. Users find Cognos' calculated fields feature to be more flexible and powerful for custom analytics.
- Users say that Looker provides superior Quality of Support, scoring 8.7 against IBM Cognos Analytics' 7.4. Reviewers frequently commend Looker's responsive customer service and extensive documentation, which significantly enhances the user experience.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
IBM Cognos Analytics
Cognos® Analytics On Demand - Standard
Starting at $10.00
1 User Per Month
Upload and model data, combine data sets, create dashboards and stories, and view report outputs.
- https://www.ibm.com/marketplace/purchase/configuration/en/us/checkout?editionID=EID2RPAX
- Dashboards, storytelling and collaboration
- Cognos mobile
Looker
No pricing availableFree Trial
IBM Cognos Analytics
Free Trial is available
Looker
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.2
312
8.7
1,080
Ease of Use
7.5
335
8.2
1,084
Ease of Setup
7.1
194
8.2
563
Ease of Admin
7.0
143
8.3
427
Quality of Support
7.5
280
8.6
918
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
7.8
139
8.9
405
Product Direction (% positive)
7.9
295
8.8
1,012
Features by Category
Reports
8.1
204
|
Verified
8.6
655
|
Verified
7.6
163
|
Verified
8.2
613
|
Verified
8.1
193
|
Verified
8.2
652
|
Verified
7.7
144
|
Verified
8.3
524
|
Verified
7.9
187
|
Verified
8.7
653
|
Verified
Self Service
8.1
176
|
Verified
8.4
618
|
Verified
8.5
193
|
Verified
8.6
633
|
Verified
8.0
177
|
Verified
8.4
607
|
Verified
7.7
164
|
Verified
8.1
613
|
Verified
7.5
159
|
Verified
8.3
585
|
Verified
7.3
126
|
Verified
7.7
498
|
Verified
Advanced Analytics
7.8
130
|
Verified
7.6
427
|
Verified
8.1
166
|
Verified
8.4
626
|
Verified
8.0
118
|
Verified
8.0
509
|
Verified
Building Reports
8.2
122
|
Verified
8.3
383
|
Verified
8.1
120
|
Verified
8.3
391
|
Verified
7.9
106
|
Verified
8.0
353
|
Verified
7.5
91
|
Verified
8.1
327
|
Verified
Platform
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Reports
8.1
204
|
Verified
8.6
655
|
Verified
7.6
163
|
Verified
8.2
613
|
Verified
8.1
193
|
Verified
8.2
652
|
Verified
7.7
144
|
Verified
8.3
524
|
Verified
7.9
187
|
Verified
8.7
653
|
Verified
Reports
Not enough data
8.5
108
Not enough data
8.5
107
Not enough data
8.0
102
Generative AI
Not enough data
7.0
101
Not enough data
7.1
101
Visualization
Not enough data
8.5
111
Not enough data
8.4
110
Not enough data
8.6
111
Not enough data
8.3
110
Data Updates
Not enough data
8.1
108
Not enough data
8.3
106
Collaboration
Not enough data
8.4
107
Not enough data
8.0
107
Not enough data
8.0
103
Data Updates
Not enough data
7.8
137
Not enough data
8.0
140
Not enough data
8.4
143
Reports
8.1
204
|
Verified
8.6
655
|
Verified
7.6
163
|
Verified
8.2
613
|
Verified
8.1
193
|
Verified
8.2
652
|
Verified
7.7
144
|
Verified
8.3
524
|
Verified
7.9
187
|
Verified
8.7
653
|
Verified
Data Preparation
8.3
72
|
Verified
8.4
281
|
Verified
8.3
72
|
Verified
8.2
259
|
Verified
Data Modeling and Blending
8.4
77
|
Verified
8.4
309
|
Verified
8.5
77
|
Verified
8.7
326
|
Verified
8.2
73
|
Verified
8.3
309
|
Verified
Generative AI
7.3
36
7.1
88
7.5
37
7.1
86
Agentic AI - Analytics Platforms
7.8
9
7.2
39
8.0
9
7.3
38
8.0
9
7.3
38
8.1
9
7.1
39
8.1
9
7.3
39
8.0
9
7.4
38
7.8
9
7.6
37
Self Service
8.1
176
|
Verified
8.4
618
|
Verified
8.5
193
|
Verified
8.6
633
|
Verified
8.0
177
|
Verified
8.4
607
|
Verified
7.7
164
|
Verified
8.1
613
|
Verified
7.5
159
|
Verified
8.3
585
|
Verified
7.3
126
|
Verified
7.7
498
|
Verified
Deployment & Integration - Analytics Platforms
8.6
6
8.0
35
8.1
6
8.1
34
7.8
6
7.7
33
8.1
6
8.3
34
Advanced Analytics
7.8
130
|
Verified
7.6
427
|
Verified
8.1
166
|
Verified
8.4
626
|
Verified
8.0
118
|
Verified
8.0
509
|
Verified
Performance & Scalability - Analytics Platforms
8.3
6
8.1
35
8.6
6
7.9
34
Advanced Analytics & Modeling - Analytics Platforms
8.6
6
7.8
34
8.9
6
7.2
34
8.6
6
7.3
34
Agentic AI Capabilities - Analytics Platforms
8.9
6
7.2
34
8.6
6
7.5
34
8.1
6
7.7
34
7.8
6
7.4
34
Personalized Intelligence - Analytics Platforms
8.1
6
7.7
34
8.3
6
7.2
35
8.6
6
7.6
34
Building Reports
8.2
122
|
Verified
8.3
383
|
Verified
8.1
120
|
Verified
8.3
391
|
Verified
7.9
106
|
Verified
8.0
353
|
Verified
7.5
91
|
Verified
8.1
327
|
Verified
Reports
8.1
204
|
Verified
8.6
655
|
Verified
7.6
163
|
Verified
8.2
613
|
Verified
8.1
193
|
Verified
8.2
652
|
Verified
7.7
144
|
Verified
8.3
524
|
Verified
7.9
187
|
Verified
8.7
653
|
Verified
Self Service
8.1
176
|
Verified
8.4
618
|
Verified
8.5
193
|
Verified
8.6
633
|
Verified
8.0
177
|
Verified
8.4
607
|
Verified
7.7
164
|
Verified
8.1
613
|
Verified
7.5
159
|
Verified
8.3
585
|
Verified
7.3
126
|
Verified
7.7
498
|
Verified
Building Reports
8.2
122
|
Verified
8.3
383
|
Verified
8.1
120
|
Verified
8.3
391
|
Verified
7.9
106
|
Verified
8.0
353
|
Verified
7.5
91
|
Verified
8.1
327
|
Verified
