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Compare Looker and Microsoft Power BI

At a Glance
Looker
Looker
Star Rating
(1,603)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (60.7% of reviews)
Information
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Looker
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI
Star Rating
(1,550)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (42.7% of reviews)
Information
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Free 1 User
Browse all 3 pricing plans
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
  • G2 reviewers report that Microsoft Power BI excels in creating interactive dashboards, with users highlighting its ability to quickly transform raw data into clear visualizations. The seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem enhances its usability, making it a preferred choice for teams already using Microsoft tools.
  • Users say that Looker provides a user-friendly experience, particularly for non-technical users. Its semantic modeling layer through LookML allows for excellent governance, enabling teams to define metrics centrally and maintain consistency across dashboards, which significantly reduces errors.
  • Reviewers mention that Microsoft Power BI's real-time data refresh capabilities and extensive data connectors make it a powerful tool for dynamic reporting. Users appreciate features like row-level security, which allows for tailored data visibility based on user roles, enhancing data governance.
  • According to verified reviews, Looker is praised for its straightforward chart creation process, allowing users to easily generate relevant visualizations based on their data. This focus on accuracy helps users avoid misinterpretations, which is a common challenge in data analytics.
  • G2 reviewers highlight that while Looker is strong in governance and consistency, it may face challenges in setup and integration compared to Microsoft Power BI, which is noted for its intuitive onboarding and ease of use. This can be a deciding factor for teams looking for a quick implementation.
  • Users report that both platforms have strong support for decision-making, but Microsoft Power BI edges out with its AI-powered insights and predictive analytics features, which help teams make informed choices based on data trends and patterns.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Looker
No pricing available
Microsoft Power BI
Power BI in Microsoft Fabric
Free
1 User
Browse all 3 pricing plans
Free Trial
Looker
Free Trial is available
Microsoft Power BI
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.7
1,098
8.9
1,243
Ease of Use
8.3
1,103
8.5
1,267
Ease of Setup
8.2
581
8.9
702
Ease of Admin
8.3
430
8.5
410
Quality of Support
8.6
936
8.5
1,099
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.9
408
8.8
391
Product Direction (% positive)
8.7
1,030
9.3
1,216
Features by Category
8.3
748
8.9
1,187
Reports
8.6
662
|
Verified
8.9
1047
|
Verified
8.2
614
|
Verified
8.4
965
|
Verified
8.2
658
|
Verified
9.1
1045
|
Verified
8.3
527
|
Verified
8.8
682
8.7
662
|
Verified
9.1
1033
|
Verified
Self Service
8.4
620
|
Verified
8.6
890
8.6
636
|
Verified
8.9
889
8.4
610
|
Verified
8.7
971
|
Verified
8.1
614
|
Verified
8.5
851
8.3
588
|
Verified
8.4
956
|
Verified
7.7
499
|
Verified
8.2
877
|
Verified
Advanced Analytics
7.6
428
|
Verified
8.3
736
|
Verified
8.4
630
|
Verified
9.2
1039
|
Verified
8.0
512
|
Verified
8.4
749
|
Verified
Building Reports
8.3
383
|
Verified
8.8
583
|
Verified
8.3
396
|
Verified
8.8
579
|
Verified
8.0
354
|
Verified
8.5
507
|
Verified
8.1
327
|
Verified
8.5
502
|
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
8.2
717
Not enough data
Reports
8.6
662
|
Verified
8.9
1047
|
Verified
8.2
614
|
Verified
8.4
965
|
Verified
8.2
658
|
Verified
9.1
1045
|
Verified
8.3
527
|
Verified
8.8
682
8.7
662
|
Verified
9.1
1033
|
Verified
Reports
8.5
109
Not enough data
8.5
107
Not enough data
8.0
102
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.0
101
Not enough data
7.1
101
Not enough data
Visualization
8.5
113
Not enough data
8.4
110
Not enough data
8.7
112
Not enough data
8.3
110
Not enough data
Data Updates
8.1
108
Not enough data
8.3
106
Not enough data
Collaboration
8.4
107
Not enough data
8.0
107
Not enough data
8.0
103
Not enough data
Data Updates
7.8
137
Not enough data
8.0
140
Not enough data
8.4
143
Not enough data
7.9
769
8.5
1,199
Reports
8.6
662
|
Verified
8.9
1047
|
Verified
8.2
614
|
Verified
8.4
965
|
Verified
8.2
658
|
Verified
9.1
1045
|
Verified
8.3
527
|
Verified
8.8
682
8.7
662
|
Verified
9.1
1033
|
Verified
Data Preparation
8.3
284
|
Verified
8.9
655
|
Verified
8.3
263
|
Verified
8.8
624
|
Verified
Data Modeling and Blending
8.4
311
|
Verified
8.9
653
|
Verified
8.7
328
|
Verified
9.1
664
|
Verified
8.3
311
|
Verified
8.8
666
|
Verified
Generative AI
7.1
89
7.7
303
7.1
87
7.7
301
Agentic AI - Analytics Platforms
7.2
40
7.6
146
7.4
39
8.0
148
7.3
39
8.4
147
7.1
40
8.2
148
7.3
40
7.9
147
7.4
39
8.1
147
7.6
38
8.4
152
Self Service
8.4
620
|
Verified
8.6
890
8.6
636
|
Verified
8.9
889
8.4
610
|
Verified
8.7
971
|
Verified
8.1
614
|
Verified
8.5
851
8.3
588
|
Verified
8.4
956
|
Verified
7.7
499
|
Verified
8.2
877
|
Verified
Deployment & Integration - Analytics Platforms
8.0
37
8.8
122
8.1
35
8.7
125
7.7
35
8.4
115
8.3
42
9.1
141
Advanced Analytics
7.6
428
|
Verified
8.3
736
|
Verified
8.4
630
|
Verified
9.2
1039
|
Verified
8.0
512
|
Verified
8.4
749
|
Verified
Performance & Scalability - Analytics Platforms
7.9
42
8.0
140
8.0
36
8.6
114
Advanced Analytics & Modeling - Analytics Platforms
8.2
41
8.8
116
7.2
35
8.6
113
7.3
35
8.4
110
