Looker Studio vs Metabase: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Looker Studio and Metabase side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Looker Studio leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Looker Studio
Free Google data visualization and reporting
Best for you if:
- • You want completely free
Metabase
Business intelligence for everyone
Best for you if:
- • You want open source
| At a Glance | Looker Studio | Metabase |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $9/user/mo, billed monthly Pro plan | Free plan, paid from $100/mo, billed monthly Starter plan |
Category | Analytics Business Intelligence | Business Intelligence Analytics |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 456 reviews | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.5 209 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Metabot AI add-on is extra ($100-$500/mo) |
Choose Looker Studio or Metabase?
Choose Looker Studio if
- You want completely free
- You want google integration
- Budget matters ($9/user/mo, billed monthly vs $100/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in analytics, not business intelligence
Choose Metabase if
- You want open source
- You want easy to use
- You work in business intelligence, not analytics
In-Depth Analysis
Looker Studio
Free Google data visualization and reporting
Looker Studio's pricing is incredibly generous, offering a fully functional free tier for unlimited reports.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free
- Pro: Google integration
- Pro: Easy sharing
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited customization
- Con: Can be slow
Key features
Metabase
Business intelligence for everyone
Metabase's pricing is generally fair, offering a generous Open Source tier for self-hosting.
Watch out
Metabot AI add-on is extra ($100-$500/mo)
Strengths
- Pro: Open source
- Pro: Easy to use
- Pro: Self-hosted option
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited advanced features
- Con: Less enterprise support
Key features
Plans and prices: Looker Studio vs Metabase
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Looker Studio |
| lookerstudio.google.com read Oct 1, 2026 |
| Metabase |
| metabase.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Looker Studio pricing and Metabase pricing.
Key Takeaways
Looker Studio
- Lower entry price: $9/user/mo, billed monthly vs $100/mo, billed monthly
Metabase
- Choose if you want business intelligence for everyone
What the data shows
On the data below, Looker Studio leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.4/5 from 456 reviews for Looker Studio, 4.4/5 from 209 reviews for Metabase).
- Looker Studio has the lower entry price: $9/user/mo, billed monthly (Pro) against $100/mo, billed monthly (Starter) for Metabase.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Looker Studio and Metabase compare in 2026?
On the data below, Looker Studio leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.4/5 from 456 reviews for Looker Studio, 4.4/5 from 209 reviews for Metabase). Looker Studio has the lower entry price: $9/user/mo, billed monthly (Pro) against $100/mo, billed monthly (Starter) for Metabase. Both have a free plan.
What are Looker Studio and Metabase used for?
Looker Studio: Free Google data visualization and reporting. Metabase: Business intelligence for everyone.
What does Looker Studio cost vs Metabase?
Looker Studio's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $9/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Metabase's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $100/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Looker Studio and Metabase?
Looker Studio's main strength: completely free. Metabase's main strength: open source.