Comparison
BigQuery vs Looker
Scored side by side on data-analytics, using the same criteria we apply across the category.
BigQuery
Serverless warehouse with no cluster management and pricing by bytes scanned.
4.4(5,200)$6.25 per TB scanned
Looker
Governed BI built on a version-controlled semantic layer.
4.2(3,400)Custom, typically $60k+ per year
Scored side by side
Governance
BigQuery
4.2
Looker
4.9
Value for money
BigQuery
4.2
Looker
3.2
BigQuery verdict
The simplest warehouse to operate, especially inside Google Cloud. Enforce partitioning early.
- Genuinely serverless with nothing to manage
- Machine learning directly in SQL
- Strong fit inside Google Cloud
Looker verdict
The strongest governance story in BI. Only justifiable if you will genuinely maintain the semantic layer.
- Semantic layer ends metric disputes
- Excellent embedded analytics
- Version control brings engineering rigour to BI