Looker Studio vs Redash: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Marcus Johnson, Marketing & Growth Specialistยท7 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Looker Studio and Redash in 2026, Looker Studio is the stronger choice for marketers and analysts wanting free dashboard reporting on google data due to completely free. Redash excels for data teams wanting a free, sql-based dashboard tool they can self-host with free and open-source. Looker Studio offers Drag-and-drop dashboards, Data connectors, Sharing starting at Free with a free plan. Redash provides SQL editor, Dashboards, Scheduled queries from Free (self-hosted) with a free tier. For teams prioritizing value, Looker Studio delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 78/100. Looker Studio and Redash compete in the analytics & bi segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading analytics & bi tools include Google Analytics, Tableau, Power BI. Looker Studio serves 10M+ users globally (founded 2016) while Redash reports 50K+ active users (founded 2013).

Looker Studio vs Redash at a Glance

Looker Studio
Redash
Starting Price
Free
Free (self-hosted)
Free Plan
Yes
Yes
User Rating
4.3/5
4.3/5
Best For
Marketers and analysts wanting free dashboard repo...
Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard too...
Users
10M+
50K+
Founded
2016
2013
hiltonsoftware Score
78/100
69/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐Ÿ“‹
Looker Studio
Analytics & BI
78
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
๐Ÿ“Š
Redash
Analytics & BI
69
hiltonsoftware.co Score

What are the main differences between Looker Studio and Redash?

Looker Studio and Redash differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Looker Studio leads in 7 of 7 categories.

Looker StudioRedash
79Ease of Use79
77Features74
71Value for Money70
67Customer Support67
67Integrations62
64Scalability58
73Learning Curve70

What are the pros and cons of Looker Studio vs Redash?

Looker Studio
+Completely free
+Connects to all Google data easily
-Slower with large datasets
-Limited chart types vs Tableau
Redash
+Free and open-source
+Supports many data sources
-Requires SQL knowledge
-Self-hosted maintenance

Which is better, Looker Studio or Redash?

After evaluating Looker Studio and Redash across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Looker Studio earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 78/100 versus Redash at 69/100. Looker Studio stands out for "completely free" and "connects to all google data easily". Redash delivers competitive advantages in "free and open-source", making Redash a viable alternative.

Both Looker Studio and Redash offer free plans. Looker Studio paid plans start at Free while Redash begins at Free (self-hosted). ROI depends on which features justify upgrading.

Bottom line: Choose Looker Studio for marketers and analysts wanting free dashboard reporting on google data. Choose Redash for data teams wanting a free, sql-based dashboard tool they can self-host. Both Looker Studio and Redash are established analytics & bi platforms.

CHOOSE LOOKER STUDIO IF:

Marketers and analysts wanting free dashboard reporting on Google data.

CHOOSE REDASH IF:

Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard tool they can self-host.

Looker Studio vs Redash: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Looker Studio better than Redash in 2026?
Looker Studio outperforms Redash in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 78/100 compared to 69/100. Looker Studio excels in Drag-and-drop dashboards, Data connectors, Sharing, making Looker Studio the better choice for Marketers and analysts wanting free dashboard reporting on Google data. Redash is the stronger option for Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard tool they can self-host due to free and open-source. For teams needing drag-and-drop dashboards, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Looker Studio.
How does Looker Studio pricing compare to Redash in 2026?
Looker Studio starts at Free and includes a free plan. Redash starts at Free (self-hosted) and offers a free plan. Looker Studio includes features like Drag-and-drop dashboards, Data connectors, Sharing. Redash provides SQL editor, Dashboards, Scheduled queries. Looker Studio serves 10M+ users while Redash serves 50K+ users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Looker Studio and Redash?
Looker Studio specializes in Drag-and-drop dashboards, Data connectors, Sharing, earning a 78/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Redash focuses on SQL editor, Dashboards, Scheduled queries, scoring 69/100. Looker Studio is best for Marketers and analysts wanting free dashboard reporting on Google data. Redash is best for Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard tool they can self-host. Both Looker Studio and Redash serve the Analytics & BI market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Looker Studio to Redash?
Migrating from Looker Studio to Redash is possible since both operate in the Analytics & BI space. Export data from Looker Studio and verify Redash import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Drag-and-drop dashboards, Data connectors, Sharing (Looker Studio) versus SQL editor, Dashboards, Scheduled queries (Redash). Running both Looker Studio and Redash in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Looker Studio or Redash better for small business?
Both Looker Studio and Redash offer free plans. Looker Studio (78/100) is ideal for Marketers and analysts wanting free dashboard reporting on Google data. Redash (69/100) fits Data teams wanting a free, SQL-based dashboard tool they can self-host. Evaluate both during trial periods.

Reviewed by Marcus Johnson, Marketing & Growth Specialist. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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