Microsoft Power BI
Overall Score68/100
4.5Editor Rating
Market Signal 49From $14 per user/mo (annual billing)Free plan
Why choose it: Organizations using Microsoft data services and needing governed self-service business intelligence.
Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio): Pricing, Features & Alternatives
Google's free report builder for dashboards on Analytics, Ads, Search Console, BigQuery and Sheets data.
Overall Score82/100
4.0Editor Rating
Market Signal 90Top-rated in Marketing Dashboards#1 of 11 in Marketing Dashboards by Overall Score
What Is Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio)?
Data Studio, the Google product called Looker Studio until its April 2026 rename, builds interactive reports and dashboards in the browser. Google's own connectors pull from Google Analytics, Google Ads, Search Console, BigQuery, Google Sheets, Cloud SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL and Amazon Redshift, and partner connectors built through the Community Connectors program reach other platforms. Each data source runs on either the owner's credentials, so viewers see data without direct access, or the viewer's own, and sources can stay live or be stored as extracted snapshots for speed. Reports support calculated fields, filter controls, scheduled delivery and embedding. Data Studio Pro links assets to a Google Cloud project so the organization owns them, and adds team workspaces with roles, up to 200 delivery schedules per report, Google Chat delivery, chart alerts, Gemini help with calculated fields, and CMEK and data residency options.
Best for: Marketing teams and agencies reporting on Google Analytics, Google Ads and Search Console data who want shareable browser dashboards built on Google's own connectors.
Data Studio reports rely on connectors and reusable data sources, with individual charts querying their connected fields instead of maintaining a separate warehouse by default. Editors can create calculated fields and viewer controls; teams with strict data definitions should manage the underlying source permissions and connector refresh behavior before distributing reports widely.
4.0
out of 5
Editor Rating
Calculated from facts we verified on Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio)'s own website, using published thresholds. Nobody can pay to change it. Together with Market Signal it makes the Overall Score of 82 that orders our lists.
- Pricing transparency4.8
- Entry cost5.0
- Free access5.0
- Platforms & API2.0
- Support3.0
- IntegrationsNot scored
- Security & compliance5.0
Dimensions without verified data count as a neutral 2.5. Facts checked October 13, 2026. How the rating works
90
Strong
Market Signal
Real dataComputed from Ahrefs + Semrush data about Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio)'s own website. Not an assessment of the product itself. How this works →
Market Strength
91
Where it stands today
Momentum
84 Rising Fast ↑↑
Where it’s heading
Data Confidence
Limited
How much to trust it
- Traffic Strength96
- Search Visibility83
- Authority96
- Brand & Market Presence90
Tick mark = category average.
Compared with 12 tracked Marketing Reporting tools (a small set, so read it as directional). Data through September 2026, pulled October 6, 2026.
Who Is It Best For?
- Agencies sending client dashboards built on Google Ads and Analytics
- SEO teams charting Search Console performance
- Analysts presenting BigQuery tables to non-technical stakeholders
Who Should Avoid It?
- Teams whose ad and CRM data sit outside Google and lack a partner connector
- Organizations that need company-owned assets and admin roles but won't use Pro
Use Cases
- Monthly SEO and PPC client reports
- Embedding live dashboards in an intranet or website
- Scheduling report delivery to stakeholders
- Combining Analytics, Ads and Sheets data sources in one dashboard
Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) Features
- Interactive dashboards
- Calculated fields
- Reusable data sources
- Report controls
- Embedded reports
Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (mo) | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Studio Pro | $9 | Not listed |
|
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
Pricing shown reflects list prices as of our last check and may have changed. Confirm current pricing on Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio)'s website before purchasing.
Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) Integrations
Google Analytics, Google Ads, BigQuery, Search Console, Google Sheets
Customer Support
Knowledge Base, Community
Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) at a Glance
- Built for
- Freelancer, Small Business, Mid-Market, Enterprise
- Platforms
- Web
- Languages
- English
Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) Pros and Cons
What We Like
- Google-built connectors for Analytics, Ads, Search Console, BigQuery and Sheets are included.
- Owner's credentials let viewers see reports without access to the underlying data.
- Extracted data sources store snapshots to speed up heavy reports.
- Pro team workspaces assign Viewer, Contributor, Content manager and Manager roles.
What Could Be Better
- Connectors for non-Google platforms come from partners and can carry their own fees.
- Outside Pro, reports and data sources belong to individual users, not the organization.
- Gemini assistance and chart-based alerts require Data Studio Pro.
- Mobile viewing through the Looker app is listed as a Pro feature.
Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) Alternatives
Why choose it: Agencies and business teams that want executive scorecards and KPI monitoring across marketing, sales, finance, and operations data.
Why choose it: Teams that need highly customized operational dashboards or existing Klips deployments connected to many business data sources.
Why choose it: Data and analytics teams that need governed metrics, reusable semantic models and embedded BI on warehouse data.
More tools like Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio)
TableauVisual analytics platform for building dashboards, preparing data and sending metric digests.
DashThisMarketing reporting tool for automated agency dashboards, recurring reports, templates, and multi-source KPI tracking.
FunnelMarketing data hub for collecting, storing and normalizing cross-channel marketing data.
AgencyAnalyticsAgency reporting platform with client dashboards, automated reports, SEO tools, and marketing data integrations.
TapClicksMarketing operations platform combining data ingestion, transformation and dashboards.
WhatagraphMarketing data and reporting platform for source connections, transformation, dashboards, and automated client reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) have a free trial or free plan?⌄
Yes, Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) offers a free plan. We haven't verified whether it also offers a free trial of paid tiers.
How much does Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) cost?⌄
Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) starts at $9 per user per project/mo on its Data Studio Pro plan. Pricing was last checked October 6, 2026. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's site before purchasing.
What are the best alternatives to Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio)?⌄
Commonly considered alternatives include Microsoft Power BI, Databox, Klipfolio and Looker. The Alternatives section on this page shows what each one is best at and its starting price.
Last updated: October 13, 2026Details checked: October 6, 2026Pricing checked: October 6, 2026