Software · head to head
Metabase vs Looker
The short version
- Only Metabase has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Metabase row and column level permissions and SSO available only in Pro tier and above; Looker requires annual commitment with no month-to-month billing option
- They diverge on capability: Metabase covers No-code Query Builder, Looker covers LookML Data Modeling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Metabase and Looker actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Metabase
- No-code Query Builder
- SQL Editor
- Interactive Dashboards
- Alerts
- Embedding
- MongoDB
- Self-hosted support
- Cloud support
Only in Looker
- LookML Data Modeling
- Embedded Analytics
- API Access
- Version Control
- Data Actions
- Salesforce
- Mobile support
- Api support
Both cover
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- BigQuery
- Snowflake
- Redshift
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Metabase
- Business intelligence and data exploration for non-technical usersnot Looker
- Embedded analytics for SaaS applicationsnot Looker
- Self-service reporting and dashboard creationnot Looker
- Integration with 40+ data sources including cloud warehousesnot Looker
Looker
- Business intelligence and interactive dashboards for data-driven decision makingnot Metabase
- Embedded analytics for integrating BI capabilities into third-party applicationsnot Metabase
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Metabase
- Row and column level permissions and SSO available only in Pro tier and above
- Advanced analytics features like multi-tenant embedded analytics require Pro tier or higher
- AI-powered features incur additional usage-based costs: $3.75 per 1M tokens
- Self-hosted deployment on Free/Open Source tier requires infrastructure management
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
Metabase
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Metabase review.
Looker
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Looker review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Metabase if
- You need no-code query builder.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Self-hosted cloud.
- You also want sql editor.
Choose Looker if
- You need lookml data modeling.
- You work on Web, Cloud (Google Cloud Platform).
- You also want embedded analytics.
Questions people ask
- Is Metabase or Looker better?
- Neither clearly leads. Metabase 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, Metabase or Looker?
- Metabase has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Metabase and On request for Looker.
- Does Metabase or Looker run on more platforms?
- Metabase runs on Web, Self-hosted cloud. Looker runs on Web, Cloud (Google Cloud Platform).
- Can I use Metabase for free?
- Yes. Metabase has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Looker starts at On request.
- What is Metabase best used for?
- Metabase is most often used for business intelligence and data exploration for non-technical users, embedded analytics for saas applications, self-service reporting and dashboard creation, integration with 40+ data sources including cloud warehouses. Of those, business intelligence and data exploration for non-technical users and embedded analytics for saas applications are not what Looker is typically brought in for.
- What can Metabase do that Looker cannot?
- Metabase covers No-code Query Builder, SQL Editor, Interactive Dashboards, Alerts. Looker covers LookML Data Modeling, Embedded Analytics, API Access, Version Control. Both handle PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery, Snowflake.