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Business Intelligence · head to head

Google Data Studio vs Labster

Google Data Studio logo

Google Data Studio

Business Intelligence

Free data visualization by Google

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Labster logo

Labster

Education & E-Learning

Virtual science labs for immersive learning

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Data Studio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Data Studio google Data Studio has been renamed Looker Studio; the vendor's own landing page states it is free to use ("It's easy and free"), with no enterprise pricing tier visible on the consumer product itself.; Labster customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes
  • They diverge on capability: Google Data Studio covers Free Platform, Labster covers Virtual simulations.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Data Studio and Labster actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Data Studio and Labster differ
AttributeGoogle Data StudioLabster
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
CategoryBusiness IntelligenceEducation & E-Learning
Founded19982011

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Google Data Studio

  • Free Platform
  • Real-time Collaboration
  • Custom Visualizations
  • Data Blending
  • Sharing
  • Google Analytics
  • BigQuery
  • Google Sheets

Only in Labster

  • Virtual simulations
  • 3D environments
  • Theory pages
  • Quizzes
  • Lab reports
  • Progress tracking
  • Mobile access
  • Multiplayer

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Google Data Studio

  • Self-service analyticsnot Labster
  • Data explorationnot Labster
  • Ad-hoc reportingnot Labster
  • Collaborative analysisnot Labster
  • Embedded analyticsnot Labster

Labster

  • Virtual labsnot Google Data Studio
  • Pre-lab preparationnot Google Data Studio
  • Supplemental learningnot Google Data Studio
  • Remote educationnot Google Data Studio

Where each one falls short

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

Google Data Studio

  • Google Data Studio has been renamed Looker Studio; the vendor's own landing page states it is free to use ("It's easy and free"), with no enterprise pricing tier visible on the consumer product itself.

Labster

  • Customization is limited and labs cannot be easily adapted to specific course learning outcomes
  • Simulations can lag or freeze depending on operating system and connection speed
  • Cannot fully replace hands-on physical lab experience and data collection
  • Students report preference for tactile physical lab experience over virtual simulations

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Data Studio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited Reports
    • Data Connectors
    • Collaboration

Labster

On request
  • Student Access$49/month
    • Course simulations
    • Mobile access
    • Progress tracking
  • Institution$undefined/month
    • All simulations
    • LMS integration
    • Analytics
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom content
    • API access
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Data Studio if

  • You need free platform.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
Google Data Studio review

Choose Labster if

  • You need virtual simulations.
  • You also want 3d environments.
Labster review

Questions people ask

Is Google Data Studio or Labster better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Data Studio starts at Free and Labster at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Data Studio or Labster?
Google Data Studio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Data Studio and On request for Labster.
Does Google Data Studio or Labster run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Google Data Studio for free?
Yes. Google Data Studio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Labster starts at On request.
What is Google Data Studio best used for?
Google Data Studio is most often used for self-service analytics, data exploration, ad-hoc reporting, collaborative analysis. Of those, self-service analytics and data exploration are not what Labster is typically brought in for.
What can Google Data Studio do that Labster cannot?
Google Data Studio covers Free Platform, Real-time Collaboration, Custom Visualizations, Data Blending. Labster covers Virtual simulations, 3D environments, Theory pages, Quizzes. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Labster: What STEM subjects does Labster cover?

Labster provides interactive 3D simulations across biology, chemistry, physics, and other STEM subjects, designed for university, college, and high school students.

Labster: How many students has Labster served?

Labster has served over 6 million students and thousands of institutions globally with its virtual lab simulations.

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Related pages

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