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Business Intelligence · head to head

Google Data Studio vs RAD Studio

Google Data Studio logo

Google Data Studio

Business Intelligence

Free data visualization by Google

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Google Data StudioFull review
RAD Studio logo

RAD Studio

Developer Tools

Cross-platform native app development with Delphi and C++Builder

From
$2000/perpetual
Free plan
No
Visit RAD StudioFull review

The short version

  • RAD Studio is a cross-platform IDE.
  • Google Data Studio is free; RAD Studio starts at $2000/mo.
  • Where Google Data Studio falls short: limited to free offering with no paid tiers or premium features.
  • Where RAD Studio falls short: professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Google Data Studio and RAD Studio differ
AttributeGoogle Data StudioRAD Studio
Starting priceFree$2000/perpetual
Pricing modelFreeOne-time
Free tierYesNo
CategoryBusiness IntelligenceDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: platforms (Web).

Not yet recorded: founded for RAD Studio.

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 RAD Studio

Nothing recorded that Google Data Studio does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Google Data Studio

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

RAD Studio

  • Building Windows desktop applications with VCL componentsnot Google Data Studio
  • Creating iOS and Android apps from shared Delphi codebasenot Google Data Studio
  • Connecting to Oracle databases through FireDAC connectivitynot Google Data Studio
  • Building REST web services that run on Linux serversnot 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

  • Limited to free offering with no paid tiers or premium features
  • Advanced integrations may require Google Workspace subscriptions

RAD Studio

  • Professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax
  • Enterprise edition steps up to $3,400 license plus $1,199 maintenance, and Architect edition to $4,416 license plus $2,183 maintenance
  • The perpetual license only entitles the buyer to updates for one year; continued access to new updates and upgrades requires an annually renewable Update Subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Data Studio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited Reports
    • Data Connectors
    • Collaboration

RAD Studio

$2000/perpetual
  • Professional Edition$2,000 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $599
    • Total $2,599 + Tax
  • Enterprise Edition$3,400 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $1,199
    • Total $4,599 + Tax
  • Architect Edition$4,416 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $2,183
    • Total $6,599 + Tax

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 RAD Studio if

Nothing in the data separates RAD Studio from Google Data Studio on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

RAD Studio review

Questions people ask

Is Google Data Studio or RAD Studio better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Data Studio starts at Free and RAD Studio at $2000/perpetual, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Data Studio or RAD Studio?
Google Data Studio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Data Studio and $2000/perpetual for RAD Studio.
Does Google Data Studio or RAD Studio 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. RAD Studio starts at $2000/perpetual.
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 RAD Studio is typically brought in for.
What can Google Data Studio do that RAD Studio cannot?
Google Data Studio covers Free Platform, Real-time Collaboration, Custom Visualizations, Data Blending.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Data Studio: Is Google Data Studio free?

Yes, Google Data Studio is completely free to use. The platform states it is easy and free to build interactive dashboards and reports.

Source
RAD Studio: How much does RAD Studio cost?

RAD Studio uses perpetual licensing: Professional Edition $2,000 perpetual license + $599 first year maintenance ($2,599 total + tax). Enterprise Edition $3,400 license + $1,199 maintenance ($4,599 total + tax). Architect Edition $4,416 license + $2,183 maintenance ($6,599 total + tax).

Source
Google Data Studio: Are there paid versions of Google Data Studio?

No, Google Data Studio does not offer paid tiers or premium plans. It remains free for all users.

Source
RAD Studio: What is the difference between RAD Studio editions?

Professional Edition ($2,599 total + tax) targets individual developers. Enterprise Edition ($4,599 total + tax) adds multi-tier app capabilities. Architect Edition ($6,599 total + tax) includes advanced database and cloud features. All three include perpetual licenses.

Source
RAD Studio: Does RAD Studio offer Kai AI integration and discounts?

Yes, adding Kai AI to any edition provides discounts: 25% off Professional ($2,136 + tax), 30% off Enterprise ($3,394 + tax), and 40% off Architect ($4,109 + tax). This promotion is active through August 31, 2026.

Source
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