Looker Overview

Looker

By Google

4.7★★★★★(327 Ratings)Write review

What is Looker?

Looker, now part of Google Cloud, is a modern data platform that rethinks business intelligence through its unique modeling layer called LookML. This layer allows companies to define business metrics and data relationships in code (LookML), creating a single, consistent, and governed source of truth. Users can then explore this modeled data through an intuitive web interface to build reports and dashboards. Looker excels at breaking down data silos by integrating information from across various data sources—whether cloud data warehouses like BigQuery, Snowflake, or Redshift, or traditional databases—into a unified view. This ensures everyone in the organization accesses fresh, reliable data for informed decision-making.

Who it's for:

Looker is designed for data-savvy companies, particularly those with a modern data stack centered on cloud data warehouses. It is ideal for data engineers and analysts who want to build a governed semantic layer, and for business users across departments who need trusted, self-service access to consistently defined metrics and explorable data.

Our verdict:

Looker's innovative model-centric approach, with LookML at its core, is its greatest strength, offering unparalleled consistency, reusability, and governance for business definitions. This makes it a superb fit for organizations serious about creating a scalable, single source of truth. As part of Google Cloud, it integrates deeply with other Google services. For companies invested in a modern, SQL-based data infrastructure and seeking to operationalize reliable metrics, Looker is a powerful and strategic platform.

Looker Details

Looker Platforms supported

Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based

Desktop Mac

Desktop Windows

On-Premise Linux

On-Premise Windows

Desktop Chromebook

Desktop Linux

Mobile Android

Mobile iPad

Mobile iPhone

Looker Support options

Chat

Email Help Desk

FAQ Forum

Knowledgebase

Looker Training options

Documentation

In-Person

Live Online

Videos

Webinars

Looker Typical customers

Freelancers

Small Businesses

Small to Mid size businesses

Mid size businesses

Mid to Large size enterprises

Large enterprises

Very Large enterprises

Looker Features

Most valued Looker features by users

Data Connectors

Data Visualization

Functions/Calculations

KPI Monitoring

Private Dashboards

Public Dashboards

Scorecards

Widgets

Collaboration Tools

Data Blending

Data Cleansing

Data Discovery

Data Warehousing

High Volume Processing

No-Code

Predictive Analytics

Templates

Ad hoc Reporting

Benchmarking

Dashboard

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