Is Looker Studio Free to Use and What Are the Costs Involved

Looker Studio is a free product, but it's not entirely free to use. You can create reports and dashboards without paying a dime, but there are some limitations to consider.

The free version of Looker Studio has a limit of 50,000 rows of data. This might be sufficient for small-scale projects, but larger datasets will require a paid plan.

To access more advanced features and larger data limits, you'll need to upgrade to a paid plan. The costs involved will depend on the level of service you choose.

Looker Studio is a powerful data visualization tool that allows you to turn your data into a report, making it easy to understand and share insights with others.

You can create visualizations in Looker Studio to represent your data in a clear and concise way, giving you a better understanding of your business or personal data.

With Looker Studio, you can break down complex data into simple, easy-to-understand visualizations, making it a great tool for anyone who wants to get a quick view of their data.

It's perfect for creating dashboards, reports, and other visualizations that help you make sense of your data and make informed decisions.

Looker Studio offers a wide range of features that make it a powerful tool for data analysis. You can create a report by first creating a data source, which links a report to the original data in a platform or service.

Data sources in Looker Studio are not the original data itself, but rather a connection to that data. A dataset is the original data, such as data in a Google Sheets spreadsheet or a MySQL database. To link a report to the dataset, you need a data connector to create a data source.

You can use Looker Studio with multiple data sources connected to a dataset, which is helpful when collaborating with different team members. This allows you to share data sources with different connection capabilities for different team members.

Looker Studio has expanded its capabilities since its release, with 24 Google Connectors available, including BigQuery to Looker Studio. You can also use Partner Connectors, which are third-party options that let you pull data from both Google and non-Google apps and sources.

To create a data source in Studio, you'll need to first create a data source, which is not your original data. Instead, it's a connection to your original data, such as a Google Sheets spreadsheet or a MySQL database.

To link a report to the dataset, you need a data connector to create a data source. This connector maintains the information of the connection credential and keeps track of all the fields that are part of that connection.

There are two types of connectors: native Google connectors and partner connectors. Native Google connectors are free and include options like BigQuery to Looker Studio, while partner connectors are third-party options that let you pull data from both Google and non-Google apps and sources, such as LinkedIn, PayPal, Facebook, Twitter, and HubSpot.

You can see the full list of available connectors here or check out our list of the best 12 Looker Studio connectors.

To create a data source using a native Google connector, select the connector you want to use, such as Google Sheets. If you're using Google Sheets for the first time, you'll need to authorize Looker Studio to connect to your Google Sheets by clicking the AUTHORIZE button.

Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a data source in Looker Studio using a native Google connector:

After you've successfully set up the connection, the fields in your data source page will look like this:

You may also notice that some fields with Currency data type in Google Sheets are detected as Number in Looker Studio. If you like, you can change them manually to Currency by clicking the triangle icon (⏷) next to the data type.

You can add calculated fields in Looker Studio using formulas, which can be added to the data source or a chart. Calculated fields created in the data source will be available in any report that uses that data source.

To add a calculated field, you can use Looker Studio formulas, which can be used to display the total price before the discount. You can also use formulas to display the product categories in uppercase letters.

In Looker Studio, you can add a calculated field to the data source, making it available in any report that uses that data source.

Looker Studio's cost and limitations are worth exploring. The tool offers a "free" version, but it's not entirely free. You'll still need to pay for third-party connectors, which can cost anywhere from $20 to $350 and up.

The free version of Looker Studio also has limitations, including a steep learning curve, long report creation times, and a dashboard that doesn't update in real-time. This can lead to wasted billable hours for your agency.

Here are some specific limitations of the free version:

Additionally, there's a possibility that Google may phase out the free aspects of Looker Studio in the future, as they have done with other products in the past.

The free version of Looker Studio has its limitations, and it's essential to be aware of them before diving in. The tool is not without its drawbacks, which can lead to hidden costs.

The learning curve is surprisingly steep, making it difficult to master. I've seen marketing agencies struggle to get up to speed with the tool, which can be frustrating.

Creating reports takes too long, and the dashboard doesn't update in real-time. This can lead to delays in getting insights to clients.

The free version has limitations on the number of charts per report, which can be a problem when working with multiple data sources. Reports tend to break when many data sources are incorporated, adding to the frustration.

Data isn't truly automated due to the lack of an API, which can be a significant limitation. Google's support is also lackluster, leaving users to figure things out on their own.

Here are some of the main complaints from users:

Looker Studio Pro, the paid version of Looker Studio, offers enterprise features like SLAs, team collaboration, and more, but the cost is steep and not transparently disclosed by Google.

Google has been notoriously opaque about the pricing of Looker Studio Pro, just as it was with the paid versions of Google Data Studio before it.

The cost of Looker Studio Pro is estimated to vary greatly depending on your needs, the scale of your deployment, and the number of users, but one thing is certain: it's not cheap.

You can request a quote on Looker.com, but be prepared for a range of prices that may not be what you expect.

The "free" version of Looker Studio might seem like a good alternative, but it comes with its own set of hidden costs.

Currently, Looker Studio offers just 20 free connectors that are built and maintained by Google, while the other 613 connectors are paid, usually on a monthly basis, and can cost anywhere from $20 to $350 and up.

Third-party tools that merge your data sources before sending it to Looker can cost anywhere from $400 to $2,000+ per month, adding to the overall cost of using Looker Studio.

If you're looking for a free alternative to Looker Studio, you may want to consider its paid version, Looker Studio Pro. Looker Studio Pro costs more than the free version, but it offers additional features.

The cost of Looker Studio Pro is a significant factor to consider when deciding whether it's worth the investment. Looker Studio Pro is more expensive than the free version, but it also offers more features.

To get the most value out of Looker Studio Pro, it's essential to understand its features and usability.

Looker Studio is primarily a data visualization tool, allowing you to create reports with your data.

With Looker Studio, you can create reports that help you visualize your data in a way that's easy to understand.

Looker, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive business intelligence platform that goes beyond just visualization.

It offers a solution to manage and organize data in an accessible way, including data collection, modeling, visualization, and scheduling.

If you're looking for more value for less, consider the cost of alternatives to Looker Studio. Looker Studio Pro is an option, but it's worth exploring other alternatives as well.

The free version of Looker Studio may not meet your needs, so it's essential to evaluate the cost of other options. For instance, comparing Looker Studio Pro to alternatives on the market reveals some surprising differences.

Some alternatives to Looker Studio Pro may be more affordable, with prices starting at a lower cost. This is especially true if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option.

Alternatives to Looker Studio Pro may offer a more extensive range of features, making them a better value for your money. For example, when comparing cost, features, and usability, some alternatives shine in these areas.

Ultimately, the key to getting more value for less is to shop around and compare different options. This will help you find the best fit for your needs and budget.