Power BI vs Looker

Excel's smarter cousin that makes data pretty, but good luck escaping Microsoft's ecosystem meets the bi platform that makes data modeling feel like a full-time job, but at least the dashboards look pretty. Here's our take.

Power BI

Nice Pick

Excel's smarter cousin that makes data pretty, but good luck escaping Microsoft's ecosystem.

Pros

• Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 and Azure
• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for quick visualizations
• Powerful DAX language for complex calculations
• Affordable pricing with a robust free tier

Cons

• Performance can lag with large datasets
• Limited customization compared to open-source alternatives

Looker

The BI platform that makes data modeling feel like a full-time job, but at least the dashboards look pretty.

Pros

• Powerful LookML modeling language for reusable, version-controlled data definitions
• Seamless integration with modern data warehouses like BigQuery and Snowflake
• Self-service analytics that empowers non-technical users to build custom reports

Cons

• Steep learning curve for LookML, requiring dedicated data engineers or analysts
• Pricing can be prohibitive for small teams, with enterprise-focused costs

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Power BI is a devtools while Looker is a hosting & deployment. We picked Power BI based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Power BI wins

Based on overall popularity. Power BI is more widely used, but Looker excels in its own space.