# Cube vs Looker

**Leader by vioscaleAI score:** Cube

| Attribute | Cube | Looker |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 75.2 (73% (medium)) | 51.8 (53% (medium)) |
| adoption.stackoverflow_questions | - | 2,000 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"Cube is a business intelligence platform that unifies how metrics and business logic are defined and used across analytics interfaces. Organizations build a semantic model once, then access it through dashboards, AI chat, embedded surfaces, and APIs — available as a managed cloud service or self-hosted deployment. It is indexed under BI Software.","source":"https://cube.dev/pricing","question":"What is Cube?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Cube offers a free tier, so you can start without paying. Paid plans start at $0.15 per hour. Prices are published openly on the vendor's own pricing page. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://cube.dev/pricing","question":"Is Cube free?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Cube supports the web, Linux and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://cube.dev/pricing","question":"What platforms does Cube support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Cube can be deployed cloud / SaaS, hybrid and self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://cube.dev/pricing","question":"Can Cube be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 21 integrations for Cube, including Notion, Linear, Sentry, Attio, Google Sheets, Excel, dbt and Okta, plus 13 more. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://cube.dev/pricing","question":"What does Cube integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have independently confirmed SOC 2, HIPAA and GDPR for Cube. Certifications we do not list are ones we have not been able to verify from public sources, which is not the same as Cube not holding them. Always confirm compliance directly before you rely on it.","source":"https://cube.dev/security","question":"What security certifications does Cube have?","confidence":0.7},{"answer":"Cube is available worldwide. Its primary market is the United States.","source":"https://cube.dev/pricing","question":"Where is Cube available?","confidence":0.5}]` | `[{"answer":"Looker is a business intelligence and embedded analytics platform owned by Google Cloud that helps organizations explore, visualize, and analyze data to support decision-making. It serves business analysts, data teams, and enterprises seeking to build dashboards, create reports, and embed analytics capabilities into custom applications.","source":"https://cloud.google.com/looker","question":"What is Looker and what is it used for?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"LookML is Looker's proprietary data modeling language that allows developers to define semantic layers, transformations, and business logic on top of raw data. It enables organizations to create a governed, reusable data model that ensures consistent definitions and metrics across all analytics within the platform.","source":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/intro","question":"What is LookML and why does Looker use it?","confidence":0.9},{"answer":"Looker uses a subscription-based pricing model with three platform editions (Standard, Enterprise, and Embed) requiring annual commitments. Pricing includes both a platform fee and per-user licensing costs based on user type (Developer, Standard, or Viewer). New customers can access a free trial with 300 dollars in Google Cloud credits.","source":"https://cloud.google.com/looker/pricing","question":"What is the pricing model for Looker?","confidence":0.92},{"answer":"Looker does not offer a permanent free tier, but new users can start with a free trial that includes 300 dollars in Google Cloud credits to explore the platform's capabilities. After the trial period, a paid subscription is required to continue using the platform.","source":"https://cloud.google.com/looker/pricing","question":"Can you use Looker for free?","confidence":0.9},{"answer":"No, Looker is a commercial, proprietary software product owned by Google Cloud. The platform is not open source and requires a paid subscription license to use. Google acquired Looker in 2019 and integrates it as part of its cloud analytics offerings.","source":"https://cloud.google.com/looker","question":"Is Looker open source?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"Embedded analytics refer to integrating Looker dashboards and visualizations directly into third-party applications or custom software, rather than accessing analytics through a separate analytics interface. Organizations use this capability to provide analytics features to end users without requiring them to log into Looker directly, enabling analytics to be embedded in customer-facing applications or internal business systems.","source":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/intro","question":"What are embedded analytics in Looker and when would you use them?","confidence":0.88},{"answer":"Looker provides REST APIs that developers can use to build custom applications, automate workflows, and integrate Looker functionality with other tools. Developers can work with LookML for data modeling and use the SQL Runner tool to write custom SQL queries. The APIs enable programmatic access to dashboards, queries, and user management features.","source":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs","question":"What programming languages and APIs does Looker support for developers?","confidence":0.87},{"answer":"Looker is primarily deployed as a cloud-based service (SaaS) running on Google Cloud Platform, with customers accessing it through web browsers and mobile applications. The platform is not designed for traditional on-premises self-hosting, positioning it as a fully managed cloud solution.","source":"https://cloud.google.com/looker","question":"Is Looker cloud-only or can it be self-hosted?","confidence":0.9}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true,"self_hosted":true}` | `{"cloud":true,"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | A modern analytics platform that combines a semantic layer with dashboard, workbook, and conversational AI interfaces to serve teams and autonomous agents. Users query data through dashboards, natural language chat, or APIs, while the semantic layer ensures consistent metric definitions and business logic across all tools and workflows. | A business intelligence and analytics platform offering self-service dashboards, data exploration through LookML models, and embedded analytics capabilities with support for cloud and self-hosted deployment. |
| features.capabilities | `{"nlq_ai":true,"hosting":"both","rls_sso":true,"paradigm":"semantic_layer","free_tier":true,"api_access":true,"dbt_native":true,"data_modeling":true,"managed_cloud":true,"self_hostable":true,"git_versioning":true,"semantic_layer":"built_in","visualizations":true,"warehouse_native":true,"connector_breadth":"50+ data sources plus MCP connectors","scheduled_reports":true,"embedded_analytics":true,"transparent_pricing":true,"self_serve_dashboards":true}` | `{"nlq_ai":true,"hosting":"both","rls_sso":true,"paradigm":"nlq_search","free_tier":true,"api_access":true,"sql_editor":true,"data_modeling":true,"managed_cloud":true,"self_hostable":true,"git_versioning":true,"semantic_layer":"built_in","visualizations":true,"warehouse_native":true,"connector_breadth":"Cloud data warehouses (Snowflake confirmed), OAuth-authenticated data sources","scheduled_reports":true,"embedded_analytics":true,"transparent_pricing":false,"self_serve_dashboards":true}` |
