Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Looker VS SQL Database Modeler

Compare Looker VS SQL Database Modeler and see what are their differences

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Looker logo Looker

Looker makes it easy for analysts to create and curate custom data experiencesโ€”so everyone in the business can explore the data that matters to them, in the context that makes it truly meaningful.

SQL Database Modeler logo SQL Database Modeler

SqlDBM - Online Database Modeler
  • Looker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-11

Looker is a business intelligence platform with an analytics-oriented application server that sits on top of relational data stores. The Looker platform includes an end-user interface for exploring data, a reusable development paradigm for creating data discovery experiences, and an extensible API set so the data can exist in other systems. Looker enables anyone to search and explore data, build dashboards and reports, and share everything easily and quickly.

  • SQL Database Modeler Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-28

Looker features and specs

  • Powerful Data Modeling
    Looker uses LookML, a proprietary modeling language, making it possible to transform raw data into meaningful metrics and dimensions, providing deep insights without needing SQL expertise.
  • Ease of Use
    Its intuitive user interface enables non-technical users to create visualizations and reports with relative ease, reducing the workload on data teams.
  • Customization
    Looker offers extensive customization options for data exploration and visualization, allowing dashboards and reports to be tailored to specific user needs.
  • Embedded Analytics
    Provides robust capabilities for embedding analytics into applications or portals, broadening the scope of data-driven decision-making throughout the organization.
  • Real-time Data
    Supports real-time data analytics by querying live data, which ensures up-to-date insights and helps in making timely decisions.
  • Integrations
    Looker integrates seamlessly with a wide range of databases and cloud data warehouses, including Google BigQuery, Amazon Redshift, and Snowflake.

Possible disadvantages of Looker

  • Learning Curve
    LookML, while powerful, can be complex for beginners who are not already familiar with data modeling or SQL, resulting in a steep learning curve.
  • Cost
    Looker can be expensive, especially for small businesses, as pricing is typically based on the number of users and the data volume processed.
  • Performance
    Query performance can sometimes be slow, especially with complex data models and large data sets, which may impact the user experience.
  • Customization Constraints
    While Looker offers great customization, certain advanced customizations may require significant expertise and time, posing a potential barrier.
  • Limited Offline Capabilities
    Looker is primarily designed for online use, so it lacks robust offline capabilities, which can be a limitation for users who need access to data in situations without internet connectivity.

SQL Database Modeler features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    SQL Database Modeler offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface that simplifies database design, even for beginners.
  • Cloud-Based
    Being a cloud-based tool, it allows for easy access from any location, facilitating collaboration among team members across different geographic locations.
  • Collaboration Features
    The tool offers collaboration features that enable multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously, improving productivity and teamwork.
  • Import/Export Capabilities
    SQL Database Modeler provides support for importing existing databases and exporting models to various formats, making it versatile and convenient for various tasks.
  • Visual Representation
    The tool allows for visual data modeling, which helps users easily understand complex database structures through diagrams and visual aids.
  • Cloud-Based Access
    Being cloud-based, SQLDbm allows users to access and work on their projects from anywhere without needing to install any software locally.
  • Version Control
    SQLDbm offers version control features that allow users to track changes and manage different versions of their database schemas effectively.
  • Integration Capabilities
    SQLDbm can integrate with various other tools and platforms, facilitating a seamless workflow for developers and database administrators.

Possible disadvantages of SQL Database Modeler

  • Limited Offline Access
    Being primarily a cloud-based tool, it requires an internet connection to access, which may be a limitation in offline scenarios.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are user-friendly, some advanced functionalities may have a learning curve for new users.
  • Subscription Cost
    The tool may require a subscription for full access to all features, which could be a factor for budget-conscious users or smaller teams.
  • Performance Limitations
    Depending on the complexity of the database model and the limitations of the browser, performance might be an issue when handling very large datasets or complex projects.
  • Limited Database Support
    While it supports popular databases, some specialized or less common database systems may not be fully supported.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of SQLDbm is limited in features and may not be suitable for more complex or larger scale projects.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues, especially when dealing with large databases, which can hinder productivity.
  • Feature Parity
    While SQLDbm offers many features, it may lack some advanced functionalities found in other, more robust database management tools.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    As a cloud-based tool, SQLDbm requires a stable internet connection, which can be a disadvantage in areas with poor connectivity.

Analysis of Looker

Overall verdict

  • Looker is generally considered a robust solution for organizations looking to enhance their data-driven decision-making capabilities. Its flexibility, extensibility, and ease of use make it a strong contender in the BI space, though it may require some learning and setup effort to fully utilize its features.

Why this product is good

  • Looker is a data analytics platform that provides powerful tools for data exploration, visualization, and business intelligence. It offers a user-friendly interface and is known for its ability to connect to a wide variety of data sources. Looker's LookML, a modeling language, allows users to define data relationships and calculations, making it easier to create custom reports and dashboards. Additionally, it integrates well with other tools and supports collaboration with data teams.

Recommended for

  • Companies seeking scalable and flexible business intelligence solutions.
  • Organizations that need to integrate multiple data sources.
  • Teams looking for a collaborative platform with custom reporting capabilities.
  • Users who prefer a code-based approach to data modeling and analysis.

