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Crypto · head to head

Etherscan vs Looker

Etherscan logo

Etherscan

Crypto

The Ethereum blockchain explorer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Looker logo

Looker

Spreadsheets

Modern business intelligence platform by Google

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Etherscan has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Etherscan the free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day; Looker no pricing published on website; quote-based model requires contacting Google Cloud sales
  • They diverge on capability: Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Looker covers LookML Data Modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Etherscan and Looker actually diverge.

Attributes where Etherscan and Looker differ
AttributeEtherscanLooker
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Cloud (Google Cloud Platform)
CategoryCryptoSpreadsheets
Founded20152008

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

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 Etherscan

  • Block Explorer
  • Transaction Tracking
  • Token Tracker
  • Contract Verification
  • Gas Tracker
  • Ethereum mainnet
  • Testnets

Only in Looker

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Api support

What people use each for

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

Etherscan

  • Looking up Ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorernot Looker
  • Reading and verifying deployed smart contract source codenot Looker
  • Pulling on-chain data into an application through the explorer APInot Looker

Looker

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

Where each one falls short

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

Etherscan

  • The free API plan is capped at 3 calls per second and 100,000 calls per day
  • The free plan requires attribution and covers only selected chains rather than all supported chains
  • API Pro endpoints are withheld below the Standard plan at $199 per month
  • The $49 per month Lite plan raises the rate limit to only 5 calls per second and keeps the same 100,000 calls per day as the free tier
  • Rate limits top out at 30 calls per second even on the $899 per month Pro Plus plan
  • The Address Metadata endpoint requires Pro Plus at $899 per month and is limited to one app license
  • Metadata CSV export and dedicated support are only in Metadata Enterprise, which is quoted by contact with no published price
  • The 10% and 15% discounts apply only to quarterly and yearly prepayment

Looker

  • No pricing published on website; quote-based model requires contacting Google Cloud sales
  • Pricing typically based on user count, deployment type, and feature requirements with no transparency

Pricing, plan by plan

Etherscan

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 100,000 API calls per day
    • Selected chains with 90% coverage
  • Lite$49/month
    • 5 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 100,000 API calls per day
    • All supported chains with community endpoints
  • Standard$199/month
    • 10 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 200,000 API calls per day
    • API Pro endpoints access
  • Advanced$299/month
    • 20 calls per second rate limit
    • Up to 500,000 API calls per day

Looker

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Looker review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Etherscan if

  • You need block explorer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want transaction tracking.
Etherscan 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 Etherscan or Looker better?
Neither clearly leads. Etherscan 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, Etherscan or Looker?
Etherscan has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Etherscan and On request for Looker.
Does Etherscan or Looker run on more platforms?
Etherscan runs on Web, Api. Looker runs on Web, Cloud (Google Cloud Platform).
Can I use Etherscan for free?
Yes. Etherscan has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Looker starts at On request.
What is Etherscan best used for?
Etherscan is most often used for looking up ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorer, reading and verifying deployed smart contract source code, pulling on-chain data into an application through the explorer api. Of those, looking up ethereum transactions, addresses and token transfers in a block explorer and reading and verifying deployed smart contract source code are not what Looker is typically brought in for.
What can Etherscan do that Looker cannot?
Etherscan covers Block Explorer, Transaction Tracking, Token Tracker, Contract Verification. Looker covers LookML Data Modeling, Embedded Analytics, API Access, Version Control. Both handle Web support, Api support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Etherscan: Is Etherscan API free to use?

Etherscan offers a free plan with a 3 calls per second rate limit and up to 100,000 API calls per day. The free tier provides access to selected chains with 90% coverage and requires attribution. Additional premium plans start at $49 per month.

Source
Looker: How much does Looker cost?

Looker does not publish pricing on its website. The platform uses a custom quote model where organizations contact Google Cloud sales for personalized pricing. Pricing is typically based on factors including user count, deployment type (cloud-hosted versus self-hosted), and required feature set.

Source
Etherscan: What are Etherscan's rate limits?

Etherscan provides different rate limits based on plan: Free plan allows 3 calls per second, Lite allows 5 calls per second, Standard allows 10 calls per second, Advanced and Professional allow 20-30 calls per second, and Pro Plus allows 30 calls per second with up to 1,500,000 API calls per day.

Source
Looker: What are Looker's pricing tiers?

Looker offers subscription-based tiers typically including Standard with core BI capabilities, Advanced with enhanced features and integrations, and Premium with enterprise-grade features. Specific pricing and feature distinctions require contacting Google Cloud sales.

Source
Etherscan: Can I get a refund for Etherscan API payments?

No. Etherscan explicitly states that all payments made are non-refundable. Accounts are activated within 24 hours for API Pro accounts, and auto-renewal is enabled by default through Stripe.

Source
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