Agentic AI Capabilities - Analytics Platforms
7.2
35
8.0
108
7.5
36
8.1
109
7.7
35
8.3
108
7.4
35
7.8
107
Personalized Intelligence - Analytics Platforms
7.6
35
8.0
110
7.3
36
8.2
112
7.6
35
8.1
109
Building Reports
8.3
383
|
Verified
8.8
583
|
Verified
8.3
396
|
Verified
8.8
579
|
Verified
8.0
354
|
Verified
8.5
507
|
Verified
8.1
327
|
Verified
8.5
502
|
Verified
Embedded Business IntelligenceHide 15 FeaturesShow 15 Features
8.4
740
Not enough data
Reports
8.6
662
|
Verified
8.9
1047
|
Verified
8.2
614
|
Verified
8.4
965
|
Verified
8.2
658
|
Verified
9.1
1045
|
Verified
8.3
527
|
Verified
8.8
682
8.7
662
|
Verified
9.1
1033
|
Verified
Self Service
8.4
620
|
Verified
8.6
890
8.6
636
|
Verified
8.9
889
8.4
610
|
Verified
8.7
971
|
Verified
8.1
614
|
Verified
8.5
851
8.3
588
|
Verified
8.4
956
|
Verified
7.7
499
|
Verified
8.2
877
|
Verified
Building Reports
8.3
383
|
Verified
8.8
583
|
Verified
8.3
396
|
Verified
8.8
579
|
Verified
8.0
354
|
Verified
8.5
507
|
Verified
8.1
327
|
Verified
8.5
502
|
Verified
8.4
321
Not enough data
Metrics
8.8
238
Not enough data
8.7
238
Not enough data
8.4
224
Not enough data
8.4
226
Not enough data
8.4
215
Not enough data
8.3
225
Not enough data
8.4
219
Not enough data
8.5
230
Not enough data
8.3
222
Not enough data
Reporting
8.4
241
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.6
242
Not enough data
8.6
245
Not enough data
8.1
199
Not enough data
8.4
205
Not enough data
9.0
254
Not enough data
Other
8.7
226
Not enough data
8.6
209
Not enough data
8.4
201
Not enough data
8.7
215
Not enough data
8.7
207
Not enough data
8.2
179
Not enough data
8.3
191
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Digital Analytics
7.6
16
Not enough data
7.8
15
Not enough data
7.8
16
Not enough data
7.9
16
Not enough data
Administration
8.4
217
Not enough data
8.4
194
Not enough data
8.5
246
Not enough data
8.6
240
Not enough data
8.1
259
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Sales Analytics
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
Not enough data
Data Sourcing
8.8
204
Not enough data
8.8
220
Not enough data
8.6
188
Not enough data
8.8
225
Not enough data
8.7
208
Not enough data
Predictive Analytics
8.3
152
Not enough data
8.2
148
Not enough data
8.2
146
Not enough data
8.0
164
Not enough data
Sales Management
8.4
161
Not enough data
8.2
140
Not enough data
8.6
170
Not enough data
8.7
168
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Deployment & Integration - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Data Connectivity & Federation - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Data Modeling & Metrics - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Performance Optimization - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Governance - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Advanced Intelligence - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Agentic AI Enablement - Semantic Layer Tools
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
8.3
309
Not enough data
Marketing Operations
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
Not enough data
Campaign Activity
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
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Marketing Analytics
6.8
14
Not enough data
7.7
15
Not enough data
7.4
15
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Looker
Looker
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI
Looker and Microsoft Power BI are categorized as Analytics Platforms
Unique Categories
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI is categorized as Semantic Layer Tools
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Looker
Looker
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
19.3%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
60.7%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
20.0%
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
20.5%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
36.8%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
42.7%
Reviewers' Industry
Looker
Looker
Computer Software
11.7%
Information Technology and Services
11.1%
Marketing and Advertising
8.2%
Financial Services
7.6%
Internet
6.1%
Other
55.4%
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI
Information Technology and Services
16.2%
Computer Software
6.8%
Financial Services
4.9%
Hospital & Health Care
3.2%
Telecommunications
3.1%
Other
65.8%
Alternatives
Looker
Looker Alternatives
Mode
Mode
Add Mode
Zoho Analytics
Zoho Analytics
Add Zoho Analytics
Sisense
Sisense
Add Sisense
Domo
Domo
Add Domo
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI Alternatives
Tableau
Tableau
Add Tableau
Oracle Analytics Cloud
Oracle Analytics Cloud
Add Oracle Analytics Cloud
Sisense
Sisense
Add Sisense
Domo
Domo
Add Domo
Discussions
Looker
Looker Discussions
Is looker an ETL tool?
3 Comments
Ajay P.
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
Aaron G.
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
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI Discussions
What is Microsoft Power BI Desktop used for?
4 Comments
Darewin M.
DM
PowerBI desktop is the desktop version of PowerBI unlike the web version which you open in a web browser like Google Chrome or EDGE. The desktop version has...Read more
Is Power BI a Microsoft tool?
4 Comments
Tazunnisa B.
TB
Yes, Power BI is a business analytics tool developed by Microsoft. Read more
What are some of the top features of Microsoft BI?
3 Comments
Prakash R.
PR
Data Visualization: Microsoft Power BI excels in creating interactive and visually compelling data dashboards and reports, making ramified data easy to...Read more