A detailed comparison of Microsoft Power BI and Looker to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Business analytics service by Microsoft for interactive visualizations.
| Plan | Microsoft Power BI | Looker |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Power BI Desktop (free) | ✗ No |
| Lowest Paid | $10/user/mo (Pro) | Contact sales |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing (Premium) | Custom pricing |
| Feature | Microsoft Power BI | Looker |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Dashboards | ✓ | — |
| DAX Formula Language | ✓ | — |
| Data Modeling | ✓ | — |
| AI Visuals | ✓ | — |
| Natural Language Q&A | ✓ | — |
| Mobile App | ✓ | — |
| LookML Modeling | — | ✓ |
| Dashboards | — | ✓ |
| Explores | — | ✓ |
| Embedded Analytics | — | ✓ |
| API | — | ✓ |
| Data Actions | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✗ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.3 | ⭐ 4.2 |
Choose Microsoft Power BI if: You need microsoft ecosystem organizations needing bi. Microsoft Power BI excels with its affordable and deep microsoft integration.
Choose Looker if: You need enterprise teams needing governed self-service analytics. Looker stands out with its governed data model and consistent metrics.
Best free option: Microsoft Power BI offers a free tier (Power BI Desktop (free)).
It depends on your needs. Microsoft Power BI is better for microsoft ecosystem organizations needing bi, while Looker is better for enterprise teams needing governed self-service analytics. Both are excellent tools rated 4.3 and 4.2 respectively.
Microsoft Power BI starts at $10/user/mo (Pro) while Looker starts at Contact sales. Microsoft Power BI also has a free tier.
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Looker's trial before fully committing to a switch.
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