Looker videos

Looker Review

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How To Use Looker as a Business User
  • Review - Looker Review - Off The Shelf Reviews

SQL Database Modeler videos

SqlDBM in Action

More videos:

  • Review - Aircraft Charter Modeling Using SQLDBM

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Looker and SQL Database Modeler)
Data Dashboard
100 100%
0% 0
Databases
0 0%
100% 100
Business Intelligence
100 100%
0% 0
Data Modeling
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Looker and SQL Database Modeler

Looker Reviews

Top 10 BI Tools in 2026 (with Pricing, AI Features & Enterprise Fit)
Looker like business intelligence platforms include tools that offer governed data models, embedded analytics, real-time dashboards, and scalable cloud performance. These platforms are ideal for organizations that need consistent metrics, strong data governance, and customizable analytics similar to what Looker provides.
Source: supaboard.ai
Explore 7 Tableau Alternatives for Data Visualization and Analysis
Looker Studio, formerly Google Data Studio, is a user-friendly business intelligence tool that transforms raw data into interactive, customizable dashboards and reports. It integrates seamlessly with Google's ecosystem and supports various data sources, including Google Analytics and BigQuery. Looker Studio offers robust visualization capabilities and real-time collaborative...
Source: www.draxlr.com
Explore 6 Metabase Alternatives for Data Visualization and Analysis
To find the best Metabase alternative for your business, start by listing your specific requirements, such as customer support, data integrations, visualization options, user access controls, and budget. Compare these needs with the features of other BI tools like Draxlr, Tableau, Power BI, Looker, or Holistics. Once you've identified a few suitable options, take advantage...
Source: www.draxlr.com
5 best Looker alternatives
In this blog, weโ€™ll dive into the best 5 Looker alternatives currently dominating the market. Whether you're seeking a Looker alternative with enhanced features, better pricing, or a more tailored fit for your analytics needs, this guide will help you discover BI tool that could be a perfect match for your business.
Source: www.draxlr.com
10 Best Alternatives to Looker in 2024
Exploring alternatives to Looker isn't just about finding a different tool; it's about uncovering solutions that better address your specific business challenges and operational workflows. Here, we highlight five areas where Looker's limitations might lead you to consider other options.

SQL Database Modeler Reviews

Best Database Diagram Tools: Paid with Free Trials and Free Alternatives
Head to SqlDBMโ€™s free trial page to get started online for free. SqlDBM is mainly a drag-and-drop tool with robust schema exploration capabilities, which you can test with sample data or by hooking up your own database.
Best Database Diagram Tools โ€“ Free and Paid
Not all tools speak the same SQL dialect. Ensure compatibility with your stackโ€”whether itโ€™s SQL Server (dbForge, SqlDBM), PostgreSQL (DbSchema, SqlDBM), MySQL (DbSchema, QuickDBD), or even MongoDB (less common in ERD tools). The tighter the integration, the more value youโ€™ll get from reverse engineering, live sync, and schema deployment.
Source: blog.devart.com
Top 9 Data Modeling Tools Every Team Needs
SqlDBM is a versatile and intuitive web-based database modeling tool for efficient designing and managing SQL database schemas. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible to beginners, while advanced functionality suits experienced developers. As a cloud-based platform, SqlDBM eliminates the need for installations, providing easy access from anywhere with an internet...
Source: www.devart.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Looker seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 14 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Looker mentions (14)

  • edit home page to add folder section
    Then in the "foldername" you can have 5 folders, each one for each of the groups. This means that when group1 enters looker.com, his default page will be the "foldername", which contains group1folder (he cannot see the rest of the folders if you have set the permissions correctly for each folder). Source: over 3 years ago
  • Stars, tables, and activities: How do we model the real world?
    Even if you want to make Wide Tables, combining fact and dimensions is often the easiest way to create them, so why not make them available? Looker, for example, is well suited to dimensional models because it takes care of the joins that can make Kimball warehouses hard to navigate for business users. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • dbt for Data Quality Testing & Alerting at FINN
    We take daily snapshots of test results, aggregate them, and send Looker dashboards to the appropriate teams. - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
  • I'm a dev ID 10 T please help me
    Dashboard: I like to use Datastudio because it's easy (just like using google sheets), but you can also try out Looker. Source: over 4 years ago
  • The Data Stack Journey: Lessons from Architecting Stacks at Heroku and Mattermost
    For Growth and larger, I would recommend Looker. The only reason I wouldn't recommend it for the smaller company stages is that the cost is much higher than alternatives such as Metabase. With Looker, you define your data model in LookML, which Looker then uses to provide a drag-and-drop interface for end-users that enables them to build their own visualizations without needing to write SQL. This lets your... - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
View more

SQL Database Modeler mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of SQL Database Modeler yet. Tracking of SQL Database Modeler recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Looker and SQL Database Modeler, you can also consider the following products

Tableau - Tableau can help anyone see and understand their data. Connect to almost any database, drag and drop to create visualizations, and share with a click.

erwin Data Modeler - erwin Data Modeler provides a collaborative environment to manage enterprise data though an...

Microsoft Power BI - BI visualization and reporting for desktop, web or mobile

pgModeler - Open source data modeling tool designed for PostgreSQL. No more DDL commands written by hand. Let pgModeler do the job for you!

Sisense - The BI & Dashboard Software to handle multiple, large data sets.

DbSchema - DbSchema - Visual Database Design & Management Tool