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Spreadsheets · head to head

Looker vs Periscope Data

Looker logo

Looker

Spreadsheets

Modern business intelligence platform by Google

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Periscope Data logo

Periscope Data

Business Intelligence

SQL and Python analytics platform

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Looker no pricing published on website; quote-based model requires contacting Google Cloud sales; Periscope Data the periscopedata.com domain now redirects to sisense.com, so Periscope Data is no longer sold as a standalone product
  • They diverge on capability: Looker covers LookML Data Modeling, Periscope Data covers SQL Editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Looker and Periscope Data actually diverge.

Attributes where Looker and Periscope Data differ
AttributeLookerPeriscope Data
Starting priceOn request$1000/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Cloud (Google Cloud Platform)Web, Cloud
CategorySpreadsheetsBusiness Intelligence
Founded20082012

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Looker

  • LookML Data Modeling
  • Embedded Analytics
  • API Access
  • Data Actions
  • Salesforce
  • Mobile support
  • Api support

Only in Periscope Data

  • SQL Editor
  • Python/R Integration
  • Caching
  • Dashboards
  • Presto
  • Cloud support

Both cover

  • Version Control
  • BigQuery
  • Snowflake
  • Redshift
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Looker

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

Periscope Data

  • SQL-based analytics and dashboards over a data warehousenot Looker
  • Python and R analysis alongside SQL in one workflownot Looker
  • Shared dashboards for data teamsnot Looker

Where each one falls short

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

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

Periscope Data

  • The periscopedata.com domain now redirects to sisense.com, so Periscope Data is no longer sold as a standalone product
  • No Periscope Data pricing, plan or seat rate remains published at the original domain
  • Buyers must now purchase through Sisense, whose own pricing is not published as a rate card

Pricing, plan by plan

Looker

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Looker review.

Periscope Data

$1000/month
  • Team$1000/month
    • SQL Analytics
    • Python/R
    • Dashboards
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced Features
    • Custom Integrations
    • Premium Support

Which should you pick?

Choose Looker if

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

Choose Periscope Data if

  • You need sql editor.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want python/r integration.
Periscope Data review

Questions people ask

Is Looker or Periscope Data better?
Neither clearly leads. Looker starts at On request and Periscope Data at $1000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Looker or Periscope Data?
Looker starts at On request and Periscope Data at $1000/month.
Does Looker or Periscope Data run on more platforms?
Looker runs on Web, Cloud (Google Cloud Platform). Periscope Data runs on Web, Cloud.
What is Looker best used for?
Looker is most often used for business intelligence and interactive dashboards for data-driven decision making, embedded analytics for integrating bi capabilities into third-party applications. Of those, business intelligence and interactive dashboards for data-driven decision making and embedded analytics for integrating bi capabilities into third-party applications are not what Periscope Data is typically brought in for.
What can Looker do that Periscope Data cannot?
Looker covers LookML Data Modeling, Embedded Analytics, API Access, Data Actions. Periscope Data covers SQL Editor, Python/R Integration, Caching, Dashboards. Both handle Version Control, BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Periscope Data: Does Sisense offer a free trial?

Yes. Sisense offers a free trial of their Self-Serve plan. You can try features like data warehouse connectivity, built-in AI for natural-language queries, auto-narratives, and customer assistant features.

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
Periscope Data: What is the difference between Sisense Self-Serve and Enterprise plans?

The Self-Serve plan is for startups and teams and includes basic connectivity and AI features with iframe embedding. The Enterprise plan is for regulated industries and includes multi-tenant architecture, HIPAA readiness, column-level security, single sign-on, on-premise deployment options, 99.99% SLA, and 30-day backups.

Source
Periscope Data: How do I access the Sisense Enterprise plan?

The Enterprise plan requires contacting Sisense for a demo and custom quote. There is no self-service signup for this tier.

Source
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