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SPECIFICTION
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Looker

cloud.google.com

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Spec score 8.5 #20 of 89 in Business Intelligence Tools

What it is

Looker helps organizations explore, share, and visualize company data for business decisions. Its LookML semantic models define dimensions, aggregates, calculations, and relationships, then use those definitions to generate SQL queries. Gemini-powered natural-language analytics lets users ask questions, while Dashboard Agents provide summaries and explorations grounded in governed metrics. Looker connects to BigQuery, Spanner, Cloud SQL for MySQL, Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL, and other Google services. The Looker Marketplace offers applications, prebuilt LookML models, visualizations, and actions for delivering data to third-party services. Listed capabilities include hourly refresh, row-level security, scheduled reports, and embedded analytics. Deployment is hybrid, with web, Android, iOS, API, and self-hosted options. Mobile apps let users view Looks and dashboards. Google documents TLS 1.2 or later for data in transit and AES-256 encryption for locally stored sensitive application data. A free 14-day trial is advertised, but there is no free plan. Standard, Enterprise, and Embed each list one production instance, 10 Standard Users, and two Developer Users; their API call allowances differ. Pricing is on request.

Spec sheet

What it does
Looker helps organizations explore, share, and visualize company data to support business decisions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Deployment
hybridRead 21 Sep 2026 · cloud.google.com
Free plan
NoRead 21 Sep 2026 · cloud.google.com
Trial
Google advertises a free 14-day Looker trial.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com
Security
Looker documents TLS 1.2 or later for data in transit and AES-256 encryption for locally stored sensitive application data.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com
Compliance
Google says Looker products maintain ISO, SOC, and other security certifications through its compliance program, with certification details available to customers and prospects under NDA.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com
Support
Developer user licensing includes access to Support, while standard and viewer user licensing does not.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com
Conversational analytics
Looker offers Gemini-powered natural-language analytics and Dashboard Agents that provide summaries and data explorations grounded in governed metrics.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com
Database integration
Looker connects to BigQuery, Spanner, Cloud SQL for MySQL, and Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL, among other Google services.Read 7 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Edition limit
A Looker (Google Cloud core) instance's edition type cannot be changed after the instance is created.Read 7 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Embedded analytics
Looker APIs, SDKs, and iframe embedding let developers build analytics and conversational experiences into applications.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com
Mobile access
The Looker mobile app for iOS and Android lets users view Looks and dashboards from Looker instances.Read 7 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Natural-language queries
YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · cloud.google.com
Refresh frequency
hourlyRead 21 Sep 2026 · cloud.google.com
Row-level security
YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · cloud.google.com
Scheduled reports
YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · cloud.google.com
Semantic modeling
LookML defines semantic data models that describe dimensions, aggregates, calculations, and data relationships for generating SQL queries.Read 7 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com
Third-party integrations
Looker Marketplace offers applications, prebuilt LookML models, visualizations, and actions for delivering data to third-party services.Read 7 Oct 2026 · docs.cloud.google.com

Plans and prices

Embed Priced on request Annual commitment 1 production instance · 10 standard users · 2 developer users · Up to 500,000 query-based API calls/month · Up to 100,000 administrative API calls/month Read 7 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com
Enterprise Priced on request Annual commitment 1 production instance · 10 standard users · 2 developer users · Up to 100,000 query-based API calls/month · Up to 10,000 administrative API calls/month · Enhanced security features Read 7 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com
Standard Priced on request Annual commitment For teams with fewer than 50 users · 1 production instance · 10 standard users · 2 developer users · Up to 1,000 query-based API calls/month · Up to 1,000 administrative API calls/month Read 7 Oct 2026 · cloud.google.com

Every Looker plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • LookML defines semantic models for SQL generation.
  • Dashboard Agents use governed metrics.
  • Supports row-level security and scheduled reports.
  • Includes embedded analytics and hourly refresh.
  • Free 14-day trial is advertised.

Limits

  • There is no free plan.
  • Pricing is on request.
  • Standard and viewer licenses do not include Support access.
  • Instance edition cannot be changed after creation.

Who it suits

Looker suits organizations that want governed data models, analytics, and dashboards, including embedded analytics and scheduled reports. Its three named plans provide different monthly API call allowances for buyers to consider.

Verdict

Looker combines semantic modeling, natural-language analytics, and reporting in a hybrid-deployment product. Buyers can compare the listed plan API allowances, but must request pricing and choose an edition at instance creation.

Where Specifiction places it

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