Looker vs Plotly
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 #9) 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 | Plotly | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #3 / The 11 Best Data Visualization Tools | #9 / The 11 Best Data Visualization Tools |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.9 | 7.6 |
| Best for | Governed, centralized data modeling | Code-based scientific and custom charts |
| Pricing | $$$$ (Custom) | $$$ (Custom for Dash) |
| HQ | Santa Cruz, USA | Montreal, Canada |
| Founded | 2012 | 2013 |
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.