Pricing comparison
Looker (Google Cloud) vs Metabase
Side-by-side pricing breakdown for Data Visualization & BI decision-makers
Each amount uses its recorded currency; no currency conversion is applied. Confirm billing units, commitments, and current regional terms.
Compare the plan that fits your requirements
Check billing units, included usage and renewal terms. Starting prices alone do not establish an overall winner.
Dataset dated 2026-04-21. Sources: Looker (Google Cloud) pricing and Metabase pricing.
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Recorded starting rates: Looker (Google Cloud) Price unavailable; Metabase $100/mo. Billing units and commitments can differ. Compare the plans that include your required features, then request quotes for the same quantity and term.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| lookml semantic layer | All editions - unique modeling language | Not recorded |
| git version control | All editions | Not recorded |
| sql runner | Standard + Developer users | Not recorded |
| dashboards looks | All editions | Not recorded |
| boards | All editions | Not recorded |
| ask data ai | All editions | Not recorded |
| conversational analytics | Current eligibility, allowances and usage rates require confirmation | Not recorded |
| viewer user permissions | View + filter + drill + download | Not recorded |
| standard user permissions | + Create dashboards/looks + SQL Runner + Explore | Not recorded |
| developer user permissions | + Administration + Development Mode + API | Not recorded |
| embedded analytics api calls | 500K query-based + 100K admin on Embed edition | Not recorded |
| api calls by edition | Standard 1K/Enterprise 100K/Embed 500K query-based per month | Not recorded |
| unlimited queries | Not recorded | All plans |
| unlimited dashboards | Not recorded | All plans |
| unlimited data sources | Not recorded | All plans |
| database connections | Not recorded | PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift, SQL Server, 20+ more |
| sql questions | Not recorded | All plans - full SQL editor |
| native questions | Not recorded | All plans - point-and-click query builder |
| scheduled subscriptions | Not recorded | All plans |
| public sharing | Not recorded | All plans |
| metabot ai | Not recorded | Add-on from $100/month |
| row column level permissions | Not recorded | Pro+ |
| usage analytics | Not recorded | Pro+ |
| white label | Not recorded | Pro+ (support), full at Enterprise |
| air gapping | Not recorded | Enterprise |
| single tenant hosting | Not recorded | Enterprise |
| embedded analytics | Not recorded | Pro+ with per-view licensing |
| open source 2015 | Not recorded | Founded in open source, commercial tier added 2018+ |
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Dive Deeper
Looker (Google Cloud)
About the data visualization & bi category
BI subscriptions use different units: Tableau and Power BI list user licenses, Metabase combines a base fee with additional users, and Looker includes platform and role-based licensing. Preset adds separate embedded-viewer pricing.
How to choose between data visualization & bi options
Count dashboard authors, viewers and external customers separately. Compare deployment, permissions, refresh needs, supported databases and embedding terms. Check existing licenses before assuming a bundle eliminates additional charges.
Building Your Business Stack?
Decision-makers comparing tools often need more than one category. Here are related comparisons:
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do Looker (Google Cloud) and Metabase prices compare?
- Looker (Google Cloud): Price unavailable. Metabase: $100/mo. These are recorded starting prices; compare billing units, included usage and contract terms before treating them as equivalent costs.
- Which is better for my requirements, Looker (Google Cloud) or Metabase?
- Compare the recorded features and plan limits against your requirements, then confirm them with each vendor. This page does not establish hands-on testing or an overall winner.
- What happens after the first billing term?
- Use any recorded renewal rate as a dated observation. When a future rate is missing, ask the vendor; do not assume the starting price remains unchanged.