Looker Studio vs Microsoft Power BI: 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 Microsoft Power BI 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
Microsoft Power BI
Visualize data, share insights, and ask questions with natural language
Best for you if:
- • You want free desktop version
| At a Glance | Looker Studio | Microsoft Power BI |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $9/user/mo, billed monthly Pro plan | Free plan, paid from $10/user/mo, billed monthly Pro plan |
Category | Data Visualization Business Intelligence | Business Intelligence Data Visualization |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 456 reviews | 4.6/5 Capterra 4.6 · G2 4.5 3,548 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Integration with other Microsoft services can increase overall spend |
Choose Looker Studio or Microsoft Power BI?
Choose Looker Studio if
- You want completely free
- You want google integration
- Budget matters ($9/user/mo, billed monthly vs $10/user/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in data visualization, not business intelligence
Choose Microsoft Power BI if
- You want free desktop version
- You want excel integration
- You work in business intelligence, not data visualization
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
Microsoft Power BI
Visualize data, share insights, and ask questions with natural language
Microsoft Power BI's pricing is very fair and competitive, especially with the free Desktop version and the Pro tier at $10/user/month offering essential sharing capabilities.
Watch out
Integration with other Microsoft services can increase overall spend
Strengths
- Pro: Free desktop version
- Pro: Excel integration
- Pro: Good value
Weaknesses
- Con: Best with Microsoft stack
- Con: Complex DAX language
Key features
Plans and prices: Looker Studio vs Microsoft Power BI
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Looker Studio |
| lookerstudio.google.comread Oct 1, 2026 |
| Microsoft Power BI |
| powerbi.microsoft.com/pricingread Oct 4, 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 Microsoft Power BI pricing.
Key Takeaways
Looker Studio
- Lower entry price: $9/user/mo, billed monthly vs $10/user/mo, billed monthly
Microsoft Power BI
- Choose if you want visualize data, share insights, and ask questions with natural language
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, 4.6/5 from 3,548 reviews for Microsoft Power BI).
- Looker Studio has the lower entry price: $9/user/mo, billed monthly (Pro) against $10/user/mo, billed monthly (Pro) for Microsoft Power BI.
- 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 Microsoft Power BI 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, 4.6/5 from 3,548 reviews for Microsoft Power BI). Looker Studio has the lower entry price: $9/user/mo, billed monthly (Pro) against $10/user/mo, billed monthly (Pro) for Microsoft Power BI. Both have a free plan.
What are Looker Studio and Microsoft Power BI used for?
Looker Studio: Free Google data visualization and reporting. Microsoft Power BI: Visualize data, share insights, and ask questions with natural language.
What does Looker Studio cost vs Microsoft Power BI?
Looker Studio's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $9/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Microsoft Power BI's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $10/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 4, 2026.
What's the main difference between Looker Studio and Microsoft Power BI?
Looker Studio's main strength: completely free. Microsoft Power BI's main strength: free desktop version.