Comparison · Business intelligence tools
Looker vs Metabase: which is better in 2026?
Looker ranks higher in our list of business intelligence tools (#3 against #4, score 89.0 against 88.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.
- 89.0Editorial score88.0
- 1Platforms2
- NoFree to useYes
- NoOpen sourceYes
Which should you choose?
Choose Looker if you want
Data teams governing metrics for many users.
A governed metrics layer and embedded analytics from Google Cloud, with a free trial and sales-led subscriptions. It is built for large deployments and data teams, so small teams will find Metabase quicker to start.
Choose Metabase if you want
Open-source self-service analytics.
The open source edition is free to self-host and covers unlimited questions and dashboards. Permissions, SSO and caching need paid Pro plans, and its modelling is lighter than Power BI's.
The main differences
- Metabase is open source; Looker is not.
- Metabase can be used for free; Looker requires payment.
Side by side
 Looker |  Metabase | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 89.0 | 88.0 |
| Rank in list | #3 of 10 | #4 of 10 |
| Price | SubscriptionEnterprise subscription; free trial and demo | Free plan, paid upgradesOpen source edition free; Starter $100 a month, Pro $575 a month |
| Free to use | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Platforms | WebWeb | WebSelf-hostedWeb, Self-hosted |
| Made by | Google Cloud | Not stated |
| Deployment | Google Cloud service | Cloud or self-hosted |
| Data sources | Cloud data warehouses and databases | 20+ data sources |
| Desktop app | No | No |
| Best for | Data teams governing metrics for many users | Open-source self-service analytics |
| Strengths |
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| Limits |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Looker vs Metabase
- Is Looker better than Metabase?
- Looker ranks higher in our list of business intelligence tools (#3 against #4, score 89.0 against 88.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Looker is best for: data teams governing metrics for many users. Metabase is best for: open-source self-service analytics.
Choosing between the two
Learning Center
1:17How to decide between two good optionsSettle a close call by sorting it by how hard it is to undo, setting a deadline, scoring the criteria as a tie-breaker and writing down why you chose.
1:20How to compare products fairly: what to keep in mindDefine the job, cap the must-haves, compare like with like, count total cost over one period and weigh the criteria. Includes a worked example.
