Data & Analytics comparison 
Microsoft Power BI vs Looker
Our pick: Microsoft Power BI scores 8.7/10 against 8.2/10 for Looker. Here's how they differ and which one fits your needs.
Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft's BI platform with Copilot
8.7/10From $14/user/moOur pick
Visit Microsoft Power BI VS
At a glance
| Microsoft Power BI | Looker | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Best for | Enterprises, Analysts | Data teams, Enterprises |
| Type | BI & dashboards | BI & dashboards |
| Pricing | Free plan | Contact sales |
| Starting price | $14/user/mo | See website |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, iOS, Android | Web |
| Launched | 2015 | 2012 |
Key features
Microsoft Power BI
- Interactive reports
- Copilot
- DAX
- Microsoft Fabric
- Excel integration
Looker
- LookML semantic layer
- Conversational analytics
- Looker Studio
- Embedded analytics
- Gemini assistance
Microsoft Power BI: pros and cons
Pros
- Affordable for Microsoft shops
- Huge community
Cons
- Copilot needs Fabric capacity
- DAX learning curve
Looker: pros and cons
Pros
- Strong governed semantic layer
- Integrates with BigQuery
Cons
- LookML learning curve
- Enterprise pricing
Verdict: Microsoft Power BI or Looker?
Choose Microsoft Power BI if you're enterprises or analysts and value affordable for Microsoft shops.
Choose Looker if you're data teams or enterprises and value strong governed semantic layer.
Overall we rate Microsoft Power BI slightly higher. Both are worth trying, and at least one has a free plan or trial. See all Data & Analytics tools for more options.
We may earn a commission if you sign up through links on this page. How we make money.