| integrations.count | 16 | 6 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Notion"},{"name":"Linear"},{"name":"Sentry"},{"name":"Attio"},{"name":"Google Sheets"},{"name":"Excel"},{"name":"dbt"},{"name":"Okta"},{"name":"Power BI"},{"name":"Slack","native":true,"category":"chat","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"Claude","native":true,"category":"ai","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"ChatGPT","native":true,"category":"ai","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"Cursor","native":true,"category":"ai","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"Snowflake","native":true,"category":"data_warehouse","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"Databricks","native":true,"category":"data_warehouse","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"BigQuery","native":true,"category":"data_warehouse","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"Presto","native":true,"category":"query_engine","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"Amazon Athena","native":true,"category":"query_engine","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"Postgres","native":true,"category":"database","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"ClickHouse","native":true,"category":"database","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"Tableau","native":true,"category":"bi","direction":"outbound"}]` | `[{"name":"Snowflake"},{"name":"GitHub","native":true,"category":"ci_cd","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"GitLab","native":true,"category":"ci_cd","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"Bitbucket","native":true,"category":"ci_cd","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"BigQuery","native":true,"category":"data_warehouse","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"Dataplex","native":true,"category":"data_catalog","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"Cloud Storage","native":true,"category":"data_warehouse","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"GitHub Actions","native":true,"category":"ci_cd","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"GitLab CI","native":true,"category":"ci_cd","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"Bitbucket Pipelines","native":true,"category":"ci_cd","direction":"inbound"}]` |
| market.availability | `{"primaryMarkets":["US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":["US","EU"],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"web":true}` | `{"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"subscription","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free","summary":"Free forever","features":["Connect any data source","Model in semantic layer IDE","Explore data in workbooks","Publish workbooks as dashboards","Semantic model agent","Workbooks and dashboards agent","Analytics chat"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"For hobbyists completing small projects and showcasing work","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"compute":"10K shared","query_history_retention":"1 day"}},{"free":false,"name":"Starter","summary":"$40/developer/month","features":["Everything in Free","Extended limits on agents","Use premium LLMs","Unlimited workbooks","Extended query limit","Production deployment compute","Cube Store caching","Semantic Layer Sync","Observability & high-availability","dbt integration","Custom Roles"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"developer","amount":40,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":0.6,"period":"hour","currency":"USD","description":"Dedicated deployment"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":0.15,"period":"hour","currency":"USD","description":"Additional API instance"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":0.15,"period":"hour","currency":"USD","description":"Cube Store caching (small worker)"}],"description":"For professionals streamlining data workflows","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"compute":"50K dedicated","query_history_retention":"7 days"}},{"free":false,"name":"Premium","summary":"$80/developer/month + $20/explorer/month","features":["Everything in Starter","Explorer role","Viewer role","Embedded dashboards","Embedded analytics chat","Unlimited queries","99.950% Uptime SLA","Custom Domains","Multi-cluster Deployment","Performance Insights","Single Sign-On (SSO)","Audit Logging"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"developer","amount":80,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"explorer","amount":20,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":1.2,"period":"hour","currency":"USD","description":"Dedicated deployment per cluster"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":0.3,"period":"hour","currency":"USD","description":"Additional API instance"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":0.3,"period":"hour","currency":"USD","description":"Cube Store caching (medium worker)"}],"description":"For teams scaling analytics and collaboration","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"compute":"Unlimited","query_history_retention":"7 days"}},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise","summary":"Custom pricing","features":["Everything in Premium","99.990% Uptime SLA","Dedicated single-tenant installation","Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC)","Bring Your Own LLM (BYOLLM)","SSO with SAML 2.0","Workspace Access Control","Advanced Networking Security (VPC Peering, AWS PrivateLink)"],"commitment":"annual","description":"For enterprises demanding security and support","contactSales":true}],"summary":"From $40/developer/month; free tier available","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://cube.dev/pricing","retrievedAt":"2026-09-03T22:15:44.664Z","startingPrice":{"unit":"explorer","amount":20,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` | - |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | no |
| pricing.model | freemium | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | mid | - |
| pricing.starting_price | `{"amount":20,"currency":"USD"}` | - |
| pricing.transparent | yes | no |
| release.cadence_days | - | 30 |
| reliability.sla_pct | 99.95 | 99.9 |
| reliability.status_page | yes | yes |
| security.certifications | - | `[{"name":"ISO/IEC 27001","status":"active","auditor":"independent third party"}]` |
| security.gdpr | yes | yes |
| security.hipaa | yes | - |
| security.iso27001 | - | yes |
| security.soc2 | yes | yes |

## Capabilities (BI Software)

| Capability | Cube | Looker |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| BI paradigm | Semantic layer | NLQ / search |
| Semantic / modelling layer | Built-in | Built-in |
| **Engine** |  |  |
| Warehouse-native (SQL push-down) | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Self-hostable / OSS core | ✓ | ✓ |
| Managed cloud available | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Intelligence** |  |  |
| Natural-language query / AI copilot | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Delivery** |  |  |
| Embedded / white-label analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduled reports / alerting | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Governance** |  |  |
| Row-level security & SSO/SAML | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Commercial** |  |  |
| Per-seat pricing published | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free tier / free desktop | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Ecosystem** |  |  |
| dbt-native integration | ✓ | - |
| Data-source connector breadth | 50+ data sources plus MCP connectors | Cloud data warehouses (Snowflake confirmed), OAuth-authenticated data sources |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-16T19:22:13.771Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*