Compare Looker and Microsoft SQL Server 
At a Glance
Market Segments
Mid-Market (60.7% of reviews)
Enterprise (45.5% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
No pricing available
Looker
Star Rating
(1,615)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (60.7% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about LookerMicrosoft SQL Server
Star Rating
(2,261)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (45.5% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Microsoft SQL ServerLooker vs Microsoft SQL Server
When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found Microsoft SQL Server easier to use. However, reviewers felt that Looker is easier to set up and do business with overall. Both products were equally easy to administer.
- Reviewers felt that Microsoft SQL Server meets the needs of their business better than Looker.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Looker is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Looker over Microsoft SQL Server.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Looker
No pricing availableMicrosoft SQL Server
No pricing availableFree Trial
Looker
Free Trial is available
Microsoft SQL Server
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.7
1,106
9.0
1,854
Ease of Use
8.3
1,111
8.6
1,870
Ease of Setup
8.2
589
8.1
992
Ease of Admin
8.3
432
8.3
950
Quality of Support
8.6
944
8.3
1,649
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.9
410
8.4
900
Product Direction (% positive)
8.7
1,037
8.4
1,825
Features by Category
Reports
8.6
666
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
618
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
662
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
530
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
666
|
Verified
Not enough data
Self Service
8.4
624
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.6
639
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
613
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
616
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
590
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
501
|
Verified
Not enough data
Advanced Analytics
7.6
430
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
633
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
514
|
Verified
Not enough data
Building Reports
8.3
386
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
399
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
356
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
329
|
Verified
Not enough data
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
8.6
666
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
618
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
662
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
530
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
666
|
Verified
Not enough data
Reports
8.5
111
Not enough data
8.5
108
Not enough data
8.0
103
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.0
101
Not enough data
7.1
101
Not enough data
Visualization
8.5
115
Not enough data
8.4
111
Not enough data
8.7
114
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
108
Not enough data
8.0
107
Not enough data
8.0
103
Not enough data
Data Updates
7.9
138
Not enough data
8.0
141
Not enough data
8.5
144
Not enough data
Reports
8.6
666
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
618
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
662
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
530
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
666
|
Verified
Not enough data
Data Preparation
8.3
286
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
264
|
Verified
Not enough data
Data Modeling and Blending
8.5
312
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
330
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
312
|
Verified
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.1
89
Not enough data
7.1
87
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Analytics Platforms
7.3
41
Not enough data
7.4
40
Not enough data
7.4
40
Not enough data
7.1
40
Not enough data
7.4
41
Not enough data
7.5
40
Not enough data
7.7
39
Not enough data
Self Service
8.4
624
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.6
639
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
613
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
616
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
590
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
501
|
Verified
Not enough data
Deployment & Integration - Analytics Platforms
8.1
39
Not enough data
8.2
38
Not enough data
7.7
35
Not enough data
8.3
44
Not enough data
Advanced Analytics
7.6
430
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
633
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
514
|
Verified
Not enough data
Performance & Scalability - Analytics Platforms
7.7
46
Not enough data
8.0
36
Not enough data
Advanced Analytics & Modeling - Analytics Platforms
8.2
41
Not enough data
7.2
35
Not enough data
7.4
36
Not enough data
Agentic AI Capabilities - Analytics Platforms
7.2
35
Not enough data
7.5
36
Not enough data
7.7
35
Not enough data
7.4
35
Not enough data
Personalized Intelligence - Analytics Platforms
7.6
35
Not enough data
7.3
36
Not enough data
7.6
35
Not enough data
Building Reports
8.3
386
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
399
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
356
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
329
|
Verified
Not enough data
Reports
8.6
666
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
618
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
662
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
530
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
666
|
Verified
Not enough data
Self Service
8.4
624
