Looker vs Metabase vs Superset

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Looker

615
643
+ 1
9
Metabase

902
1.2K
+ 1
271
Superset

410
1K
+ 1
45

Looker vs Metabase vs Superset: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this markdown, I will provide the key differences between Looker, Metabase, and Superset. Below are the six specific differences between these three data visualization tools.

  1. Data Sources and Integration: Looker offers extensive integrations with various data sources, including databases, cloud services, and third-party tools. Metabase supports fewer data sources compared to Looker but is still capable of connecting with popular databases. Superset, on the other hand, provides a wide range of connectors but may require additional configuration for integrating with some data sources.

  2. Ease of Use: Looker focuses on providing a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop features and a simple query language, making it easy for non-technical users to generate reports and visualizations. Metabase comes with a more intuitive interface, suitable for users with basic SQL knowledge. Superset, as an open-source tool, requires users to have a good understanding of SQL and data modeling concepts to utilize its advanced features.

  3. Advanced Analytics and Visualization: Looker offers advanced analytics capabilities, including predictive modeling and statistical analysis, allowing users to uncover insights from their data. Metabase provides basic visualization options, suitable for simple reporting and data exploration tasks. Superset offers powerful visualization features and supports a wide range of chart types, making it suitable for complex data visualization requirements.

  4. Collaborative Features: Looker provides collaboration features such as data sharing, commenting, and data permissions, allowing teams to work together on data analysis and reporting. Metabase also supports collaborative features but with limited capabilities compared to Looker. Superset offers basic collaborative capabilities but may require additional customization and configuration for advanced collaboration needs.

  5. Security and Governance: Looker offers robust security and governance features, including data encryption, single sign-on (SSO) support, and fine-grained access controls. Metabase provides basic security features but may require additional configuration for more advanced security requirements. Superset, being an open-source tool, requires users to implement security measures according to their specific needs.

  6. Cost and Licensing: Looker is a commercial tool and requires a license for usage. Metabase is an open-source tool and is free to use, making it a more cost-effective option for smaller organizations. Superset is also an open-source tool, enabling organizations to customize and use it without incurring any licensing costs.

In summary, Looker offers extensive data integration, advanced analytics, and collaboration features with a user-friendly interface, while Metabase provides a simpler, more cost-effective solution for basic reporting and data exploration needs. Superset offers powerful visualization capabilities and customization options, making it suitable for complex data visualization requirements at no licensing cost.

Advice on Looker, Metabase, and Superset
Mohan Ramanujam
Needs advice
on
AmplitudeAmplitudeData StudioData Studio
and
LookerLooker

We are a consumer mobile app IOS/Android startup. The app is instrumented with branch and Firebase. We use Google BigQuery. We are looking at tools that can support engagement and cohort analysis at an early stage price which we can grow with. Data Studio is the default but it would seem Looker provides more power. We don't have much insight into Amplitude other than the fact it is a popular PM tool. Please provide some insight.

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Replies (1)
Ruben Lozano
Growth Marketing Specialist at Ruben Lozano Me · | 4 upvotes · 24.7K views

Hello Mohan,

To be honest, I don't have experience working with analytics on apps and also I don't have experience with Looker, so I cannot say I will suggest that one. I know that Amplitude is a known product analytics tool for apps. I know that in the #GoPractice course, Oleg (CEO GoPractice) was using Amplitude in all his experience with mobile game apps, so I guess apps could work well too. I have experience using Amplitude for SaaS solutions and it is great to create all kinds of analytics for the product. Then Google Datastudio is the classic solution to create dashboards and reports connect it with any data source. Also, some people, instead of Amplitude are using the new Google Analytics, @GoogleAnalytics #GA4 or Mixpanel. However, my suggestion is to use Amplitude and if there are reports that you cannot answer with Amplitude, use Google Data Studio.

I hope that could help you.

Cheers,

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Decisions about Looker, Metabase, and Superset

Very easy-to-use UI. Good way to make data available inside the company for analysis.

Has some built-in visualizations and can be easily integrated with other JS visualization libraries such as D3.

Can be embedded into product to provide reporting functions.

Support team are helpful.

The only complain I have is lack of API support. Hard to track changes as codes and automate report deployment.

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Vojtech Kopal
Head of Data at Mews Systems · | 3 upvotes · 324.6K views

Power BI is really easy to start with. If you have just several Excel sheets or CSV files, or you build your first automated pipeline, it is actually quite intuitive to build your first reports.

And as we have kept growing, all the additional features and tools were just there within the Azure platform and/or Office 365.

Since we started building Mews, we have already passed several milestones in becoming start up, later also a scale up company and now getting ready to grow even further, and during all these phases Power BI was just the right tool for us.

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Pros of Looker
Pros of Metabase
Pros of Superset
  • 4
    Real time in app customer chat support
  • 4
    GitHub integration
  • 1
    Reduces the barrier of entry to utilizing data
  • 62
    Database visualisation
  • 45
    Open Source
  • 41
    Easy setup
  • 36
    Dashboard out of the box
  • 23
    Free
  • 14
    Simple
  • 9
    Support for many dbs
  • 7
    Easy embedding
  • 6
    Easy
  • 6
    It's good
  • 5
    AGPL : wont help with adoption but depends on your goal
  • 5
    BI doesn't get easier than that
  • 4
    Google analytics integration
  • 4
    Multiple integrations
  • 4
    Easy set up
  • 13
    Awesome interactive filtering
  • 9
    Free
  • 6
    Wide SQL database support
  • 6
    Shareable & editable dashboards
  • 5
    Great for data collaborating on data exploration
  • 3
    User & Role Management
  • 3
    Easy to share charts & dasboards

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Cons of Looker
Cons of Metabase
Cons of Superset
  • 3
    Price
  • 7
    Harder to setup than similar tools
  • 4
    Link diff db together "Data Modeling "
  • 3
    It is difficult to install on the server
  • 3
    Ugly GUI

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What is Looker?

We've built a unique data modeling language, connections to today's fastest analytical databases, and a service that you can deploy on any infrastructure, and explore on any device. Plus, we'll help you every step of the way.

What is Metabase?

It is an easy way to generate charts and dashboards, ask simple ad hoc queries without using SQL, and see detailed information about rows in your Database. You can set it up in under 5 minutes, and then give yourself and others a place to ask simple questions and understand the data your application is generating.

What is Superset?

Superset's main goal is to make it easy to slice, dice and visualize data. It empowers users to perform analytics at the speed of thought.

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