Metricly vs Looker

Q: Can I migrate from Looker to Metricly?

Yes! If you use dbt, you likely already have the semantic layer foundation. Metricly works with your existing dbt metrics and dimensions. For teams without dbt, we can help you migrate your LookML definitions to MetricFlow.

Q: How does Metricly compare to Looker Studio?

Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio) is a free visualization tool, while Looker is the enterprise semantic layer platform. Metricly combines both: a semantic layer (via dbt/MetricFlow) plus visualization, with AI-powered natural language queries on top.

Q: Does Metricly support LookML?

Metricly uses MetricFlow (the dbt semantic layer) rather than LookML. MetricFlow is open source and part of the dbt ecosystem, so your semantic definitions stay portable and version-controlled in your dbt project.

Q: Is Metricly as powerful as Looker for complex analytics?

For most analytics use cases, yes. Metricly handles complex metrics, dimensions, time grains, and multi-table joins through MetricFlow. Where Looker may have an edge is in very large enterprise deployments with extensive custom development.

Q: What about Looker being part of Google Cloud?

Looker is now part of Google Cloud, which is great if you are all-in on GCP. Metricly is cloud-agnostic and works equally well with BigQuery, Snowflake, and Databricks, giving you more flexibility.

Q: How long does it take to switch from Looker to Metricly?

Most teams can be up and running with Metricly in a day if they already use dbt. The main work is mapping your existing dashboards to Metricly, which our team can help with during onboarding.

Both offer semantic layer BI, but Metricly is built on your existing dbt stack with AI-native queries. Get started in an hour, not weeks, at a fraction of the cost.

Try Metricly free Watch demo

Metricly

AI-native BI platform built on MetricFlow. Ask questions in natural language, get instant dashboards. Works with your existing dbt semantic layer at a fraction of the cost.

Looker

Enterprise BI platform with LookML semantic layer, now part of Google Cloud. Known for powerful data modeling but complex setup and high cost. Requires dedicated LookML developers for implementation.

Feature comparison

Feature

Metricly

Looker

Semantic layer

Metricly uses MetricFlow (dbt), Looker uses LookML

Natural language queries

Ask questions in plain English

AI-generated insights

Automatic trend detection and anomaly alerts

dbt integration

Native MetricFlow support vs manual sync

Self-service dashboards

Embedded analytics

Version-controlled dashboards

JSON definitions in git

Setup time

Time to first dashboard

< 1 hour

2-4 weeks

Learning curve

LookML requires significant training

Low

High

BigQuery support

Snowflake support

Open source option

Why teams choose Metricly

Metricly combines the power of your dbt semantic layer with AI-native analytics, making data accessible to everyone on your team.

Built on your dbt semantic layer

Metricly uses MetricFlow natively, so your metrics, dimensions, and business logic stay in dbt where they belong. No need to recreate your semantic layer in a proprietary format.

AI-first experience

Ask questions in natural language and get instant answers. Metricly understands your data model and generates accurate queries without you writing code.

Up and running in under an hour

Connect your warehouse, upload your dbt manifest, and start asking questions. No weeks of LookML development or data modeling required.

70%+ cost savings

A 10-person team on Metricly costs under $1,000/month. The same team on Looker would pay $5,000+ minimum, often much more for enterprise features.

Pricing comparison

Metricly

From $49/user/mo

Transparent per-user pricing with generous query limits. Team plan at $99/user/mo includes unlimited users and advanced features. No surprise bills or hidden fees.

Looker

From $5,000+/mo

Enterprise-only pricing typically starts at $5,000/month for small teams. Pricing is not publicly available and requires sales contact. Additional costs for Looker Studio Pro features.

When to choose each tool

Choose Metricly if you...

Already use dbt and want to leverage your semantic layer
Want AI-powered natural language queries
Need to get up and running quickly without extensive training
Want predictable, transparent pricing
Prefer simplicity over enterprise complexity
Have a small to medium-sized team

Choose Looker if you...

Have an existing Looker investment and expertise
Need extensive embedded analytics capabilities
Require Google Cloud Platform integration
Have dedicated LookML developers on staff
Need enterprise governance and permissions at scale
Have budget for $5,000+/month minimum