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.6
639
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
613
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
616
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
590
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
501
|
Verified
Not enough data
Building Reports
8.3
386
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
399
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
356
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
329
|
Verified
Not enough data
Metrics
8.8
240
Not enough data
8.7
240
Not enough data
8.4
226
Not enough data
8.4
228
Not enough data
8.4
217
Not enough data
8.3
227
Not enough data
8.4
221
Not enough data
8.5
232
Not enough data
8.3
224
Not enough data
Reporting
8.4
243
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.6
244
Not enough data
8.5
247
Not enough data
8.1
201
Not enough data
8.4
207
Not enough data
9.0
256
Not enough data
Other
8.7
228
Not enough data
8.6
211
Not enough data
8.4
203
Not enough data
8.7
217
Not enough data
8.7
209
Not enough data
8.2
181
Not enough data
8.3
193
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Digital Analytics
7.6
16
Not enough data
7.9
16
Not enough data
7.9
17
Not enough data
8.0
17
Not enough data
Administration
8.4
219
Not enough data
8.4
196
Not enough data
8.5
248
Not enough data
8.6
242
Not enough data
Management
Not enough data
8.9
153
Not enough data
8.8
153
Not enough data
9.2
158
Not enough data
8.9
153
Not enough data
8.9
156
Maintenance
Not enough data
8.9
154
Not enough data
9.0
159
Not enough data
9.0
154
Security
Not enough data
8.9
153
Not enough data
9.1
155
Management
Not enough data
9.0
149
Not enough data
9.2
151
Not enough data
8.8
137
Not enough data
8.8
142
Support
Not enough data
8.6
145
Not enough data
9.0
149
Not enough data
8.6
144
Not enough data
8.4
151
Security
Not enough data
8.8
148
Not enough data
9.0
148
Not enough data
8.8
145
Not enough data
9.0
149
Performance
Not enough data
8.7
144
Not enough data
8.8
141
Not enough data
8.7
147
Not enough data
8.6
145
Not enough data
8.8
146
Database Features
Not enough data
8.9
1287
Not enough data
9.0
1291
Not enough data
8.9
1299
Not enough data
8.7
1266
Not enough data
8.8
1267
Not enough data
8.8
1271
Not enough data
9.1
1291
Agentic AI - Sales Analytics
7.2
12
Not enough data
7.8
12
Not enough data
6.9
12
Not enough data
7.6
13
Not enough data
7.5
12
Not enough data
Data Sourcing
8.8
206
Not enough data
8.8
222
Not enough data
8.6
190
Not enough data
8.8
227
Not enough data
8.7
210
Not enough data
Predictive Analytics
8.3
154
Not enough data
8.2
150
Not enough data
8.2
148
Not enough data
8.1
165
Not enough data
Sales Management
8.4
162
Not enough data
8.2
141
Not enough data
8.6
171
Not enough data
8.7
169
Not enough data
Marketing Operations
8.6
222
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
241
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
228
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.9
245
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
130
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Campaign Activity
8.6
231
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.8
261
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
213
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
214
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
200
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
120
|
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
Database
Not enough data
8.5
56
Not enough data
8.8
57
Not enough data
8.4
54
Integrations
Not enough data
7.8
45
Not enough data
8.2
45
Platform
Not enough data
8.2
50
Not enough data
8.5
53
Not enough data
8.2
45
Processing
Not enough data
8.5
52
Not enough data
8.5
55
Building Reports
8.3
386
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
399
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
356
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
329
|
Verified
Not enough data
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
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Looker and Microsoft SQL Server share no categories
Unique Categories
Looker is categorized as Sales Analytics, Marketing Analytics, Embedded Business Intelligence, Analytics Platforms, Digital Analytics, and Data Visualization
Microsoft SQL Server is categorized as Relational Databases, Database Management Systems (DBMS), Big Data Processing and Distribution, and On-Premise Data Integration
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Looker
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Microsoft SQL Server
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
Computer Software
11.6%
Information Technology and Services
11.1%
Marketing and Advertising
8.2%
Financial Services
7.5%
Internet
6.1%
Other
55.4%
Information Technology and Services
24.1%
Computer Software
13.7%
Hospital & Health Care
5.4%
Financial Services
4.3%
Higher Education
2.9%
Other
49.6%
Discussions
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
How could I make much easier the experience with the order of my database?
4 Comments
AF
You can create different tables with your employee information eg employee table, employee roles etc. Then you can create a single view that will pull data...Read more
What is the best way to save your queries?
4 Comments
CA
I recommend that you use the saved querys in plain text or .sql or txt format you can use the same sql server query creator or a notepad +++ tool, they are...Read more
How can I work on the same query if the connection is lost (timeout) and then I reconnect?
4 Comments
JE
When this happens to me in SQL Server Management Studio, I just have to type USE {your database name here} and then select only that statement and execute...Read more
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