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Looker

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What Looker is

Looker is a business analytics product that helps organizations explore, share, and visualize company data for decision-making. Its LookML semantic models describe data dimensions, aggregates, calculations, and relationships, then use those definitions to generate SQL queries. Gemini-powered natural-language analytics and Dashboard Agents can summarize information and explore data using governed metrics. Looker connects with BigQuery, Spanner, Cloud SQL for MySQL, Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL, and other Google services. Its Marketplace offers applications, prebuilt LookML models, visualizations, and actions for sending data to third-party services. Listed capabilities include hourly refresh, row-level security, scheduled reports, embedded analytics, and natural-language queries. Looker is available on web, Android, iOS, API, and self-hosted platforms, with hybrid deployment. Mobile apps let users view Looks and dashboards. Pricing is paid and available on request; there is no free plan, but Google advertises a free 14-day trial. The Standard, Enterprise, and Embed plans differ in their monthly API call allowances.

Who it suits

Looker suits organizations that need to explore governed company data, share reports, or embed analytics. It may also fit teams seeking natural-language data exploration or mobile access to dashboards.

What it does well

  • LookML models define dimensions, calculations, and data relationships.
  • Dashboard Agents explore data using governed metrics.
  • Supports row-level security and scheduled reports.
  • Mobile apps display Looks and dashboards.
  • Free 14-day trial is advertised.

What to know first

  • No free plan is listed.
  • Pricing is available only on request.
  • Standard and viewer licenses do not include Support.
  • Instance edition cannot be changed after creation.

Limits

Each listed plan includes 10 Standard Users, 2 Developer Users, and one production instance. Standard allows 1,000 query-based and 1,000 administrative API calls monthly; Enterprise allows 100,000 and 10,000; Embed allows 500,000 and 100,000.

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
StandardAnnual 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/monthOn request
EnterpriseAnnual 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 featuresOn request
EmbedAnnual 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/monthOn request

As cloud.google.com lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

  1. Open the Google Cloud Looker website
  2. Request pricing for Standard, Enterprise, or Embed
  3. Choose an edition before creating the instance
  4. Start the advertised 14-day free trial
  5. Access Looker through web, Android, iOS, API, or self-hosted deployment

Verdict

Looker combines semantic modeling, reporting, embedded analytics, and conversational data exploration. Buyers should request pricing and choose an instance edition carefully, since it cannot later be changed.

Questions

Does Looker offer a free plan?

No. Looker is paid, with pricing on request, and Google advertises a free 14-day trial.

Which platforms are supported?

Looker supports web, Android, iOS, API, and self-hosted access with hybrid deployment.

How do the plans differ?

Standard, Enterprise, and Embed each include one production instance, 10 Standard Users, and 2 Developer Users. Their monthly query-based and administrative API allowances increase by plan.

Can Looker connect to databases?

It connects to BigQuery, Spanner, Cloud SQL for MySQL, Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL, and other Google services.

Is Looker open source?

The listed facts describe LookML, Google Cloud services, and Marketplace components; they do not identify Looker as open source.

Who receives support?

Developer user licensing includes access to Support. Standard and viewer user licensing does not.

Facts from Looker's own pages

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. · cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
Conversational analytics
Looker offers Gemini-powered natural-language analytics and Dashboard Agents that provide summaries and data explorations grounded in governed metrics. · cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
Database integration
Looker connects to BigQuery, Spanner, Cloud SQL for MySQL, and Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL, among other Google services. · docs.cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
Deployment
hybrid · cloud.google.com, 21 Sept 2026
Edition limit
A Looker (Google Cloud core) instance's edition type cannot be changed after the instance is created. · docs.cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
Embedded analytics
Looker APIs, SDKs, and iframe embedding let developers build analytics and conversational experiences into applications. · cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
Free plan
No · cloud.google.com, 21 Sept 2026
Mobile access
The Looker mobile app for iOS and Android lets users view Looks and dashboards from Looker instances. · docs.cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
Natural-language queries
Yes · cloud.google.com, 21 Sept 2026
Refresh frequency
hourly · cloud.google.com, 21 Sept 2026
Row-level security
Yes · cloud.google.com, 21 Sept 2026
Scheduled reports
Yes · cloud.google.com, 21 Sept 2026
Security
Looker documents TLS 1.2 or later for data in transit and AES-256 encryption for locally stored sensitive application data. · cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
Semantic modeling
LookML defines semantic data models that describe dimensions, aggregates, calculations, and data relationships for generating SQL queries. · docs.cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
Support
Developer user licensing includes access to Support, while standard and viewer user licensing does not. · cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
Third-party integrations
Looker Marketplace offers applications, prebuilt LookML models, visualizations, and actions for delivering data to third-party services. · docs.cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
Trial
Google advertises a free 14-day Looker trial. · cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
What it does
Looker helps organizations explore, share, and visualize company data to support business decisions. · docs.cloud.google.com, 7 Oct 2026

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