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Databox vs Looker

Databox logo

Databox

Software

KPI dashboards for business performance

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Looker logo

Looker

Software

Modern business intelligence platform by Google

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Databox has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Databox data sources are the billing unit, and the $159 Pro plan still includes only 3 before charging $5.60 for each additional one; Looker requires annual commitment with no month-to-month billing option
  • They diverge on capability: Databox covers Pre-built Dashboards, Looker covers LookML Data Modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Databox and Looker actually diverge.

Attributes where Databox and Looker differ
AttributeDataboxLooker
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, TvWeb, Cloud (Google Cloud Platform)
Founded20112008

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Databox

  • Pre-built Dashboards
  • Goal Tracking
  • Alerts
  • Scorecards
  • Mobile App
  • HubSpot
  • Google Analytics
  • Facebook

Only in Looker

  • LookML Data Modeling
  • Embedded Analytics
  • API Access
  • Version Control
  • Data Actions
  • BigQuery
  • Snowflake
  • Redshift

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Web support
  • Mobile support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Databox

  • Building business dashboards from multiple SaaS data sourcesnot Looker
  • Tracking KPIs and metrics across marketing, sales and finance toolsnot Looker

Looker

  • Business intelligence and interactive dashboards for data-driven decision makingnot Databox
  • Embedded analytics for integrating BI capabilities into third-party applicationsnot Databox

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Databox

  • Data sources are the billing unit, and the $159 Pro plan still includes only 3 before charging $5.60 for each additional one
  • The $64 Analyst plan is capped at 5 data sources and a single user
  • The free plan allows 3 data sources, 10 custom metrics and one user
  • AI credits are metered monthly, from 50 on free to 4,000 on Growth
  • Every published price assumes annual billing, with monthly costing 20% more

Looker

  • Requires annual commitment with no month-to-month billing option
  • Conversational analytics will incur token overage charges ($3.00 per 1M input tokens, $20.00 per 1M output tokens) after October 1, 2026

Pricing, plan by plan

Databox

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 Data Sources
    • Basic Features
    • Community Support
  • Starter$72/month
    • 10 Data Sources
    • Alerts
    • Forecasting

Looker

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Looker review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Databox if

  • You need pre-built dashboards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Tv.
  • You also want goal tracking.
Databox review

Choose Looker if

  • You need lookml data modeling.
  • You work on Web, Cloud (Google Cloud Platform).
  • You also want embedded analytics.
Looker review

Questions people ask

Is Databox or Looker better?
Neither clearly leads. Databox starts at Free and Looker at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Databox or Looker?
Databox has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Databox and On request for Looker.
Does Databox or Looker run on more platforms?
Databox runs on Web, Mobile, Tv. Looker runs on Web, Cloud (Google Cloud Platform).
Can I use Databox for free?
Yes. Databox has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Looker starts at On request.
What is Databox best used for?
Databox is most often used for building business dashboards from multiple saas data sources, tracking kpis and metrics across marketing, sales and finance tools. Of those, building business dashboards from multiple saas data sources and tracking kpis and metrics across marketing, sales and finance tools are not what Looker is typically brought in for.
What can Databox do that Looker cannot?
Databox covers Pre-built Dashboards, Goal Tracking, Alerts, Scorecards. Looker covers LookML Data Modeling, Embedded Analytics, API Access, Version Control. Both handle Salesforce, Web support, Mobile support.
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Related pages

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