Looker vs Grafana
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Data Visualization Tools. Last verified June 16, 2026.
The short answer
Looker ranks higher on Top 11 (#3 vs #10) for Analysts and data teams turning raw data into charts, dashboards, and reports. Excels at creating a consistent, governed data model.
At a glance
| Looker | Grafana | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #3 / The 11 Best Data Visualization Tools | #10 / The 11 Best Data Visualization Tools |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.9 | 7.4 |
| Best for | Governed, centralized data modeling | Time-series and observability dashboards |
| Pricing | $$$$ (Custom) | $$ ($20 to $295+/mo) |
| HQ | Santa Cruz, USA | New York, USA |
| Founded | 2012 | 2014 |
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.