Microsoft Power BI vs Looker (Google Cloud)
Side-by-side from the Top 11 rankings of The 11 Best Business Intelligence Tools for SMBs and The 11 Best HR Analytics Software Platforms. Last verified June 8, 2026.
The short answer
Microsoft Power BI ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #11) for Small and mid-size business owners choosing BI and analytics tools (Tableau vs Power BI vs Looker) / HR teams measuring workforce metrics, turnover, and engagement. Unbeatable value and deep Microsoft integration make it the top choice for most SMBs.
At a glance
| Microsoft Power BI | Looker (Google Cloud) | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 / The 11 Best Business Intelligence Tools for SMBs | #11 / The 11 Best HR Analytics Software Platforms |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.2 | 7.1 |
| Best for | Best value for Microsoft users | Governed, scalable BI for data teams |
| Pricing | $ ($0 to $20/user/mo) | $$$$$ (Custom Enterprise) |
| HQ | Redmond, USA | Santa Cruz, USA |
| Founded | 2011 | 2012 |
Microsoft Power BI
Unbeatable value and deep Microsoft integration make it the top choice for most SMBs.
powerbi.microsoft.com/See full entry in The 11 Best Business Intelligence Tools for SMBs
Looker (Google Cloud)
A BI platform with a unique modeling layer for data governance at scale.
cloud.google.com/lookerSee full entry in The 11 Best HR Analytics Software Platforms
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.