Metrics
Not enough data
8.8
237
Not enough data
8.7
237
Not enough data
8.4
223
Not enough data
8.3
225
Not enough data
8.4
214
Not enough data
8.3
224
Not enough data
8.4
218
Not enough data
8.5
229
Not enough data
8.3
221
Reporting
Not enough data
8.4
240
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.6
241
Not enough data
8.5
244
Not enough data
8.1
198
Not enough data
8.4
204
Not enough data
9.0
253
Other
Not enough data
8.7
225
Not enough data
8.6
208
Not enough data
8.4
200
Not enough data
8.7
214
Not enough data
8.7
206
Not enough data
8.2
178
Not enough data
8.3
190
Agentic AI - Digital Analytics
Not enough data
7.6
16
Not enough data
7.8
15
Not enough data
7.8
16
Not enough data
7.9
16
Administration
Not enough data
8.4
216
Not enough data
8.3
193
Not enough data
8.5
245
Not enough data
8.6
239
Agentic AI - Sales Analytics
Not enough data
7.0
11
Not enough data
7.6
11
Not enough data
6.7
11
Not enough data
7.4
12
Not enough data
7.3
11
Data Sourcing
Not enough data
8.8
202
Not enough data
8.8
220
Not enough data
8.6
188
Not enough data
8.8
224
Not enough data
8.7
208
Predictive Analytics
Not enough data
8.3
152
Not enough data
8.2
148
Not enough data
8.2
146
Not enough data
8.0
164
Sales Management
Not enough data
8.4
161
Not enough data
8.2
140
Not enough data
8.6
170
Not enough data
8.7
168
Statistical Tool
8.2
31
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Data Analysis
8.7
33
Not enough data
8.8
33
Not enough data
Decision Making
8.7
31
Not enough data
8.5
33
Not enough data
8.4
33
Not enough data
8.3
31
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.9
17
Not enough data
8.1
17
Not enough data
Marketing Operations
Not enough data
8.6
221
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
240
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
227
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.9
244
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
129
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Campaign Activity
Not enough data
8.6
230
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.8
260
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
212
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
213
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
199
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
119
|
Verified
Agentic AI - Marketing Analytics
Not enough data
6.8
14
Not enough data
7.7
15
Not enough data
7.4
15
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
IBM Cognos Analytics and Looker are categorized as Embedded Business Intelligence and Analytics Platforms
Unique Categories
IBM Cognos Analytics is categorized as Predictive Analytics
Looker is categorized as Sales Analytics, Marketing Analytics, Digital Analytics, and Data Visualization
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
IBM Cognos Analytics
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Looker
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Information Technology and Services
11.3%
Insurance
8.4%
Financial Services
8.1%
Computer Software
6.5%
Banking
5.5%
Other
60.2%
Computer Software
11.7%
Information Technology and Services
11.0%
Marketing and Advertising
8.2%
Financial Services
7.6%
Internet
6.2%
Other
55.3%
Discussions
Where can I find more answers on my questions?
2 Comments
MD
We're IBM Gold partners with a ton of experience implementing Cognos, and have lots of good free technical information on our blog at...Read more
I heard Cognos Analytics 11.11 was out - where can I find more information?
2 Comments
MD
As of October 2019, the latest version is 11.1.4. We just did a livestream earlier this week to review the latest updates. You can check that out here:...Read more
Have you used DMR ? Have you found it better than a relational or a powercube?
1 Comment
CM
Yes, I have used DMR. However, the performance here is not so great compared to a PowerCube. However, you don't have to worry about building cubes. I...Read more
Is looker an ETL tool?
3 Comments
AP
No, Looker is not an ETL tool. It is a Business Intelligence (BI) and Data Analytics platform that helps users visualize, explore and analyze data.Read more
Best way to start on visualizations?
2 Comments
AG
Looker has a built-in set of visualizations that you can automatically apply to any dataset that they work with. Once you setup your initial connection to a...Read more
Which databases does Looker work with?
1 Comment
Official Response from Looker
Looker works with any SQL readable data store, including Hadoop. Looker sits in-database allowing you to access all of your row level data and leverage the...Read more
Hunting for software insights?
With over 3 million reviews, we can provide the specific details that help you make an informed software buying decision for your business. Finding the right product is important, let us help.
